2020-01211. Deadline for Submitting Completed Applications To Begin Participation in the Tribal Self-Governance Program in Fiscal Year 2021 or Calendar Year 2021

AGENCY:

Office of Self-Governance, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of application deadline.

SUMMARY:

In this notice, the Office of Self-Governance (OSG) establishes a March 1, 2020, deadline for Indian Tribes/consortia to submit completed applications to begin participation in the Tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2021 or calendar year 2021.

DATES:

Completed application packages must be received by the Director, Office of Self-Governance, by March 1, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Application packages for inclusion in the applicant pool should be sent to Sharee M. Freeman, Director, Office of Self-Governance, Department of the Interior, Mail Stop 3624-MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Kenneth D. Reinfeld, Office of Self-Governance, Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-413), as amended by the Fiscal Year 1997 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-208), and section 1000.15(a) of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the OSG Director may select up to 50 additional participating Tribes/consortia per year for the Tribal self-governance program and negotiate and enter into a written funding agreement with each participating Tribe. The Act mandates that the Secretary of the Interior submit copies of the funding agreements at least 90 days before the proposed effective date to the appropriate committees of the Congress and to each Tribe that is served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs' agency that is serving the Tribe that is a party to the funding agreement. Initial negotiations with a Tribe/consortium located in a region and/or agency which has not previously been involved with self-governance negotiations will take approximately 2 months from start to finish. Agreements for an October 1 to September 30 funding year need to be signed and submitted by July 1. Agreements for a January 1 to December 31 funding year need to be signed and submitted by October 1.

Purpose of Notice

The regulations at 25 CFR 1000.10 to 1000.31 will be used to govern the application and selection process for Tribes/consortia to begin their participation in the Tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2021 and calendar year 2021. Applicants should be guided by the requirements in these subparts in preparing their applications. Copies of these subparts may be obtained from the information contact person identified in this notice.

Tribes/consortia wishing to be considered for participation in the Tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2021 or calendar year 2021 must respond to this notice, except for those Tribes/consortia which are: (1) Currently involved in negotiations with the Department; or (2) one of the 129 Tribal entities with signed agreements.

Information Collection

This information collection is authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0143, Tribal Self-Governance Program, which expires June 30, 2022.

Dated: December 18, 2019.

Tara Sweeney,

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.