FR Notice 2

29320

Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

direction to fund renewable and
alternative energy, the FY 2012 Work
Plan includes $300,000 toward this
effort in 2012. The FY 2011 Work Plan
outlines a strategy to balance the Energy
Program in both legacy and renewable
components, providing up to $2.4
million of available program funds
specifically toward the emerging
technology program pending state
match. If match for this program is not
provided, this funding shall be
reallocated to legacy projects.
FY 2012 Program & Project Policy Issues
The approved FY 2008 Denali
Commission Policy Document requires
and prioritizes cost share match for
funded projects. In implementing this
policy, 10%, match was required in FY
2010 and FY 2011. In FY 2012 new
statutory match is required in the
amounts of 50% for non-distressed and
20% for distressed communities and
only applies toward construction
projects using Energy and Water
Appropriation funding. In future
funding years, the Commission will
require consistent match for energy
projects funded with other funding
(TAPL, RUS). For FY 2012 funding, the
Commission will apply the 10% match
for RUS and TAPL funding and the 50%
and 20% match requirements for Energy
and Water Appropriation funding.
Sustainability Policy
All energy construction grants will
proceed after business plans are
reviewed and approved by Commission.

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FY 2012 Project Selection Process
The Energy Advisory Committee
(EAC) provides guidance to
Commissioners and staff on the
program, and is comprised of members
involved in energy development in
Alaska. Members include
representatives of Associated General
Contractors, Alaska AFL–CIO,
Department of Energy National
Renewable Energy Lab, the University of
Alaska Institute of Northern
Engineering, USDA, Kotzebue Electric
Association and two public members
representing rural Alaska. The EAC
provided general recommendations
supporting the ongoing priority for
funding Bulk Fuel/Rural Power System
Upgrade planning, design and
construction, providing match funding
for the emerging energy technology
program and for renewable energy
regional planning in coordination with
the Alaska Energy Authority’s initiative
to meet statewide energy infrastructure
needs for all of the above.

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Legacy Program (Bulk Fuel/RPSU)
Due to the nature of the due diligence
requirement of energy projects, seasonal
logistics in Alaska and funding
restrictions (i.e. TAPL funds may only
be used for bulk fuel projects)—a project
may not progress as quickly as another.
Given the late timing of funding in FY
2011, summer construction grants are
not anticipated. A final project list will
be developed based on available funds,
project readiness, available match and
other due diligence. Final project lists
are provided to EAC for feedback prior
to final grant execution.
Transportation
Section 309 of the Denali Commission
Act 1998 (amended), created the
Commission’s Transportation Program,
including the Transportation Advisory
Committee. The advisory committee is
composed of nine members appointed
by the Governor of the State of Alaska
including the Chairman of the Denali
Commission; four members who
represent existing regional native
corporations, native nonprofit entities,
or tribal governments, including one
member who is a civil engineer; and
four members who represent rural
Alaska regions or villages, including one
member who is a civil engineer.
The Transportation Program
addresses two areas of rural Alaska
transportation infrastructure: Roads and
waterfront development. There is
consensus among agencies and
communities that the program is
successfully addressing improvements
to local and regional transportation
systems. This is largely a function of the
TAC’s success at project selection and
monitoring, and the success of the
program’s project development partners.
The program is generally a
competitively-bid contractor or
materials-based project opportunity
grounded in Title 23 CFR. These strict
project development and construction
guidelines have presented some
challenges to the Commission’s ability
to respond quickly to targets of
opportunity, but they have also had the
positive effect of ensuring project design
and construction is executed at a
professional level. The program operates
under a reimbursable payment system
that requires local and program partner
sponsors to pay close attention to
accounting procedures prior to their
payments to contractors and vendors.
This system helps ensure project
payments are eligible when submitted to
the Commission.
In FY 2012 the program will continue
its focus on barge landings and mooring
points in rural communities. These

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projects range from one or two mooring
points to secure a barge, to small dock
structures, depending on community
size and barge operation characteristics.
The value of these structures lies in
improved fuel/freight transfer
operations and improved worker and
environmental safety. The Commission
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) will continue to work through
the prioritized list of barge landing and
mooring point projects which were
identified in a formal analysis
conducted in FY 2009 and FY 2010. The
universe of need for the first generation
of projects is in the range of
$40,000,000.
The TAC met on January 26–27, 2012
to select waterfront projects and will
meet in early summer to select road
project priorities for FY 2012. Final
project approvals and funding amounts
have been approved by the Federal CoChair and are available on the
Commission’s Web site.
As shown in the FY 2012 Funding
Table, the estimate for FHWA funding
ranges from $0 to $24,700,000. In 2011
continuing resolution language, the U.S.
Secretary of Transportation was
assigned the responsibility by Congress
to identify FHWA projects and programs
that were sufficiently funded (i.e.
completed). In following this
assignment, the Secretary determined
that the Denali Access Program was
sufficiently funded and $13,300,000 in
FY 2011 FHWA funding was assigned to
the Alaska Department of
Transportation. At the request of the
Denali Commission Inspector General,
GAO is presently considering whether
the Secretary had the authority to make
this determination regarding the Denali
Access Program. At the time of drafting
this 2012 annual Work Plan, the GAO
Comptroller General has not yet issued
an opinion. Therefore, depending upon
the forthcoming opinion the
Commission may receive no FHWA
funding or potentially receive both FY
2011 and FY 2012 FHWA funding—
totaling $24,740,000.
Joel Neimeyer,
Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2012–11936 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3301–01–P

ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
Proposed Information Collection;
Election Administration in Urban and
Rural Areas; Comment Request
U.S. Election Assistance
Commission (EAC).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices
On February 21, 2012, EAC
published a notice in accordance with
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. EAC announced
an information collection and sought
public comment on the provisions
thereof. In compliance with Section
3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, EAC announces
an information collection and seeks
public comment on the provisions
thereof. EAC, pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(iii), intends to submit this
proposed information collection
(Election Administration in Urban and
Rural Areas) to the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget for
approval. The Election Administration
in Urban and Rural Areas survey asks
election officials questions concerning
voter outreach and election personnel.
EAC will conduct the survey as a way
to obtain data and information for a
mandatory report to Congress as
stipulated under HAVA 241 (B)(15),
which requires EAC to study ‘‘[m]atters
particularly relevant to voting and
administering election in rural and
urban areas.’’ Further, Section 202(3) of
HAVA authorizes EAC to conduct
studies and to carry out other duties and
activities to promote the effective
administration of Federal elections.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before 4:00 p.m. EDT on
June 18, 2012.
Comments: Public comments are
invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the information collection on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Additional Information: Please note
that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) has up to 60 days to
approve or disapprove the information
collection, but may respond after 30
days. Comments on the proposed
information collection should be
submitted to OMB within 30 days of
this notice. Comments should be sent to
the attention of Sharon Mar, Desk
Officer for the U.S. Election Assistance
Commission, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget, Washington,
DC 20503. Comments sent to OMB
should also be sent to EAC at

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SUMMARY:

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[email protected] with Urban/Rural
study as the subject line. Written
comments on the proposed information
collection can also be sent to the U.S.
Election Assistance Commission, 1201
New York Avenue NW., Suite 300,
Washington, DC 20005, ATTN: Urban/
Rural Study.
Obtaining a Copy of the Survey: To
obtain a free copy of the survey: (1)
Access the EAC Web site at
www.eac.gov; (2) write to the EAC
(including your address and phone
number) at U.S. Election Assistance
Commission, 1201 New York Avenue
NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005,
ATTN: Urban/Rural Study.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Lynn-Dyson or Shelly Anderson
at (202) 566–3100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title and OMB Number: Election
Administration in Urban and Rural
Areas; OMB Number Pending.
Summary of the Collection of
Information: The survey requests
information at the local level concerning
the following categories:
Background: (1) Number of years
served as an election official; type of
appointment; (2) number of registered
voters; (3) jurisdiction described as
urban or rural; (4) jurisdiction required
to provide language assistance; (5) office
have full responsibility for elections in
the jurisdiction; (6) alternative forms of
voting allowed in the jurisdiction
(absentee—excuse required, no-excuse
absentee, early voting, all vote-by-mail).
Voter Outreach: (7) type of voter
outreach provided to the public; (8)
outreach efforts coordinated with thirdparty/civic organizations; type of voter
outreach coordinated; type of
organizations with which the
jurisdiction works; (9) voter outreach
activities that focus on specific groups;
(10) cost of voter outreach efforts in
2010; (11) estimated cost of voter
outreach efforts in 2012; (12) how voter
outreach efforts were paid for; (13) ease
or difficulty of engaging in voter
outreach; (14) reasons outreach may
have been difficult.
Personnel: (15) number of paid fulltime, part-time, and temporary staff in
2010; (16) number of poll workers used
in 2010; (17) number of paid full-time,
part-time, and temporary staff in 2012;
(18) number of poll workers used in
2012; (19) poll worker pay; (20) sources
for recruiting poll workers; (21) ease or
difficulty of obtaining poll workers; (22)
reasons obtaining poll workers may
have been difficult; (23) jurisdiction
offer split shifts for poll workers; (24)
additional comments.

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Affected Public (Respondents): Local
governments that administer Federal
elections.
Affected Public: Local government.
Number of Respondents: 5,000.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Burden Per Response: 30
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1,500 hours.
Frequency: One-time data collection.
Mark A. Robbins,
Acting Executive Director, U.S. Election
Assistance Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012–11919 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Coal Council
Department of Energy.
Notice of open meeting.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

This notice announces a
meeting of the National Coal Council
(NCC). The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770)
requires that public notice of these
meetings be announced in the Federal
Register.
DATES: Thursday, June 7, 2012, 10:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Crowne Plaza Chicago
O’Hare, 5440 North River Road,
Rosemont, Illinois 60018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Robert J. Wright, U.S. Department of
Energy; 4G–036/Forrestal Building,
1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–1290;
Telephone: 202–586–0429.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of Meeting: The Coal Policy
Committee of the National Coal Council
will review the draft of a report
requested by Secretary of Energy Steven
Chu in a letter dated October 28, 2011,
to the Council.
SUMMARY:

Tentative Agenda
■ Review and action on the report.
■ Adjourn.
Public Participation: The meeting is
open to the public. If you would like to
file a written statement with the
Committee, you may do so either before
or after the meeting. If you would like
to make oral statements regarding any
potential items on the agenda, you
should contact Dr. Robert J. Wright,
202–586–0429 or
[email protected] (email). You
must make your request for an oral
statement at least 5 business days before
the meeting. Reasonable provision will
be made to include the scheduled oral

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