[Federal Register: December 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 77060]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de06-96]
[[Page 77060]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 1813, Draft Report to Congress
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Publication of Draft Report to Congress.
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SUMMARY: Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58)
requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy
(Departments) to jointly conduct a study of issues related to energy
rights-of-way (ROWs) on tribal lands. The Act further directs the
Departments to submit a report to Congress on the findings of the
study. The Draft Report to Congress is available for review on the
Section 1813 Web site (http://1813.anl.gov).
DATES: Comments and suggestions on the Draft Report to Congress will be
accepted through February 5, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Mail, personal, or messenger delivery: Attention: Section 1813 ROW
Study, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Room 20--South
Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20245.
E-mail: IEED@bia.edu (please include the phrase ``Section 1813
Comments'' in the subject line).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darryl Francois (DOI Office of Indian
Energy and Economic Development) at (202) 219-0740, or Rollie Wilson
(DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability) at (202)
586-3946. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339, to contact the above individuals during business hours. FIRS
is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Comment Procedures
Commenting on the Draft Report to Congress written comments or
suggestions should: be specific and substantive; explain the reasoning
behind your comments and suggestions; and where possible, reference the
specific section or paragraph you are addressing. Comments, including
names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public
review at the address listed under ADDRESSES: Mail, personal, or
messenger delivery during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may
request confidentiality, which will be honored to the extent allowable
by law. Those wishing to withhold their name or address (except for the
city or town) must state this prominently at the beginning of their
comment. Submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be made available for public
inspection in their entirety.
II. Background
Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58)
requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy
(Departments) to jointly conduct a study of issues regarding grants,
expansions, and renewals of energy rights-of-way (ROWs) on tribal
lands. Section 1813 also requires the Departments to consult with
Indian tribes, the energy industry, appropriate governmental entities,
and affected businesses and consumers in the course of the study. The
Act further directs the Departments to submit a report to Congress on
the findings of the study, including: (1) An analysis of historic rates
of compensation paid for energy ROWs on tribal land; (2)
recommendations for appropriate standards and procedures for
determining fair and appropriate compensation to Indian tribes for
grants, expansions, and renewals of energy ROWs on tribal land; (3) an
assessment of the tribal self determination and sovereignty interests
implicated by applications for the grant, expansion, or renewal of
energy ROWs on tribal land; and (4) an analysis of relevant national
energy transportation policies relating to grants, expansions, and
renewals of energy ROWs on tribal land.
The Departments held a number of public meetings to seek input and
feedback from Indian tribes, the energy industry, appropriate
governmental entities, and affected businesses and consumers. In
addition, the Departments held a number of government-to-government
consultations with Indian tribes. On August 9, 2006, the Departments
released a first draft of the Report to Congress and accepted comments
on that draft report. This revised Draft Report to Congress reflects
the Departments' considered response to the substantial number of
comments received.
The Draft Report to Congress is available for review on the Section
1813 Web site (http://1813.anl.gov).
Dated: December 19, 2006.
Abraham E. Haspel,
Assistant Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 06-9835 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
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