[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2436-2437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00529]
[[Page 2436]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L10300000.PH0000 19X LLWO220000]
Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects;
Eligibility Criteria
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing
eligibility and selection criteria for Tribal Biomass Demonstration
Project and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Project proposals
submitted for BLM-managed lands, as authorized by the Indian Tribal
Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017.
DATES: This Notice takes effect on January 15, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Additional information about this notice and program may be
obtained on the internet at https://www.blm.gov/https%3A//www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands/biomass-and-bioenergy/tribal-biomass.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Tague, Division Chief, Forest,
Range, Riparian, and Plant Conservation, telephone (202) 912-7222;
email, [email protected].
Persons who use a telecommunication device for the deaf may call
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. Tague
during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, to leave a message or question regarding the project. You
will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 202 of Public Law 115-325 amends the Tribal Forest
Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115(a) et seq.) for the purpose of
establishing tribal and Alaska Native biomass demonstration projects
for federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native corporations
to promote biomass energy production by providing reliable supplies of
woody biomass from Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands.
For Tribal Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires, for
each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary of Agriculture
and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into stewardship contracts
or similar agreements (excluding direct service contracts) with Indian
tribes to carry out at least four new demonstration projects to promote
biomass energy production (including biofuel, heat, and electricity
generation) on Indian forest land and in nearby communities by
providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from Federal land.
For Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires,
for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an
agreement or contract with an Indian tribe or a tribal organization to
carry out at least one new demonstration project to promote biomass
energy production (including biofuel, heat, and electricity generation)
by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from Federal land.
Indian tribe means: Any Indian tribe, band, nation or other
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as
eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians. (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).
Eligibility
To establish eligibility for a Tribal Biomass Demonstration
Project, an Indian tribe (as defined at (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)) must submit
an application with the following information:
(1) A description of the Indian forest land under the jurisdiction
of the Indian tribe;
(2) A description and location of the biomass utilization facility
including its annual biomass consumption and details related to the
application evaluation criteria;
(3) A map depicting the BLM lands being proposed for harvest; and
(4) A harvest plan proposing the means to carry out the biomass
harvest.
To establish eligibility for an Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration
Project, an Indian tribe (as defined at (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)) needs to
submit an application with the following information:
(1) A description and location of the biomass utilization facility,
including its annual biomass consumption and details related to the
application evaluation criteria;
(2) A map depicting the BLM lands being proposed for harvest; and
(3) A harvest plan proposing the means to carry out the biomass
harvest.
The statute allows the Secretary of the Interior to establish
additional criteria as needed. Such additional criteria will be posted
on the website established for this purpose (see ADDRESSES).
The eligibility applications comprise a collection of information
that requires a control number from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521). An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. For this reason, the BLM will
request an OMB control number for these applications.
Application Evaluation Criteria
In accordance with the Act, the BLM will evaluate applications by
assessing whether the proposed project would:
(1) Increase the reliability of local or regional energy;
(2) Enhance the economic development of the Indian tribe;
(3) Result in or improve the connection of electric power
transmission facilities serving the Indian tribe with other electric
transmission facilities;
(4) Improve the forest health or watersheds of Federal land or
Indian forest or rangeland; or
(5) Otherwise promote the use of woody biomass.
Contracts and Agreements Selection
In accordance with the Act, when evaluating applications the BLM
will also take into consideration the following factors:
(1) The status of the Indian tribe as an Indian tribe;
(2) The trust status of the Indian forest land or rangeland of the
Indian tribe;
(3) The cultural, traditional, and historical affiliation of the
Indian tribe with the land subject to the proposal;
(4) The treaty rights or other reserved rights of the Indian tribe
relating to the land subject to the proposal;
(5) The indigenous knowledge and skills of members of the Indian
tribe;
(6) The features of the landscape of the land subject to the
proposal, including watersheds and vegetation types;
(7) The working relationships between the Indian tribe and Federal
agencies in coordinating activities affecting the land subject to the
proposal; and
(8) The access by members of the Indian tribe to the land subject
to the proposal.
In accordance with the Act, the contract or agreement for a project
must exclude from consideration any merchantable logs that have been
identified for commercial sale.
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Submitting an Application
A federally recognized tribe may submit an application to the BLM
field office that has jurisdiction over the land where the project
would occur. The application should contain the information outlined in
the eligibility section of this notice.
Additional Information for Contract or Agreement Development
After receiving an application to verify eligibility, the BLM will
work with the tribe as appropriate to obtain additional information
necessary to develop the contract or agreement. The information may
include, but is not limited to:
(1) A description of the harvesting methods, annual harvest
tonnage, and transportation routes;
(2) A start date and duration of source area usage; and
(3) Information relevant to any necessary analysis of the project
under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Casey Hammond,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2020-00529 Filed 1-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P