Iafr001545__ssa_(1076-0174)

Supporting Statement A

Energy and Mineral Development Program Grants

OMB Control Number 1076-0174

Terms of Clearance: None.

General Instructions

A completed Supporting Statement A must accompany each request for approval of a collection of information. The Supporting Statement must be prepared in the format described below, and must contain the information specified below. If an item is not applicable, provide a brief explanation. When the question “Does this ICR contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?” is checked "Yes," then a Supporting Statement B must be completed. OMB reserves the right to require the submission of additional information with respect to any request for approval.

Specific Instructions

Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide grants to Indian Tribes for energy development and appropriates funds for such grants on a year-to-year basis. See 25 U.S.C. 3502 (a)(2)(B). When funding is available, the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD) may solicit applications for energy development projects from Indian Tribes whose lands are held in trust or restricted fee by the federal government under the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP). Indian Tribes that would like to apply for an EMDP grant must submit an application that includes certain information, and once funding is received, recipients must submit reports on how they are using the funding. Awards will be made either as a direct service to Tribes or pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA), 25 U.S.C. section 450, et seq. Tribal organizations, as defined at 25 U.S.C section 450b (l), are eligible for funding.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection. Be specific. If this collection is a form or a questionnaire, every question needs to be justified.

DEMD uses the information provided by Tribes in their application to determine whether they are eligible for EMPD funding. Indian Tribes that would like to apply for an EMDP grant must submit an application that includes certain information. A complete application must contain a current, signed Tribal resolution that provides sufficient information to authorize the project and comply with the terms of the grant; a proposal describing the planned activities and deliverable products; and a detailed budget estimate. The information collected in conjunction with the contract proposal also includes: the full name, address and telephone number of the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization proposing the contract; a copy of the authorizing resolution from the Indian Tribe(s) to be served; the date of submission of the proposal; a brief statement of the programs, functions, services, or activities that the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization proposes to perform, the amount of funds requested; and the proposed starting date and term of the contract. The DEMD requires this information to ensure that it provides funding only to those projects that meet the goals of the EMDP and purposes for which Congress provides the appropriation.

Upon acceptance of an application, a Tribe must then submit one – to two – page semi-annual progress reports summarizing events, accomplishments, problems and/or results in executing the project. A final report is required at the completion of the project, typically between 3 - 10 pages. Semi-annual and final reports assist DEMD staff with project monitoring of the EMDP program and ensure that projects are making adequate progress in achieving the project’s objectives. DEMD uses the application information in conjunction with the information provided in the Tribe’s reports to determine whether the Tribe is using the funding for the stated purpose of exploration, assessment, development, feasibility, or market studies.

Semi-annual reports consist of a brief narrative description of project performance for the specific six-month period. Final reports summarize the work completed in the project, conclusions to the performed work, and often the next steps the Tribe plans to take to move the project as a whole forward (beyond the grant application scope). Semi-annual and final reporting dates are listed in the Award Agreement Terms and Conditions.

The information is not disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden and specifically how this collection meets GPEA requirements.

DEMD accepts applications by Grants.gov and progress/final reports by email, Grants.gov, and by regular mail. DEMD requires a Tribal resolution authorizing the Tribe to submit the grant proposal for the EMDP to ensure the Tribal government is in favor of pursuing this funding opportunity.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

The information that DEMD collects is not available from any other source. The information collected is unique to each Tribe and unique to each Tribe’s plans for energy exploration, assessment, and development.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

Indian Tribes are not considered small entities, but they may finance small businesses that conduct the energy exploration, assessment, and development. To ensure that the burden of providing information is minimized, DEMD collects only information that is necessary for it to determine whether a Tribe is eligible for funding and whether the funding is being appropriately allocated.

Additionally, DEMD maintains extensive data and information on Tribal energy and mineral resources, including digital land grids, geographic information system (GIS) data, and imagery data for many reservations. Therefore, DEMD can often help with common requests such as well and production data, geophysical data (including seismic data), geology and engineering data. DEMD may have, or be able to obtain, much of the data needed for Tribes to submit requests, thereby reducing the anticipated cost for the Tribe’s project.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

If DEMD were unable to conduct this information collection, then Tribes would be deprived of funding that is statutorily authorized and appropriated. As a consequence, many Tribes that otherwise would be recipients of this funding would not be able to perform exploration, assessment, and development of energy resources, depriving them of the opportunity to economically benefit from such resources.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

* requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

* requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

* requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

* requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records, for more than three years;

* in connection with a statistical survey that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

* requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

* that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

* requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information, unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

There are no circumstances that require DEMD to collect the information in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and in response to the PRA statement associated with the collection over the past three years, and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every three years — even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

A 60-day notice for public comments was published in the Federal Register on September 22, 2025 (90 FR 45403) and no comments were received. In addition, we consulted 9 individuals – with relevant knowledge, to validate our time burden estimate and gather feedback on this collection of information – and received no additional feedback.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

DEMD does not provide gifts or payments to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

DEMD does not provide any assurance of confidentiality. The information that DEMD collects is subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

* Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

* If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens.

* Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here.

The program anticipates receiving approximately 83 applications each year, at 100 hours each, for a total of 8,300 hours. In addition, the program anticipates accepting 30 applicants, and each of those project participants will submit a progress report twice per year at 3 hours per report, for a total of 180 hours. Using the total compensation, including benefits, for all workers, the total annual reporting for this collection is estimated to be 8,480 hours or the amount equivalent to $407,464.

To obtain the hourly rate for Tribal government employees, we used the total compensation figure for all civilian workers from BLS Release USDL-25-1358, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation—June 2025, Table 2 Employer Costs for Employee Compensation for civilian workers, Civilian Workers, $48.05 total compensation. See http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf.

Regulation/ Activity	Annual Number of Respondents	Responses	Annual Number of Responses	Completion Time (hours) Per Response	Total Annual Hours	Annual Cost Burden
Applications – Tribal Govt	83	1	83	100	8,300	$398,815
Progress Reports - Tribal Govt	30	2	60	3	180	$8,649
Totals	113		143		8,480	$407,464

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual non-hour cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected in item 12.)

* The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life) and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information (including filing fees paid for form processing). Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

* If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

* Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

We have not identified any non-hour costs associated with this information collection.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

We estimate the annual cost to the Federal Government to administer this information collection to be $22,246.

We used a compensation rate of $77.78 (2026 calendar year, GS-12/step 5 at $48.61 multiplied by 1.6 account for benefits). See https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/26Tables/html/RUS_h.aspx for OPM data.

Regulation/ Activity	Total Annual Burden Hours	Hourly Rate	Annual Cost Burden
Registration administration	143	$77.78	$11,012
Collect and Assess Data	143	$77.78	$11,012
Totals	286		$22,246

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments in hour or cost burden.

Updates were made to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) compensation data contained in Sections 12 and 14.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

We will not publish the results of this information collection.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

We will display the OMB Control Number and expiration date on all appropriate materials.

18. Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.