(a) In calculating Tribal shares, BIA and FHWA use population data (which may be appealed) and specific prior-year data (which may not be appealed). Share calculations are based upon the requirements of 23 U.S.C. 202(b)(3)(B).

(b) Any appeal of a Tribe's population figure must be directed to Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indian Housing Office of Native American Programs. The population data used is the most recent data on American Indian and Alaska Native population within each Indian Tribe's American Indian/Alaska Native Reservation or Statistical Area. This data is computed under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.).

(c) Appeal processes regarding inventory submissions are found at § 170.444(c), design standards at § 170.457, and new uses of funds at § 170.113.

23 U.S.C. 202(b)(3)(A) provides the basis for the funding formula and its transition into use. The annual TTP funding amount available for distribution is determined as follows:

(a) The following set-asides are applied to the Tribal transportation program before the determination of final Tribal shares:

(1) Tribal transportation planning (23 U.S.C. 202(c));

(2) Tribal transportation facility bridges (23 U.S.C. 202(d));

(3) Tribal safety (23 U.S.C 202(e));

(4) Administrative expenses (23 U.S.C 202(a)(6)); and

(5) Tribal supplemental program (23 U.S.C. 202(b)(3)(C)).

(b) After deducting the set asides identified in paragraph (a) of this section, on October 1 of each fiscal year, the Secretaries will distribute the remainder authorized to be appropriated for the TTP among Indian Tribes as follows:

(1) For fiscal year 2016 and thereafter:

(i) For each Indian Tribe, 20 percent of the total relative need distribution factor and population adjustment factor as determined by the Tribal Transportation Allocation Methodology (see 25 CFR 170 dated July 19, 2004)) for the fiscal year 2011 funding amount made available to that Indian Tribe; and

(ii) The remainder using Tribal shares as described in § 170.201 and Tribal supplemental funding as described in § 170.202.

(2) [Reserved]

(a) Tribal shares are determined by using the NTTFI as calculated for fiscal year 2012, and the most recent data on American Indian and Alaska Native population within each Indian Tribe's American Indian/Alaska Native Reservation or Statistical Area, as computed under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), in the following manner:

(1) 27 percent in the ratio that the total eligible road mileage in each Tribe bears to the total eligible road mileage of all American Indians and Alaskan Natives. For the purposes of this calculation, eligible road mileage will be computed using only facilities included in the inventory described below:

(i) Were included in the BIA System Inventory prior to October 1, 2004;

(ii) Are owned by an Indian Tribal government;

(iii) Are owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(2) 39 percent in the ratio that the total population in each Tribe bears to the total population of all American Indians and Alaskan Natives; and

(3) 34 percent will be initially divided equally among each BIA Region.

(b) The share of funds will be distributed to each Indian Tribe within the BIA Region in the ratio that the average total relative need distribution factors and population adjustment factors from fiscal years 2005 through 2011 for a Tribe bears to the average total of relative need distribution factors and population adjustment factors for fiscal years 2005 through 2011 in that region.

(a) The total amount of funding made available for the Tribal supplemental program is determined as follows:

(1) If the amount made available for the TTP is less than or equal to $275,000,000, the Tribal supplemental funding amount will equal 30 percent of such amount.

(2) If the amount made available for the TTP exceeds $275,000,000, the Tribal supplemental funding will equal:

(i) $82,500,000; plus

(ii) 12.5 percent of the amount made available for the Tribal transportation program in excess of $275,000,000.

(b) The Tribal supplemental program funds will be distributed as follows:

(1) Initially, the Tribal supplemental program funding determined in paragraph (a) of this section will be designated among the BIA Regions in proportion to the regional total of Tribal shares based on the cumulative Tribal shares of all Indian Tribes within the region under § 170.201.

(2) After paragraph (b)(1) of this section is completed, the Tribal supplemental program funding designated for each region will be distributed among the Tribes within the region as follows:

(i) The Secretaries will determine which Tribes would be entitled under § 170.200 to receive in a fiscal year less funding than they would receive in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to the relative need distribution factor and population adjustment factor, as described in 25 CFR part 170, subpart C (in effect as of July 5, 2012); and

(ii) The combined amount that such Indian Tribes would be entitled to receive in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to such relative need distribution factor and population adjustment factor in excess of the amount that they would be entitled to receive in the fiscal year under § 170.200.

(c) Subject to paragraph (d) of this section, the Secretaries will distribute a combined amount to each Tribe that meets the criteria described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section a share of funding in proportion to the share of the combined amount determined under paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section attributable to such Indian Tribe.

(d) A Tribe may not receive under paragraph (b)(2) of this section and based on its Tribal share under § 170.200 a combined amount that exceeds the amount that such Indian Tribe would be entitled to receive in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to the relative need distribution factor and population adjustment factor, as described in 25 CFR part 170, subpart C.

(e) If the amount made available for a region under paragraph (b)(1) of this section exceeds the amount distributed among Indian Tribes within that region under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, The Secretaries will distribute the remainder of such region's funding under paragraph (b)(1) of this section among all Tribes in that region in proportion to the combined amount that each such Tribe received under § 170.200 and paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section.

Tribal transportation planning funds described in § 170.200(a)(1) are calculated pro rata to each Tribe's final percentage as determined under §§ 170.200 through 170.202. Upon request of a Tribal government and approval by the BIA Regional Office or FHWA, these funds are made available to the Tribes under applicable BIA and FHWA contracting procedures.

All TTP funds provided to Tribes can be expended only on eligible projects and activities identified in § 170.111 and included in an FHWA-approved TIP per 23 U.S.C. 202(b)(4)(B).

Not later than 30 days after the date on which funds are made available to the Secretary under this paragraph, the funds shall be distributed to, and made available for immediate use by, eligible Indian Tribes, in accordance with the formula for distribution of funds under the TTP. (See 23 U.S.C. 202(b)(4)(A).)

Yes. Tribes may use flexible financing in the same manner as States to finance TTP transportation projects, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

(a) Tribes may issue bonds or enter into other debt-financing instruments under 23 U.S.C. 122 with the expectation of payment of TTP funds to satisfy the instruments.

(b) Under 23 U.S.C. 603, the Secretary of Transportation may enter into an agreement for secured loans or lines of credit for TTP projects meeting the requirements contained in 23 U.S.C. 602. The secured loans or lines of credit must be paid from tolls, user fees, payments owing to the obligor under a public-private partnership or other dedicated revenue sources.

(c) Tribes may use TTP funds as collateral for loans or bonds to finance TTP projects. Upon the request of a Tribe, a BIA region or FHWA will provide necessary documentation to banks and other financial institutions.

(a) A Tribe can use TTP funds to leverage other funds.

(b) A Tribe can use TTP funds to pay back loans or other finance instruments (including those provided through an agreement with another Tribe) that were used for a project that:

(1) The Tribe paid for in advance of the current year using non-TTP funds;

(2) Was included in FHWA-approved TTPTIP; and

(3) Was included in the NTTFI at the time of construction.

Yes. A Tribe can apply for loans or credit from a State infrastructure bank. Upon the request of a Tribe, BIA region or FHWA will provide necessary documentation to a State infrastructure bank to facilitate obtaining loans and other forms of credit for a TTP project.

Tribes must identify each TTP project financed through flexible financing along with the repayment amount on their annual TTPTIP until the flexible financing instrument has been satisfied.

(a) In accordance with 23 U.S.C. 201(c)(6)(C), no later than 90 days after the last day of each fiscal year, any entity carrying out a project under the TTP under 23 U.S.C. 202 shall submit to the Secretaries, based on obligations and expenditures under the TTP during the preceding fiscal year, the following data:

(1) The names of projects and activities carried out by the entity under the TTP during the preceding fiscal year.

(2) A description of the projects and activities identified under paragraph (1) of this section;

(3) The current status of the projects and activities identified under paragraph (1) of this section; and

(4) An estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of jobs retained by the projects and activities identified under paragraph (1) of this section.

(b) FHWA and BIA shall provide an electronic portal to assist Tribes in submitting the data needed to fulfill the requirements of 23 U.S.C. 201(c)(6)(C).