BIA to Hold Tribal Consultation Meetings on Proposed Leasing Rules

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Native Brief: WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold tribal consultation meetings for tribal leaders to review and provide input on the proposed rules on leasing in Indian Country.

The proposed rules will establish subparts to 25 CFR Part 162 (Leasing and Permits) addressing residential leasing, business leasing and wind and solar resource leasing on Indian trust lands.

The proposed rule provides a 30 day limit for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to issue decisions on residential leases, subleases, and mortgages. For commercial or industrial development, the BIA would have 60 days to review leases and subleases. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs does not complete its review of subleases in this timeframe, those agreements will automatically go into effect.

Tribal leaders were notified of the upcoming consultation in a letter dated November 28, 2011.

The BIA schedule for the consultation meetings (all times are local):

Seattle, Washington

Date:     Tuesday January 10

Times:     8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Location:
The Arctic Club Seattle
Doubletree
700 3rd Avenue

Palm Springs, California

Date:     Thursday, January 12

Times:     8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Location:
Palm Springs Convention Center
277 N. Avenida Caballeros

Rapid City, South Dakota

Date:     Wednesday, January 18

Times:     8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Location:
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
444 N. Mt. Rushmore Rd

Comments can be submitted during the meetings, by email at consultation@bia.gov, or by US Postal Service, overnight carrier or hand delivery to:

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, US Department of the Interior
1849 C St NW
MS-4141-MIB
Washington DC 20240

posted January 7, 2011 6:00 am est