As used in these regulations:

Act means any act of Congress authorizing or directing the Secretary to prepare a roll of a specific tribe, band, or group of Indians.

Adopted person means a person whose natural parents' parental rights have been given to others to exercise by court order.

Approved roll means a roll of Indians approved by the Secretary.

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Basic roll means the specified allotment, annuity, census or other roll designated in the Act or Plan as the basis upon which a new roll is to be compiled.

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Descendant(s) means those persons who are the issue of the ancestor through whom enrollment rights are claimed; namely, the children, grandchildren, etc. It does not include collateral relatives such as brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. or adopted children, grandchildren, etc.

Director means the Area Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs area office which has administrative jurisdiction over the local field office responsible for administering the affairs of the tribe, band, or group for which a roll is being prepared or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Enrollee(s) means persons who have met specific requirements for enrollment and whose names appear on a particular roll of Indians.

Lineal ancestor means an ancestor, living or deceased, who is related to a person by direct ascent; namely, the parent, grandparent, etc. It does not include collateral relatives such as brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc., or adopted parents, grandparents, etc.

Living means born on or before and alive on the date specified.

Plan means any effective plan prepared under the provisions of the Act of October 19, 1973, Pub. L. 93-134, 87 Stat. 466, as amended, which authorizes and directs the Secretary to prepare a roll of a specific tribe, band, or group of Indians.

Secretary means the Secretary of Interior or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Sponsor means any person who files an application for enrollment or appeal on behalf of another person.

Staff Officer means the Enrollment Officer or other person authorized to prepare the roll.

Superintendent means the official or other designated representative of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in charge of the field office which has immediate administrative responsibility for the affairs of the tribe, band, or group for which a roll is being prepared.

Tribal Committee means the body of a federally recognized tribal entity vested with final authority to act on enrollment matters.

Tribal Governing Document means the written organizational statement governing the tribe, band, or group of Indians and/or any valid document, enrollment ordinance, or resolution enacted thereunder.

The regulations in this part 61 are to govern the compilation of rolls of Indians by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to statutory authority. The regulations are not to apply in the compilation of tribal membership rolls where the responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of such rolls rests with the tribes.

The Office of Management and Budget has informed the Department of the Interior that the information collection requirements contained in § 61.4 need not be reviewed by them under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

(a) The qualifications which must be met to establish eligibility for enrollment and the deadline for filing application forms will be included in this part 61 by appropriate amendments to this section; except that, when an Act or Plan states the qualifications for enrollment and the deadline for filing application forms and specifies that the regulations contained in this part 61 will apply, amendment to this section will not be required for the procedures contained in this part 61 to govern the preparation of the roll; provided further, the provisions contained in this part 61 that were in effect when the regulations were amended to include paragraphs (r), (s), (w), (x), (y), and (z) shall control the preparation of the rolls under paragraphs (r), (s), (w), (x), (y), and (z) of this section.

(b) Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians. (1) Pursuant to section 7(a) of the Act of December 31, 1982, Pub. L. 97-403, 96 Stat. 2022, a roll is to be prepared and used as the basis for the distribution of an apportioned share of judgment funds awarded the Pembina Chippewa Indians in dockets numbered 113, 191, 221 and 246 of the Court of Claims of all persons who:

(i) Are of at least 1/4 degree Pembina Chippewa blood;

(ii) Are citizens of the United States;

(iii) Were living on December 31, 1982;

(iv) Are not members of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, or Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, or the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians of Montana; and

(v) Are enrolled or are lineal descendants of persons enrolled:

(A) As Pembina descendants under the provisions of the Act of July 29, 1971 (85 Stat. 158), for the disposition of the 1863 Pembina Award, or

(B) On the McCumber roll of the Turtle Mountain Indians of 1892, or

(C) On the Davis roll of the Turtle Mountain Indians of 1904; or

(D) As Chippewa on the tentative roll of the Rocky Boy Indians of May 30, 1917, or the McLaughlin census report of the Rocky Boy Indians of July 7, 1917, or the Roe Cloud Roll of Landless Indians of Montana; or

(vi) Are able to establish Pembina ancestry on the basis of any other rolls or records acceptable to the Secretary.

(2) Application forms for eligibility must be filed with the Superintendent, Turtle Mountain Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Belcourt, North Dakota 58316, by March 10, 1986. Application forms filed after that date will be rejected for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for eligibility.

(3) Each application for enrollment as a member of any of the tribes specified in paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section, except the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, which may be rejected by the tribes shall be reviewed by the Superintendent to determine whether the applicant meets the qualifications for eligibility as a descendant of the Pembina Band of Chippewas under paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Each rejection notice shall contain a statement to the effect that the application is being given such review.

(c) Cherokee Band of Shawnee Indians. (1) Pursuant to section 5 of the Act of December 20, 1982, Pub. L. 97-372, 96 Stat. 1815, a roll is to be prepared and used as the basis for the distribution of an apportioned share of judgment funds awarded the Shawnee Tribe in dockets 64, 335, and 338 by the Indian Claims Commission and in docket 64-A by the U.S. Court of Claims of all persons of Cherokee Shawnee ancestry:

(i) Who were living on December 20, 1982;

(ii) Who are lineal descendants of the Shawnee Nation as it existed in 1854, based on the roll of the Cherokee Shawnee compiled pursuant to the Act of March 2, 1889 (25 Stat. 994), or any other records acceptable to the Secretary including eligibility to share in the distribution of judgment funds awarded the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma on behalf of the Shawnee Nation in Indian Claims Commission docket 334-B as a Cherokee Shawnee descendant; and

(iii) Who are not members of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma or the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

(2) Application forms for enrollment must be filed with the Director, Muskogee Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Building, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401, by May 9, 1986. Application forms filed after that date will be rejected for inclusion on the roll being prepared for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for enrollment.

(d) Miami Indians of Indiana. (1) Pursuant to section 3 of the Act of December 21, 1982, Pub. L. 97-376, 96 Stat. 1828, a roll is to be prepared and used as the basis for the distribution of an apportioned share of judgment funds awarded the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Miami Indians of Indiana in dockets 124-B and 254 by the U.S. Court of Claims of all persons of Miami Indian ancestry:

(i) Who were living on December 21, 1982;

(ii) Whose name or the name of a lineal ancestor appears on:

(A) The roll of Miami Indians of Oklahoma and Indiana prepared pursuant to the Act of June 2, 1972 (86 Stat. 199), or

(B) The roll of Miami Indians of Indiana of June 12, 1895, or

(C) The roll of “Miami Indians of Indiana, now living in Kansas, Quapaw Agency, I.T., and Oklahoma Territory,” prepared and completed pursuant to the Act of March 2, 1895 (28 Stat. 903), or

(D) The roll of the Eel River Miami Tribe of Indians of May 27, 1889, prepared and completed pursuant to the Act of June 29, 1888 (25 Stat. 223), or

(E) The roll of the Western Miami Tribe of Indians of June 12, 1891 (26 Stat. 1001); and

(iii) Who are not members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

(2) Application forms for enrollment must be filed with the Director, Muskogee Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Building, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401, by May 9, 1986. Application forms filed after that date will be rejected for inclusion on the roll being prepared for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for enrollment.

(e) Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. (1) Pursuant to section 5 of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Distribution of Judgment Funds Act of October 26, 1987, Pub. L. 100-139, a tribal membership roll is to be prepared comprised of all persons who are able to establish that they are of Cow Creek or other Indian ancestry indigenous to the United States based on any rolls or records acceptable to the Secretary and were not members of any other Federally recognized Indian tribe on July 30, 1987; and:

(i) Who are named on the tribal roll dated September 13, 1980, the so-called Interrogatory No. 14 roll;

(ii) Who are descendants of individuals named on the tribal roll dated September 13, 1980, the so-called Interrogatory No. 14 roll, and were born on or prior to October 26, 1987; or

(iii) Who are descendants of individuals who were considered to be members of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians for the purposes of the treaty entered between such Band and the United States on September 19, 1853.

(2) Application forms for enrollment must be filed with the Superintendent, Siletz Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 539, Siletz, Oregon 97380 by June 1, 1990. Application forms filed after that date will be rejected for inclusion on the tribal membership roll for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for enrollment.

(f) Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians descendants. (1) Pursuant to section 6(a)(1) of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Distribution of Judgment Funds Act of October 26, 1987, Pub. L. 100-139, a roll of nontribal members eligible to participate in the Higher Education and Vocational Training Program and the Housing Assistance Program of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is to be prepared of individuals:

(i) Who are descended from persons considered members of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians for purposes of the treaty entered into between such band and the United States on September 19, 1853 (10 Stat. 1027), as ratified by the Senate on April 12, 1854; and

(ii) Who did not share or are not descendants of persons who shared in the distribution of funds under the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Klamath Tribe of Indians located in the State of Oregon and the individuals members thereof, and for other purposes,” approved August 13, 1954 (25 U.S.C. 564 et seq.), or under the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of certain tribes and bands of Indians located in western Oregon and the individual members thereof, and for other purposes,” approved August 13, 1954 (25 U.S.C. 691 et seq.).

(2) Application forms for enrollment must be filed with the Superintendent, Siletz Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P. O. Box 539, Siletz, Oregon 97380. Upon receipt of an application form, the Superintendent shall furnish a copy to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

(g) Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians descendants. (1) Pursuant to section 6(a)(2) of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians Distribution of Judgment Funds Act of October 26, 1987, Pub. L. 100-139, a roll of nontribal members eligible to participate in the Elderly Assistance Program of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is to be prepared of individuals:

(i) Who are descended from persons considered members of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians for purposes of the treaty entered into between such Band and the United States on September 19, 1853 (10 Stat. 1027), as ratified by the Senate on April 12, 1854;

(ii) Who did not share or are not descendants of persons who shared in the distribution of funds under the Act entitled “An act to provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of the Klamath Tribe of Indians located in the State of Oregon and the individual members thereof, and for other purposes,” approved August 13, 1954 (25 U.S.C. 564 et seq.), or under the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the property of certain tribes and bands of Indians located in western Oregon and the individual members thereof, and for other purposes,” approved August 13, 1954 (25 U.S.C. 691 et seq.); and

(iii) Who were 50 years or older as of December 31, 1985.

(2) Application forms for enrollment must be filed with the Superintendent, Siletz Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P. O. Box 539, Siletz, Oregon 97380 by April 25, 1988, and with the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Application forms filed after that date will be rejected for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for eligibility for inclusion on the roll of persons eligible to participate in the Elderly Assistance Program, but will be considered for inclusion on the roll of persons eligible to participate in the Higher Education and Vocation Training Program and the Housing Assistance Program. Upon receipt of an application form, the Superintendent shall furnish a copy to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

(h) Indians of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. Pursuant to section 5 of the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act of October 31, 1988, Pub. L. 100-580, a roll of Indians of the Reservation eligible to participate in certain settlement provisions is to be prepared of all persons:

(1) Who were born on or prior to and living on October 31, 1988; and

(2) Who are citizens of the United States; and

(3) Who were not, on August 8, 1988, enrolled members of the Hoopa Valley Tribe; and

(4) Who meet the criteria to qualify as an “Indian of the Reservation” under one of the following standards established by the U.S. Court of Claims in its March 31, 1982, decision, and the United States Claims Court in its May 14, 1987, and March 1, 1988, decisions in the cases of Short v. United States, (Cl. Ct. No. 102-63):

(i) Standards A-E which are:

(A) Allottees of land on any part of the Reservation, living on October 1, 1949, and lineal descendants of allottees living on October 1, 1949;

(B) Persons living on October 1, 1949, and resident on the reservation at that time, who have received Reservation benefits or services, and hold an assignment, or can make other proof that though eligible to receive an allotment, they have not been allotted, and the lineal descendants of such persons, living on October 1, 1949;

(C) Persons living on June 2, 1953, who have at least 1/4 degree Reservation blood, as defined in paragraph (h)(6)(i) of this section, have forebears born on the Reservation and were resident on the Reservation for 15 years prior to June 2, 1953;

(D) Persons of at least 1/4 degree Indian blood, born after October 1, 1949, and before August 9, 1963, to a parent who is or would have been, when alive a qualified Indian of the Reservation under the standards in paragraphs (h)(4)(i) (A), (B) and (C) of this section, or has previously been held entitled to recover in the Short cases;

(E) Persons born on or after August 9, 1963, who are of at least 1/4 degree Indian blood, derived exclusively from the qualified parent or parents who is or would have been, when alive, a qualified Indian of the Reservation under the standards in paragraphs (h)(4)(i) (A), (B) and (C) of this section, or has previously been held entitled to recover in the Short cases; or

(ii) Manifest Injustice Standard which is: Persons who do not qualify under the standards in paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, but who it would be manifestly unjust to exclude from enrollment. To qualify under the manifest injustice standard, persons must adequately demonstrate all of the following:

(A) A significant degree of Indian blood (at least 1/4 degree Indian blood, and

(B) Personal connections to the Reservation shown through a substantial period of residence on the Reservation (nearly ten years of residence), and

(C) Personal ties to the land of the Reservation and/or ties to the land through a lineal ancestor; and

(5) Who file or have filed on their behalf application forms for enrollment with the Superintendent, Northern California Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 494879, Redding, California 96049, by April 10, 1989. Applications filed after that date will not be considered for inclusion on the roll regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for enrollment, except for plaintiffs determined to be an “Indian of the Reservation” in the Short cases, who will, if they otherwise meet the requirements of the Act, be included on the roll.

(6) As used in paragraph (h) of this section:

(i) Reservation blood means the blood of the following tribes or bands: Yurok; Hoopa/Hupa; Grouse Creek; Hunstand/Hoonsotton/Hoonsolton; Miskut/Miscotts/Miscolts; Redwood/Chilula; Saiaz/Nongatl/Siahs; Sermaltion; South Fork; Tish-tang-atan; Karok; Tolowa; Sinkyone/Sinkiene; Wailake/Wylacki; Wiyot/Humboldt; and Wintun.

(ii) Short cases means the cases entitled Jessie Short et al. v. United States, (Cl. Ct. No. 102-63); Charlene Ackley v. United States, (Cl. Ct. No. 460-78); Bret Aastadt v. United States, (Cl. Ct. No. 146-85L); and Norman Giffen v. United States, (Cl. Ct. No. 746-85L).

(i) [Reserved]

(j) Coquille Tribe of Indians. (1) Pursuant to section 7 of the Coquille Restoration Act of June 28, 1989, Pub. L. 101-42, a tribal membership roll is to be prepared comprised of persons of Coquille Indian ancestry:

(i) Who were born on or before and living on June 28, 1989;

(ii) Who possess at least one-eighth (1/8) degree or more Indian blood;

(iii) Who are not enrolled members of another federally recognized tribe; and

(iv) Whose names were listed on the Coquille roll prepared pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1954 (68 Stat. 979; 25 U.S.C. 771), and approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on August 29, 1960;

(v) Whose names were not listed on but who met the requirements to be listed on the Coquille roll prepared pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1954, and approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on August 29, 1960; or

(vi) Who are lineal descendants of persons, living or dead, identified in paragraphs (j)(1)(iv) and (j)(1)(v) of this section.

(2) To establish eligibility for inclusion on the tribal membership roll, all persons must file an application form with the Superintendent, Siletz Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 539, Siletz, Oregon 97380 by January 10, 1991. Application forms filed after that date will be rejected for inclusion on the roll being prepared for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for enrollment.

(3) For the purposes of establishing eligibility under paragraph (j) of this section, any available evidence establishing Coquille ancestry and the required degree of Indian blood shall be accepted. However, information shown on the Coquille roll prepared pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1954, shall be accepted as conclusive evidence of Coquille ancestry and blood degree information shown on the January 1, 1940, census roll of nonreservation Indians of the Grand Ronde-Siletz Agency shall be accepted as conclusive evidence in determining degree of Indian blood for applicants.

(4) For the purposes of establishing eligibility under paragraph (j) of this section, persons who may be enrolled members of another federally recognized tribe or tribes may submit a conditional relinquishment of membership document in the other tribe or tribes with their application forms. A conditional relinquishment of membership document in the other tribe or tribes with their application forms. A conditional relinquishment will be accepted by the Superintendent only if it is executed by the person himself or herself unless the person is legally incompetent, in which case the legal guardian and only the legal guardian may execute the conditional relinquishment document. In the case of minors, only the parent or legal guardian may execute a conditional relinquishment document.

(k)-(q) [Reserved]

(r) Mdewakanton and Wahpakoota Tribe of Sioux Indians. (1) All lineal descendants of the Mdewakanton and Wahpakoota Tribe of Sioux Indians who were born on or prior to and were living on October 25, 1972, whose names or the name of a lineal ancestor appears on any available records and rolls acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior and who are not members of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, the Lower Sioux Indian Community at Morton, Minn., the Prairie Island Indian Community at Welch, Minn., or the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota shall be entitled to be enrolled under title I, section 101(b) of the act of October 25, 1972 (86 Stat. 1168), to share in the distribution of funds derived from a judgment awarded the Mississippi Sioux Indians.

(2) Applications for enrollment must have been filed with the Director, Aberdeen Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 820 South Main Street, Aberdeen, S. Dak. 57401, and must have been received no later than November 1, 1973. Applications received after that date will be denied for failure to file in time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment.

(3) Each application for enrollment with any of the tribes named in paragraph (r)(1) of this section which may be rejected by the tribes shall be reviewed by the Director to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for enrollment as a descendant of the Mdewakanton and Wahpakoota Tribe of Sioux Indians under paragraph (r)(1) of this section. Each rejection notice issued by the tribes shall contain a statement to the effect that the application is being given such review.

(s) Sisseton and Wahpeton Mississippi Sioux Tribe. (1) Persons meeting the criteria in this paragraph are entitled to enroll under 25 U.S.C. 1300d-3(b) to share in the distribution of certain funds derived from a judgment awarded to the Mississippi Sioux Indians. To be eligible a person must:

(i) Be a lineal descendent of the Sisseton and Wahpeton Mississippi Sioux Tribe;

(A) Those individuals who applied for enrollment before January 1, 1998, and whose applications were approved by the Aberdeen Area Director before that same date, are deemed to appear in records and rolls acceptable to the Secretary or have a lineal ancestor whose name appears in these records;

(B) Those individuals who apply for enrollment after January 1, 1998, or whose application was not approved by the Aberdeen Area Director before that same date, must be able to trace ancestry to a specific Sisseton or Wahpeton Mississippi Sioux Tribe lineal ancestor who was listed on:

(1) The 1909 Sisseton and Wahpeton annuity roll;

(2) The list of Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux prisoners convicted for participating in the outbreak referred to as the “1862 Minnesota Outbreak”;

(3) The list of Sioux scouts, soldiers, and heirs identified as Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux on the roll prepared under the Act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 989 et seq., Chapter 543); or

(4) Any other Sisseton or Wahpeton payment or census roll that preceded a roll referred to in paragraphs (s)(1)(i)(B)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(ii) Be living on October 25, 1972;

(iii) Be a citizen of the United States;

(iv) Not be listed on the membership rolls for the following tribes:

(A) The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota;

(B) The Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska;

(C) The Lower Sioux Indian Community at Morton, Minnesota;

(D) The Prairie Island Indian Community at Welch, Minnesota;

(E) The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota;

(F) The Spirit Lake Tribe (formerly known as the Devils Lake Sioux of North Dakota);

(G) The Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; or

(H) The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation.

(v) Not be listed on the roll of Mdewakantan and Wahpakoota lineal descendants prepared under 25 U.S.C. 1300d-1(b).

(2) The initial enrollment application period that closed on November 1, 1973, is reopened as of May 24, 1999. The application period will remain open until further notice.

(t)-(v) [Reserved]

(w) Lower Skagit Tribe of Indians. (1) All persons of Lower Skagit ancestry born on or prior to and living on February 18, 1975, who are lineal descendants of a member of the tribe as it existed in 1859 based on the 1919 Roblin Roll and other records acceptable to the Assistant Secretary, shall be entitled to have their names placed on the roll, to be prepared and used as the basis to distribute the judgment funds awarded the Lower Skagit Tribe in Indian Claims Commission docket 294. Proof of Upper Skagit ancestry will not be acceptable as proof of Lower Skagit ancestry.

(2) Applications for enrollment must have been filed with the Superintendent, Puget Sound Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 3006 Colby Avenue, Everett, Washington 88201, and must have been received by close of business on May 31, 1977. Applications received after that date will be denied for failure to file in time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment.

(3) Payment of shares will be made in accordance with parts 87 and 115 of this chapter.

(x) Kikiallus Tribe of Indians. (1) All persons of Kikiallus ancestry born on or prior to and living on February 18, 1975, who are lineal descendants of a member of the tribe as it existed in 1859 based on the 1919 Roblin Roll and other records acceptable to the Assistant Secretary, shall be entitled to have their names placed on the roll, to be prepared and used as the basis to distribute the judgment funds awarded the Kikiallus Tribe in Indian Claims Commission docket 263.

(2) Applications for enrollment must have been filed with the Superintendent, Puget Sound Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 3006 Colby Avenue, Everett, Washington 98021, and must have been received by close of business on May 31, 1977. Applications received after that date will be denied for failure to file in time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment.

(3) Payment of shares will be made in accordance with parts 87 and 115 of this chapter.

(y) Swinomish Tribe of Indians. (1) All persons of Swinomish ancestry born on or prior to and living on December 10, 1975, who are lineal descendants of a member of the tribe as it existed in 1859 based on the 1919 Roblin Roll and other records acceptable to the Assistant Secretary, shall be entitled to have their names placed on the roll, to be prepared and used as the basis to distribute the judgment funds awarded the Swinomish Tribe in Indian Claims Commission docket 233.

(2) Application for enrollment must have been filed with the Superintendent, Puget Sound Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 3006 Colby Avenue, Everett, Washington 98201, and must have been received by close of business on May 31, 1977. Applications received after that date will be denied for failure to file in time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment.

(3) Payment of shares will be made in accordance with parts 87 and 115 of this chapter.

(z) Samish Tribe of Indians. (1) All persons of Samish ancestry born on or prior to and living on December 10, 1975, who are lineal descendants of a member of the tribe as it existed in 1859 based on any records acceptable to the Secretary, shall be entitled to have their names placed on the roll to be prepared and used as the basis to distribute the judgment funds awarded the Samish Tribe in Indian Claims Commission docket 261.

(2) Applications for enrollment must have been filed with the Superintendent, Puget Sound Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 3006 Colby Avenue, Everett, Washington 98201, and must have been received by close of business on May 31, 1977. Applicants received after that date will be denied for failure to file in time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment.

(3) Payment of shares will be made in accordance with parts 87 and 115 of this chapter.

(a) The Director or Superintendent shall give notice to all Directors of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and all Superintendents within the jurisdiction of the Director, of the preparation of the roll for public display in Bureau field offices. Reasonable efforts shall be made to place notices for public display in community buildings, tribal buildings, and Indian centers.

(b) The Director or Superintendent shall, on the basis of available residence data, publish, and republish when advisable, notices of the preparation of the roll in appropriate locales utilizing media suitable to the circumstances.

(c) The Director or Superintendent shall, when applicable, mail notices of the preparation of the roll to previous enrollees or tribal members at the last address of record or in the case of tribal members, the last address available.

(d) Notices shall advise of the preparation of the roll and the relevant procedures to be followed including the qualifications for enrollment and the deadline for filing application forms to be eligible for enrollment. The notices shall also state how and where application forms may be obtained as well as the name, address, and telephone number of a person who may be contacted for further information.

(a) Application forms to be filed by or for applicants for enrollment will be furnished by the Director, Superintendent, or other designated persons, upon written or oral request. Each person furnishing application forms shall keep a record of the names of individuals to whom forms are given, as well as the control numbers of the forms and the date furnished. Instructions for completing and filing applications shall be furnished with each form. The form shall indicate prominently the deadline for filing application forms.

(b) Among other information, each application form shall contain:

(1) Certification as to whether application form is for a natural child or an adopted child of the parent through whom eligibility is claimed.

(2) If the application form is filed by a sponsor, the name and address of sponsor and relationship to applicant.

(3) A control number for the purpose of keeping a record of forms furnished interested individuals.

(4) Certification that the information given on the application form is true to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person filing the application. Criminal penalties are provided by statute for knowingly filing false information in such applications (18 U.S.C. 1001).

(c) Application forms may be filed by sponsors on behalf of other persons.

(d) Every applicant or sponsor shall furnish the applicant's mailing address on the application form. Thereafter, the applicant or sponsor shall promptly notify the Director or Superintendent of any change in address, giving appropriate identification of the application, otherwise the mailing address as stated on the form shall be acceptable as the address of record for all purposes under the regulations in this part 61.

(a) Application forms filed by mail must be postmarked no later than midnight on the deadline specified. Where there is no postmark date showing on the envelope or the postmark date is illegible, application forms mailed from within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, received more than 15 days and application forms mailed from outside of the United States received more than 30 days after the deadline specified in the office of the designated Director or Superintendent, will be denied for failure to file in time.

(b) Application forms filed by personal delivery must be received in the office of the designated Director or Superintendent no later than close of business on the deadline specified.

(c) If the deadline for filing application forms falls on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or other nonbusiness day, the deadline will be the next working day thereafter.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply in the preparation of the rolls under paragraphs (r), (s), (w), (x), (y) and (z) of § 61.4.

If the Director or Superintendent is preparing a roll of Indians by adding names of eligible persons to and deleting names of ineligible persons from a previously approved roll, and individuals whose names appear on the previously approved roll are not required to file applications for enrollment, a verification form, to be completed and returned, shall be mailed to each previous enrollee using the last address of record. The verification form will be used to ascertain the previous enrollee's current name and address and that the enrollee is living, or if deceased, the enrollee's date of death. Name and/or address changes will only be made if the verification form is signed by an adult enrollee, if living, or the parent or guardian having legal custody of a minor enrollee, or an authorized sponsor. The verification form may also be used by any sponsor to notify the Director or Superintendent of the date of death of a previous enrollee.

The burden of proof rests upon the applicant or tribal member to establish eligibility for enrollment. Documentary evidence such as birth certificates, death certificates, baptismal records, copies of probate findings, or affidavits, may be used to support claim of eligibility for enrollment. Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs may be used to establish eligibility.

(a) If tribal review is applicable, the Director or Superintendent shall submit all applications to the Tribal Committee for review and recommendations or determinations; except that, in the cases of adopted persons where the Bureau of Indian Affairs has assured confidentiality to obtain the information necessary to determine the eligibility for enrollment of the individual or has the statutory obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the information, the confidential information may not be released to the Tribal Committee, but the Director or Superintendent shall certify as to the eligibility for enrollment of the individual to the Tribal Committee.

(b) The Tribal Committee shall review all applications and make its recommendations or determinations in writing stating the reasons for acceptance or rejection for enrollment.

(c) The Tribal Committee shall return the applications to the Director or Superintendent with its recommendations or determinations and any additional evidence used in determining eligibility for enrollment within 30 days of receipt of the applications by the Tribal Committee. The Director or Superintendent may grant the Tribal Committee additional time, upon request, for its review.

(d) Acceptance of an individual for enrollment by the Tribal Committee does not insure the individual's eligibility to share in the distribution of the judgment funds.

(a) The Director or Superintendent shall consider each application, all documentation, and when applicable, tribal recommendations or determinations.

(b) The Director or Superintendent, when tribal recommendations or determinations are applicable, shall accept the recommendations or determinations of the Tribal Committee unless clearly erroneous.

(1) If the Director or Superintendent does not accept the tribal recommendation or determination, the Tribal Committee shall be notified in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal delivery, of the action and the reasons therefor.

(2) The Tribal Committee may appeal the decision of the Director or Superintendent not to accept the tribal recommendation or determination. Such appeal must be in writing and must be filed pursuant to part 62 of this chapter.

(3) Unless otherwise specified by law or in a tribal governing document, the determination of the Director or Superintendent shall only affect the individual's eligibility to share in the distribution of judgment funds.

(c) The Director or Superintendent, upon determining an individual's eligibility, shall notify the individual, parent or guardian having legal custody of a minor, or sponsor, as applicable, in writing of the decision. If an individual files applications on behalf of more than one person, one notice of eligibility or adverse action may be addressed to the person who filed the applications. However, the notice must list the name of each person involved. Where an individual is represented by a sponsor, notification of the sponsor of eligibility or adverse action shall be considered to be notification of the individual.

(1) If the Director or Superintendent determines that the individual is eligible, the name of the individual shall be placed on the roll.

(2) If the Director or Superintendent determines that the individual is not eligible, he/she shall notify the individual's parent or guardian having legal custody of a minor, or sponsor, as applicable, in writing by certified mail, to be received by the addressee only, return receipt requested, and shall explain fully the reasons for the adverse action and the right to appeal to the Secretary. If correspondence is sent out of the United States, registered mail will be used. If a certified or registered notice is returned as “Unclaimed” the Director or Superintendent shall remail the notice by regular mail together with an acknowledgment of receipt form to be completed by the addressee and returned to the Director or Superintendent. If the acknowledgment of receipt is not returned, computation of the appeal period shall begin on the date the notice was remailed. Certified or registered notices returned for any reason other than “Unclaimed” need not be remailed.

(d) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a notice of adverse action is considered to have been made and computation of the appeal period shall begin on the earliest of the following dates:

(1) Of delivery indicated on the return receipt;

(2) Of acknowledgment of receipt;

(3) Of personal delivery; or

(4) Of the return by the post office of an undelivered certified or registered letter.

(e) In all cases where an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney shall be recognized as fully controlling the application on behalf of the applicant and service on the attorney of any document relating to the application shall be considered to be service on the applicant. Where an applicant is represented by more than one attorney, service upon one of the attorneys shall be sufficient.

(f) To avoid hardship or gross injustice, the Director or Superintendent may waive technical deficiencies in applications or other submissions. Failure to file by the deadline does not constitute a technical deficiency.

Appeals from or on behalf of tribal members or applicants who have been denied enrollment must be in writing and must be filed pursuant to part 62 of this chapter. When the appeal is on behalf of more than one person, the name of each person must be listed in the appeal. A copy of part 62 of this chapter shall be furnished with each notice of adverse action.

The decision of the Assistant Secretary on an appeal shall be final and conclusive and written notice of the decision shall be given the individual, parent or guardian having legal custody of a minor, or sponsor, as applicable. The name of any person whose appeal has been sustained will be added to the roll. Unless otherwise specified by law or in a tribal governing document, the determination of the Assistant Secretary shall only affect the individual's eligibility to share in the distribution of the judgment funds.

(a) The staff officer shall prepare a minimum of five copies of the roll of those persons determined to be eligible for enrollment. The roll shall contain for each person a roll number, name, address, sex, date of birth, date of death, when applicable, and when required by law, degree of Indian blood, and, in the remarks column, when applicable, the basic roll number, date of the basic roll, name and relationship of ancestor on the basic roll through whom eligibility was established.

(b) A certificate shall be attached to the roll by the staff officer or Superintendent certifying that to the best of his/her knowledge and belief the roll contains only the names of those persons who were determined to meet the qualifications for enrollment.

(c) The Director shall approve the roll.

To facilitate the work of the Director or Superintendent, the Assistant Secretary may issue special instructions not inconsistent with the regulations in this part 61.

As used in these regulations:

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior.

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Department means the Department of the Interior.

Director means the Area Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs area office which has administrative jurisdiction over the local field office responsible for administering the affairs of a tribe, band, or group of Indians or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or an authorized representative acting under delegate authority.

Sponsor means any authorized person, including an attorney, who files an appeal on behalf of another person.

Superintendent means the official or other designated representative of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in charge of the field office which has immediate administrative responsibility with respect to the affairs of a tribe, band, or group of Indians or an authorized representative acting under delegated authority.

Tribal committee means the body of a federally recognized tribal entity vested with final authority to act on enrollment matters.

Tribal governing document means the written organizational statement governing a tribe, band or group of Indians and/or any valid document, enrollment ordinance or resolution enacted thereunder.

Tribal member means a person who meets the requirements for enrollment in a tribal entity and has been duly enrolled.

(a) The regulations in this part are to provide procedures for the filing and processing of appeals from adverse enrollment actions by Bureau officials.

(b) The regulations in this part are not applicable and do not provide procedures for the filing of appeals from adverse enrollment actions by tribal committees, unless:

(1) The adverse enrollment action is incident to the preparation of a tribal roll subject to Secretarial approval; or

(2) An appeal to the Secretary is provided for in the tribal governing document.

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget regulations contained in 5 CFR 1320.3, approval of the information collection requirements contained in this part is not required.

(a) A person who is the subject of an adverse enrollment action may file or have filed on his/her behalf an appeal. An adverse enrollment action is:

(1) The rejection of an application for enrollment by a Bureau official incident to the preparation of a roll for Secretarial approval;

(2) The removal of a name from a tribal roll by a Bureau official incident to review of the roll for Secretarial approval;

(3) The rejection of an application for enrollment or the disenrollment of a tribal member by a tribal committee when the tribal governing document provides for an appeal of the action to the Secretary;

(4) The change in degree of Indian blood by a tribal committee which affects a tribal member when the tribal governing document provides for an appeal of the action to the Secretary;

(5) The change in degree of Indian blood by a Bureau official which affects an individual; and

(6) The certification of degree of Indian blood by a Bureau official which affects an individual.

(b) A tribal committee may file an appeal as provided for in § 61.11 of this chapter.

(c) A sponsor may file an appeal on behalf of another person who is subject to an adverse enrollment action.

(a) An appeal must be in writing and must be filed with the Bureau official designated in the notification of an adverse enrollment action, or in the absence of a designated official, with the Bureau official who issued the notification of an adverse enrollment action; or when the notification of an adverse action is made by a tribal committee with the Superintendent.

(b) An appeal may be on behalf of more than one person. However, the name of each appellant must be listed in the appeal.

(c) An appeal filed by mail or filed by personal delivery must be received in the office of the designated Bureau official or of the Bureau official who issued the notification of an adverse enrollment action by close of business within 30 days of the notification of an adverse enrollment action, except when the appeal is mailed from outside the United States, in which case the appeal must be received by the close of business within 60 days of the notification of an adverse enrollment action.

(d) The appellant or sponsor shall furnish the appellant's mailing address in the appeal. Thereafter, the appellant or sponsor shall promptly notify the Bureau official with whom the appeal was filed of any change of address, otherwise the address furnished in the appeal shall be the address of record.

(e) An appellant or sponsor may request additional time to submit supporting evidence. A period considered reasonable for such submissions may be granted by the Bureau official with whom the appeal is filed. However, no additional time will be granted for the filing of the appeal.

(f) In all cases where an appellant is represented by a sponsor, the sponsor shall be recognized as fully controlling the appeal on behalf of the appellant. Service of any document relating to the appeal shall be on the sponsor and shall be considered to be service on the appellant. Where an appellant is represented by more than one sponsor, service upon one of the sponsors shall be sufficient.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a notification of an adverse enrollment action will be mailed to the address of record or the last available address and will be considered to have been made and computation of the appeal period shall begin on:

(1) The date of delivery indicated on the return receipt when notice of the adverse enrollment action has been sent by certified mail, return receipt requested; or

(2) Ten (10) days after the date of the decision letter to the individual when notice of the adverse enrollment action has not been sent by certified mail return receipt requested and the letter has not been returned by the post office; or

(3) The date the letter is returned by the post office as undelivered whether the notice of the adverse enrollment action has been sent by certified mail return receipt requested or by regular mail.

(b) When notification of an adverse enrollment action is under the regulations contained in part 61 of this chapter, computation of the appeal period shall be in accordance with § 61.11.

(c) In computing the 30 or 60 day appeal period, the count begins with the day following the notification of an adverse enrollment action and continues for 30 or 60 calendar days. If the 30th or 60th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or other nonbusiness day, the appeal period will end on the first working day thereafter.

(a) The burden of proof is on the appellant or sponsor. The appeal should include any supporting evidence not previously furnished and may include a copy or reference to any Bureau or tribal records having a direct bearing on the action.

(b) Criminal penalties are provided by statute for knowingly filing false or fraudulent information to an agency of the U.S. government (18 U.S.C. 1001).

Whenever applicable, the Superintendent or Director shall notify the tribal committee of the receipt of the appeal and shall give the tribal committee the opportunity to examine the appeal and to present such evidence as it may consider pertinent to the action being appealed. The tribal committee shall have not to exceed 30 days from receipt of notification of the appeal in which to present in writing such statements as if may deem pertinent, supported by any tribal records which have a bearing on the case. The Director or Superintendent may grant the tribal committee additional time, upon request, for its review.

When an appeal is from an adverse enrollment action taken by a Superintendent or tribal committee, the Superintendent shall acknowledge in writing receipt of the appeal and shall forward the appeal to the Director together with any relevant information or records; the recommendations of the tribal committee, when applicable; and his/her recommendations on the appeal.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, when an appeal is from an adverse enrollment action taken by a Superintendent or tribal committee, the Director will consider the record as presented together with such additional information as may be considered pertinent. Any additional information relied upon shall be specifically identified in the decision. The Director shall make a decision on the appeal which shall be final for the Department and which shall so state in the decision. The appellant or sponsor will be notified in writing of the decision. Provided that, the Director may waive his/her authority to make a final decision and forward the appeal to the Assistant Secretary for final action.

(b) When an appeal is from an adverse enrollment action taken by a Director, the Director shall acknowledge in writing receipt of the appeal and shall forward the appeal to the Assistant Secretary for final action together with any relevant information or records; the recommendations of the tribal committee, when applicable; and his/her recommendations.

(c) The Director shall forward the appeal to the Assistant Secretary for final action together with any relevant information or records; the recommendations of the tribal committee, when applicable; and his/her recommendations when the adverse enrollment action which is being appealed is either:

(1) The change in degree of Indian blood by a tribal committee which affects a tribal member and the tribal governing document provides for an appeal of the action to the Secretary; or

(2) The change in degree of Indian blood by a Bureau official which affects an individual.

The Assistant Secretary will consider the record as presented, together with such additional information as may be considered pertinent. Any additional information relied upon shall be specifically identified in the decision. The Assistant Secretary shall make a decision on the appeal which shall be final for the Department and which shall so state in the decision. The appellant or sponsor will be notified in writing of the decision.

To facilitate the work of the Director, the Assistant Secretary may issue special instructions not inconsistent with the regulations in this part 62.

As used in this part:

Act means the Act of Congress approved April 30, 1990, Public Law 101-277, 104 Stat. 143, which authorizes the use and distribution of funds awarded the Seminole Indians in Dockets 73, 151, and 73-A of the Indian Claims Commission.

Adopted person means a person whose natural parents' parental rights have been terminated by court order and persons other than the natural parents have exercised or do exercise parental rights with regard to the adopted person.

Applicant means a person who is making application for inclusion on the roll prepared by the Secretary pursuant to the Act of April 30, 1990, by either personally filing an application or by having a sponsor complete and file an application on his or her behalf.

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs or authorized representative.

BIA means the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.

Commissioner means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or authorized representative.

Director means the Area Director, Eastern Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs or authorized representative.

Lineal descendant(s) means those persons who are the issue of the ancestor through whom enrollment rights are claimed; namely, the children, grandchildren, etc. It does not include collateral relatives such as brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc., or adopted children, adopted grandchildren, etc.

Living means born on or before and alive on the date specified.

Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or authorized representative.

Sponsor means any person who files an application for enrollment or an appeal on behalf of another person.

Superintendent means the Superintendent, Seminole Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs or authorized representative.

The regulations in this part govern the compilation of a roll of persons who meet the requirements specified in section 7 of the Act who will be eligible to share in the distribution of a portion of the judgment funds awarded the Seminole Indians in Dockets 73, 151, and 73-A of the Indian Claims Commission.

The information collection requirement contained in this part does not require approval by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

(a) The roll shall contain the names of persons of Seminole Indian descent who:

(1) Were born on or before, and living on April 30, 1990;

(2) Are listed on or who are lineal descendants of persons listed on the annotated Seminole Agency Census of 1957 as Independent Seminoles; and

(3) Are not members of an Indian tribe recognized by the Secretary on the most recent list of such Indian tribes published in the Federal Register.

(b) To qualify for enrollment, all persons must file application forms with the Superintendent, Seminole Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 6075 Stirling Road, Hollywood, Florida 33024 by June 19, 1994. An application filed after June 19, 1994 will be rejected for failure to file on time regardless of whether the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications for enrollment.

(a) The Director shall give notice to all Area Directors of the BIA and all Superintendents within the jurisdiction of the Director of the preparation of the roll for public display in BIA field offices. Notices shall be placed for public display in community buildings, tribal buildings and Indian centers.

(b) The Superintendent shall, on the basis of available residence data, publish, and republish when advisable, notices of the preparation of the roll in appropriate localities utilizing media suitable to the circumstances.

(c) Notices shall advise of the preparation of the roll and the relevant procedures to be followed, including the qualifications for enrollment and the deadline for filing application forms to be eligible for enrollment. The notices shall also state how and where application forms may be obtained, as well as the name, address, and telephone number of a person who may be contacted for further information.

(a) Application forms to be filed by or for applicants for enrollment shall be furnished by the Area Director, Superintendent, or other designated persons upon written or oral request. Each person furnishing application forms shall keep a record of the names of individuals to whom forms are given, as well as the control numbers of the forms and the date furnished. Instructions for completing and filing application forms shall be furnished with each form. The form shall indicate prominently the deadline date for filing application forms.

(b) Among other information, each application form shall contain:

(1) Certification as to whether the application form is for a natural child or an adopted child of the parent through whom eligibility is claimed.

(2) If the application form is filed by a sponsor, the name and address of the sponsor and the sponsor's relationship to the applicant.

(3) A control number for the purpose of keeping a record of forms furnished to interested individuals.

(4) Certification that the information given on the application form is true to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person filing the application. Criminal penalties are provided by statute for knowingly filing false information in such applications (18 U.S.C. 1001).

(5) An election by the applicant as to whether the applicant, if determined to meet the qualifications for enrollment, wishes to share in the per capita payment.

(c) Sponsors may file application forms on behalf of other persons, but may not file elections to share in the per capita payment.

(1) The election to share in the per capita payment shall be made as follows:

(i) If the applicant is a competent adult, the election shall be made by the applicant.

(ii) If the applicant is not a competent adult, the election shall be made by the applicant's legal guardian.

(iii) If the applicant is a minor, the election shall be made by the applicant's parent or legal guardian.

(2) When an application is filed by a sponsor, the Superintendent shall:

(i) Furnish the sponsor a copy of the application for forwarding to the applicant or his/her guardian for completion of the election to share in the per capita payment; and

(ii) Make a reasonable effort to furnish a copy of the application directly to the applicant or his/her guardian for completion of the election to share in the per capita payment.

(d) Every applicant or sponsor shall furnish the applicant's mailing address on the application form. Thereafter, the applicant or sponsor shall promptly notify the Superintendent of any change in address, giving appropriate identification of the applicant. Otherwise, the mailing address as stated on the application form shall be accepted as the address of record for all purposes under the regulations in this part.

(a) Application forms filed by mail must be postmarked no later than midnight on the deadline date specified in § 67.4(b). Where there is no postmark date showing on the envelope or the postmark date is illegible, application forms mailed from within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, received more than 15 days after the specified deadline, and application forms mailed from outside of the United States received more than 30 days after the specified deadline in the office of the Superintendent, will be rejected for failure to file in time.

(b) Application forms filed by personal delivery must be received in the office of the Superintendent no later than close of business on the deadline date specified in § 67.4(b).

(c) If the deadline date for filing application forms falls on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or other nonbusiness day, the deadline will be the next working day thereafter.

The burden of proof rests upon the applicant to establish eligibility for enrollment. Documentary evidence such as birth certificates, death certificates, baptismal records, copies of probate findings, or affidavits may be used to support claims of eligibility for enrollment. Records of the BIA may be used to establish eligibility.

(a) The Superintendent shall notify each individual applicant or sponsor, as applicable, upon receipt of an application. The Superintendent shall consider each application and all documentation. Upon determining an individual's eligibility, the Superintendent shall notify the individual; the parent or guardian having legal custody of a minor or incompetent adult; or the sponsor, as applicable.

(1) Written notification of the Superintendent's decision shall be sent to the applicant by certified mail, for receipt by the addressee only, return receipt requested.

(2) If a decision by the Superintendent is sent out of the United States, registered mail will be used. If a certified or registered notice is returned as “Unclaimed,” the Superintendent shall remail the notice by regular mail together with an acknowledgment of receipt form to be completed by the addressee and returned to the Superintendent. If the acknowledgment of receipt is not returned, computation of the period specified for changes in election and for appeals shall begin on the date the notice was remailed. A certified or registered notice returned for any reason other than “Unclaimed” need not be remailed.

(3) If an individual files an application on behalf of more than one person, one notice of eligibility or adverse action may be addressed to the person who filed the applications. However, the notice must list the name of each person to whom the notice is applicable. Where an individual is represented by a sponsor, notification to the sponsor of eligibility or adverse action shall be considered notification to the individual.

(b) On the basis of an applicant's election with regard to whether he or she wishes to share in the per capita payment, the Superintendent's decision shall also state whether the applicant's name will be included on the per capita payment roll. If no election has been made by the applicant, parent, or legal guardian on the application form, the individual applicant's name will not be included on the per capita payment roll.

(1) The eligible individual will have 30 days from notification of his or her eligibility in which to request a change in the election of whether to share in the per capita payment. Computation of the 30-day period will be in accordance with § 67.9(a)(2) and § 67.9(d). Upon written request received within the 30-day period, to avoid hardship or gross injustice, the Superintendent may grant an applicant additional time, not to exceed 30 days, in which to submit a request for a change in election.

(2) A change in the election of whether to share in the per capita payment can only be made by competent adult applicants; by the legal guardian of an incompetent adult; or, in the case of a minor, by the minor's parent or legal guardian.

(c) If the Superintendent determines that an applicant is not eligible for enrollment as an Independent Seminole Indian of Florida, the Superintendent shall notify the applicant of the decision and shall fully explain the reasons for the adverse action and explain the rejected applicant's right to appeal to the Area Director. The decision of the Area Director shall be final and conclusive.

(d) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a notice of adverse action concerning an individual's enrollment eligibility or the inclusion or exclusion of an individual's name on the per capita payment roll is considered to have been made, and computation of the period for appeal shall begin on the earliest of the following dates:

(1) Delivery date indicated on the return receipt;

(2) Date of acknowledgment of receipt;

(3) Date of personal delivery; or

(4) Date of return by the post office of an undelivered certified or registered letter.

(e) To avoid hardship or gross injustice, the Area Director or the Superintendent may waive technical deficiencies in application forms or other submittals. Failure to file by the deadline date does not constitute a technical deficiency.

(a) Appeals from or on behalf of applicants who have been rejected for enrollment must be in writing and must be filed pursuant to part 62 of this chapter. When the appeal is on behalf of more than one person, the name of each person must be listed in the appeal.

(b) A copy of part 62 of this chapter shall be furnished with each notice of adverse action. All sections of part 62 shall be applicable to appeals filed under this part except §§ 62.10, 62.11 and 62.12.

(a) The Area Director will consider the record as presented, together with such additional information as may be considered pertinent. Any additional information relied upon shall be specifically identified in the decision.

(b) The decision of the Area Director on an appeal shall be final and conclusive, and written notice, which shall state that the decision is final and conclusive, shall be given to the individual applicant, parent, legal guardian, or sponsor, as applicable.

(c) If an individual files an appeal on behalf of more than one applicant, one notice of the Area Director's decision may be addressed to the person who filed the appeal. The Area Director's decision must list the name of each person to whom the decision is applicable. Where an individual applicant is represented by a sponsor, notification to the sponsor of the Area Director's decision is sufficient.

(d) Written notice of the Area Director's decision on the appeal shall be sent to the applicant by certified mail, to be received by the addressee only, return receipt requested.

(1) On the basis of the individual's election with regard to whether he or she wishes to share in the per capita payment, the Area Director's decision shall also state whether the individual's name will be included on the per capita payment roll. If no election is made by the individual applicant, parent, or legal guardian, the individual's name will not be included on the per capita payment roll.

(2) The eligible individual will have 30 days from notification of his or her eligibility in which to request a change in the election of whether to share in the per capita payment. Computation of the 30-day period will be in accordance with § 67.9(a)(2) and § 67.9(d). Upon written request received within the 30-day period, to avoid hardship or gross injustice, the Area Director may grant additional time, not to exceed 30 days, in which to submit a request for a change in election.

(3) The change in the election of whether to share in the per capita payment can only be made by adult applicants, or by the legal guardian of an incompetent adult, or in the case of minors, by the parents or legal guardian of such minors.

The decision of the Area Director on appeal, which shall be final for the Department, is subject to judicial review under 5 U.S.C. 704.

(a) The Superintendent shall prepare a minimum of three (3) copies of the roll of those persons determined to be qualified for enrollment as an Independent Seminole Indian of Florida. The roll shall contain for each person a roll number or identification number, name, address, sex, date of birth, date of death (when applicable), and the name and relationship of the ancestor on the annotated Seminole Agency Census of 1957 through whom eligibility for enrollment was established.

(b) A certificate shall be attached to the roll by the Superintendent certifying that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, the roll contains only the names of those persons who were determined to meet the qualifications for enrollment.

(c) The Area Director shall approve the roll.

(a) The Superintendent shall, based on the roll approved under § 67.12(c), prepare a per capita payment roll. The payment roll shall be comprised of those persons whose names appear on the approved roll and who have elected to share in the per capita payment.

(b) The per capita payment roll shall contain for each person a roll number or identification number, name, and address.

(c) The Area Director shall authorize the distribution of the judgment funds to those persons named on the per capita payment roll.

To facilitate the work of the Superintendent and Area Director, the Assistant Secretary may issue special instructions not inconsistent with the regulations in this part.

As used in this part:

(a) Band means the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.

(b) Reservation means the lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the counties of Jackson, Swain, Graham, Cherokee and Haywood in North Carolina.

(c) Tribal Council means the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.

(d) Announcement means the announcement of the revision of the membership roll issued as required in § 75.3.

(e) Tribal Enrollment Office means the Tribal Enrollment Clerk working in concert with the Enrollment Committee.

(f) Tribal Enrollment Clerk means the individual working in the Tribal Enrollment Office.

(g) Enrollment Committee means the three individuals appointed by the Tribal Council in accordance with § 75.12.

The regulations in this part are to govern the revision, as authorized by the Act approved August 21, 1957 (71 Stat. 374), of the membership roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, North Carolina, prepared and approved in accordance with the Act of June 4, 1924 (43 Stat. 376), and the Act of March 4, 1931 (46 Stat. 1518).

When the Tribal Council has authorized the expenditure of tribal funds to supply sufficient staff to perform the work necessary to revise the membership roll of the Band and such staff has been employed and when the application forms and other necessary documents have been devised and printed, the Principal Chief, or in his absence the Vice Chief or the Chairman of the Tribal Council shall announce that a revision of the membership roll of the Band shall commence on a specified date. The date specified shall be not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days from the date of issuance of the announcement. A press release should be prepared announcing the date the revision of the roll shall begin, together with other pertinent information such as the membership requirements and where application forms may be obtained. The press release should be distributed to all newspapers and radio stations within the region of the Reservation with a request that it be given wide publicity. Copies of the press release should also be posted in the Agency Office and at various other public places throughout the Reservation as well as in Post Offices of the towns adjacent to the Reservation.

All persons whose names appear on the roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, prepared and approved pursuant to the act of June 4, 1924 (43 Stat. 376), and the act of March 4, 1931 (46 Stat. 1518), shall be members of the Band.

The name of any person who was not alive as of midnight August 21, 1957, shall be stricken from the basic membership roll by the Tribal Enrollment Office upon receipt of a death certificate or other evidence of death acceptable to the Tribal Enrollment Office.

There shall be added to the roll of the Band the names of persons living on August 21, 1957, who meet the following qualifications:

(a) Persons born during the period, beginning on or after June 4, 1924, and ending midnight August 21, 1957, who are direct descendants of persons whose names appear on the roll prepared and approved pursuant to the act of June 4, 1924 (43 Stat. 376), and the act of March 4, 1931 (46 Stat. 1518); provided, such persons:

(1) Who applied for membership before August 14, 1963 possess at least 1/32 degree of Eastern Cherokee Indian blood, and those persons who apply for membership on or after August 14, 1963, possess at least 1/16 degree Eastern Cherokee Indian blood, except that persons who also possess Indian blood of another tribe shall not be enrolled if they are enrolled as members of the other tribe.

(2) Have themselves or have parents who have maintained and dwelt in a home at sometime during the period from June 4, 1924, through August 21, 1957, on the lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in the counties of Swain, Jackson, Graham, Cherokee and Haywood in North Carolina, except that this specific part of this section shall not apply to those persons and members of their families who were temporarily away from the Reservation due to one or both parents being in the U.S. Armed Services or who were employed by the U.S. Government and neither shall it apply to those individuals who were in mental or penal institutions during this period of time.

(3) Have filed an application for enrollment with the Band in accordance with the procedures set forth in this part.

(b) A child born out of wedlock to a mother who is either an enrolled member of the Band, or who meets the qualifications for enrollment as a member, may be enrolled if such child otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment as set forth in this section.

(c) A child born out of wedlock to a mother who is not a member of the Band may be enrolled if the mother files with the Enrollment Committee proof established in accordance with the laws of North Carolina as to the paternity of the child and the person adjudged to be the father is either an enrolled member of the Band, or meets the requirements for enrollment as a member, and if the child otherwise meet the requirements for enrollment as set forth in this section.

Each adult person who believes he meets the requirements for enrollment established herein may submit to the Tribal Enrollment Office an application for enrollment as a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Applications for enrollment of minors may be filed by the parent, next of kin, recognized guardian, or other person responsible for their care. Applications for enrollment of persons known to be in mental or penal institutions may be filed by the Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee.

The form of application for enrollment will be prepared by the Tribal Enrollment Office and, in addition to whatever information the Enrollment Committee may deem necessary, shall contain the following:

(a) The name and address of the applicant. If the application is filed on behalf of a minor, the name and address of the person filing the application and his relationship to the minor.

(b) The name, relationship, tribe and roll number of the ancestor or ancestors through whom enrollment rights are claimed, and whether applicant is enrolled with another tribe.

(c) The date of death of such ancestor, if deceased.

Application forms will be supplied by the Tribal Enrollment Office of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Council House, Cherokee, N.C. 28719, upon request, either in person or by mail.

If the applicant's parents or other Eastern Cherokee ancestors through whom the applicant claims enrollment rights are unknown to the Tribal Enrollment Office, the Tribal Enrollment Office may request the applicant to furnish such additional information and evidence as it may deem necessary to determine the applicant's eligibility for enrollment. Failure of the applicant to furnish the information requested may be deemed sufficient cause for rejection.

The Tribal Council shall appoint either from within or without the membership of the Council, but not from without the membership of the Band, a committee of three (3) persons to serve as the Enrollment Committee. The Enrollment Committee shall review all applications for enrollment filed in accordance with the existing regulations, and shall determine the qualifications of the applicant for enrollment with the Band. The Enrollment Committee may perform such other functions relating to the enrollment and membership in the Band as the Tribal Council may from time to time direct.

The members of the Enrollment Committee shall be appointed to serve a term of office of 2 years by each newly elected Tribal Council.

Any person whose application for enrollment has been rejected by the Enrollment Committee shall have the right to appeal to the Tribal Council from the determination made by the Enrollment Committee: Provided, That such appeal shall be made in writing and shall be filed in the office of the Principal Chief for presentation to the Tribal Council within sixty (60) days from the date on which the Enrollment Committee issues notice to the applicant of his rejection. The applicant may submit with his appeal any additional data to support his claim to enrollment not previously furnished. The decision of the Tribal Council as to whether the applicant meets the requirements for enrollment set forth in this part shall be final. The Tribal Council shall review no applications for enrollment except in those cases where the rejected applicant appeals to the Council in writing from the determination made by the Enrollment Committee.

(a) Persons possessing one-sixteenth or more degree Eastern Cherokee Indian blood and born after August 21, 1957, may be enrolled in either of the following manners:

(1) An application to have the person enrolled must be filed by or on behalf of the person by the parent or recognized guardian or person responsible for his care, which application shall be accompanied by the applicant's birth certificate or by other evidence of eligibility of the applicant for enrollment that the Tribal Enrollment Office may require.

(2) In the absence of such application within 6 months after a person's birth, the Tribal Enrollment Office shall be authorized and encouraged to obtain evidence relating to the eligibility of the person for enrollment in the Eastern Band, and present an application in his behalf to the Enrollment Committee which may proceed to enroll the person if the evidence submitted meets the criteria.

(b) A person adopted in accordance with applicable laws by either tribal members or nonmembers, shall be considered for enrollment as a tribal member if the person otherwise meets the requirements for enrollment.

(c) A person born to an enrolled member of the Band and an enrolled member of another Tribe, and said person is enrolled in the other Tribe, may be transferred from the rolls of the other and added to the rolls of the Eastern Band if he meets the general requirements for enrollment and, in addition:

(1) A death certificate or other acceptable evidence of the death of the parent enrolled in the other Tribe is received and the surviving parent who is a member of the Eastern Band makes application for enrollment by way of transfer.

(2) Upon receipt of divorce documents in the Tribal Enrollment Office, there is evidence of custody of the minors being awarded to the parent who is a member of the Band and the parent awarded custody makes application for enrollment of the minors with the Eastern Band by way of transfer.

(d) In order for a child to be enrolled under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, either:

(1) An application to have the child enrolled must be filed on behalf of the child by the parent or recognized guardian or person responsible for his care, which application shall be accompanied by the child's birth certificate or by other evidence as to the eligibility of the child for enrollment as the Enrollment Committee may require, which application must be filed within one year from the date of birth of such child, or

(2) In the absence of such application, the Tribal Enrollment Committee may on its own motion, proceed to enroll any eligible child upon receipt by it of such evidence as shall satisfy the Committee as to the eligibility of the child to be enrolled, within one year from date of birth of such child.

Any member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians may relinquish his membership in the Band by filing notice in writing that he no longer desires to be enrolled as a member of the Band. On receipt of such notice the name of the members shall be stricken from the roll and he shall no longer be considered as a member of the Band and shall not be entitled to share in any use or in any distribution of tribal assets which may be made in the future to the enrolled members of the Band.

The membership roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina will be brought up to date as of October 10, 1974, to serve as the basis for distributing certain judgment funds awarded to the Band in Indian Claims Commission dockets 282-A through L.

(a) Filing of and action on applications shall be in accordance with regulations in this part 75, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section.

(b) In lieu of notice provisions contained in § 75.3, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his authorized representative shall provide notice of the bringing up to date of the membership roll through publication of these amended regulations in the Federal Register and through appropriate press releases and other public notices.

(c) Application forms may be obtained from the Tribal Enrollment Office of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Council House, Cherokee, North Carolina 28719. Completed applications must be received by the Tribal Enrollment Office no later than midnight January 8, 1975.

(d) Requests for applications for enrollment in the Band received after midnight of the deadline date will not be furnished until after the funds have been distributed.

(e) In lieu of the procedures given in § 75.14, appeals from rejected applicants must be in writing and filed pursuant to part 62 of this subchapter, a copy of which shall be furnished with each notice of rejection.

(f) The Tribal Council and the Superintendent shall attach separate statements to the roll certifying that to the best of their knowledge and belief, the roll contains only the names of those persons who were determined to meet the requirements for enrollment. The roll shall then be submitted through the Area Director to the Commissioner for approval.

(g) To facilitate the work of the Tribal Enrollment Committee the Commissioner may issue special instructions not inconsistent with the regulations in this part 75.

As used in this part:

(a) Adult Indian means any Indian as defined in paragraph (i) of this section who has attained the age of 18 years.

(b) Amendment means any modification, change, or total revision of a constitution or charter.

(c) Authorizing Officer means the Bureau of Indian Affairs official having authority to authorize the calling of a Secretarial election.

(d) Cast ballot means an official ballot that is cast in the proper manner at the proper time by a duly registered voter. A ballot is cast by duly placing it in the ballot box or, in the case of absentee voting, when the ballot is duly received through the mail by the election board.

(e) Charter means the charter of incorporation the Secretary may issue to a reorganized tribe pursuant to Federal Statute.

(f) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his/her authorized representative.

(g) Constitution or Constitution and Bylaws means the written organizational framework of any tribe reorganized pursuant to a Federal Statute for the exercise of governmental powers.

(h) Federal Statute means one of the following: (1) The Act of June 18, 1934, 48 Stat. 984, as amended (Indian Reorganization Act); (2) the Act of June 26, 1936, 49 Stat. 1967 (Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act); or (3) the Act of May 1, 1936, 49 Stat. 1250 (Alaska Native Reorganization Act).

(i) Indian means: (1) All persons who are members of those tribes listed or eligible to be listed in the Federal Register pursuant to 25 CFR 83.6(b) as recognized by and receiving services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; provided, that the tribes have not voted to exclude themselves from the Act of June 18, 1934, 43 Stat. 984, as amended; and (2) any person not a member of one of the listed or eligible to be listed tribes who possesses at least one-half degree of Indian blood.

(j) Invalid ballot means an official cast ballot discovered at the time the votes are counted which does not comply with the requirements for voting or is not an official ballot. An invalid ballot is not to be counted for determining the number of cast ballots.

(k) Member means any Indian who is duly enrolled in a tribe who meets a tribe's written criteria for membership or who is recognized as belonging to a tribe by the local Indians comprising the tribe.

(l) Mutilated ballot means an official ballot that has been damaged to the extent that it is not possible to determine the choice the voter intended to make. There are two kinds of mutilated official ballots:

(1) A ballot that is mutilated and not cast. In this case, the mutilated ballot may be exchanged for a new one. If the need arises to exchange a mutilated absentee ballot, no additional time will be provided for the new ballot to be received by the election board.

(2) A ballot that is mutilated and cast. A mutilated cast ballot is to be counted in the same manner as a spoiled cast ballot.

(m) Officer in Charge means the Superintendent, Administrative Officer, or other official of the local unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (or a Bureau employee that such person might designate) having administrative jurisdiction over a tribe.

(n) Official ballot means a ballot prepared by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for use in an election pursuant to this part. It is possible that an official ballot may be found to be either spoiled or mutilated at the time the votes are counted.

(o) Registration means the act whereby persons, who are eligible to vote, become entitled or qualified to cast ballots by having their names placed on the list of persons who will be permitted to vote.

(p) Reorganized tribe means a tribe whose members have adopted a constitution pursuant to a Federal Statute.

(q) Reservation means any area established by treaty, Congressional Act, Executive Order, or otherwise for the use or occupancy of Indians.

(r) Revocation means that act whereby the adult members of a tribe vote to abandon their constitutional form of government as opposed to their voting to amend or totally revise it.

(s) Secretarial election means an election held within a tribe pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary as authorized by Federal Statute (as distinguished from tribal elections which are conducted under tribal authority. (See Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe v. Andrus, 566 F. 2d 1085 (8th Cir., 1977), cert. denied 439 U.S. 820 (1978)).

(t) Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or his/her authorized representative.

(u) Spoiled ballot means an official ballot that has been marked in such a way that it is not possible to determine the intent of the voter, a ballot that has not been marked at all, or one that has been marked so as to violate the secrecy of the ballot. There are two kinds of spoiled official ballots:

(1) A ballot that is spoiled and not cast. In this case, the spoiled ballot may be exchanged for a new one. If the need arises to exchange a spoiled absentee ballot, no additional time will be provided for the new ballot to be received by the election board.

(2) A ballot that is spoiled and cast. A spoiled cast ballot is to be counted in tabulating the total votes cast in conjunction with determining whether the required percentage of the qualified voters has participated in the election.

(v) Tribal government means that entity established pursuant to a tribal constitution as empowered to speak for the tribe or in the absence thereof any group or individual that is recognized by the tribal members as empowered to speak for the tribe.

(w) Tribe means: (1) Any Indian entity that has not voted to exclude itself from the Indian Reorganization Act and is included, or is eligible to be included, among those tribes, bands, pueblos, groups, communities, or Alaska Native entities listed in the Federal Register pursuant to § 83.6(b) of this chapter as recognized and receiving services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and (2) any group of Indians whose members each have at least one-half degree of Indian blood for whom a reservation is established and who each reside on that reservation. Such tribes may consist of any consolidation of one or more tribes or parts of tribes.

(x) Voting district means a geographical area established to facilitate a tribal election process.

(a) The purpose of this part is to provide uniformity and order in:

(1) Holding Secretarial elections for voting on proposed constitutions when tribes wish to reorganize,

(2) Adopting constitutional amendments,

(3) Ratifying and amending charters,

(4) Revoking constitutions, and

(5) Facilitating the calling of such elections by the Secretary under provisions of a Federal Statute.

(b) This part may also be used as a guideline by tribes wishing to hold constitutional elections that are not held pursuant to a Federal Statute.

(c) Where a discrepancy might appear to exist between these regulations and a specific requirement of the statute governing the reorganization of a tribe or ratification and amendment of charters, the regulations shall be interpreted to conform with the statute.

(d) As much as possible, Secretarial elections shall be scheduled so as to avoid their being held at the same time as tribal elections in order to avoid the confusion that results from different requirements for each kind of election.

(a) No tribe which has voted to exclude itself from the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act, or is otherwise precluded by law, may be reorganized under a Federal Statute. Tribes wishing to reorganize or a reorganized tribe seeking to amend its constitution and bylaws or wishing to vote to revoke such document shall do so under the regulations in this part.

(b) Charters issued to reorganized tribes shall be ratified or amended under the regulations in this part.

Representatives of the Department of the Interior will cooperate with and offer advice and assistance (including the proposing of amendments), to any tribe in drafting a constitution and bylaws, an amendment, a charter or charter amendment, or in revocation of constitutions. Any payments that might be necessary to non-Bureau staff assisting in the conduct of the election shall be made from tribal funds.

(a) The Secretary shall authorize the calling of an election to adopt a constitution and bylaws or to revoke a constitution and bylaws, upon a request from the tribal government.

(b) The Secretary shall authorize the calling of an election to adopt a constitution and bylaws pursuant to a Federal Statute upon receipt of a petition bearing the signatures of at least 60 percent of the tribe's adult members.

(c) The Secretary shall authorize the calling of an election to ratify a charter at the time the charter is issued, but he/she may issue a charter to a reservation-based tribe only upon petition by at least one-third of the adult members of the tribe. No ratification, however, shall be valid unless the tribe has a constitution adopted and approved pursuant to the relevant Federal Statute.

(d) The Secretary shall authorize the calling of an election on the adoption of amendments to a constitution and bylaws or a charter when requested pursuant to the amendment article of those documents. The election shall be conducted as prescribed in this part unless the amendment article of the constitution and bylaws or the charter provides otherwise, in which case the provisions of those documents shall rule where applicable.

(e) If the amendment provisions of a tribal constitution or charter have become outdated and amendment can not be effected pursuant to them, the Secretary may authorize an election under this part to amend the documents when the recognized tribal government so requests.

(f) Any authorization not acted upon within 90 days (tribes in Alaska shall be granted 120 days) from the date of issuance will be considered void. Notification of the election date as provided for in § 81.14 shall constitute the action envisioned in this section. Extension of an authorization may be granted upon a valid and reasonable request from the election board. Copies of authorizations shall be furnished the requesting tribe or petitioners.

(g) In those instances where conflicting proposals to amend a single constitutional or charter provision are submitted, that proposal first received by the officer in charge, if found valid, shall be placed before the voters before any consideration is given other proposals. Other proposals shall be considered in order of their receipt; provided, they are resubmitted following final action on the initial submission. This procedure shall also apply in those instances where new or revised constitutions are at issue.

(a) If the group is a tribe, or tribes, of a reservation and is acting to effect reorganization under a Federal Statute for the first time:

(1) Any duly registered adult member regardless of residence shall be entitled to vote on the adoption of a constitution and bylaws.

(2) Duly registered adult nonresident members and ill or physically disabled registered adult resident members may vote by absentee ballot (see § 81.19).

(b) If the group is composed of the adult Indian residents of a reservation:

(1) Any adult duly registered member physically residing on the reservation shall be entitled to vote.

(2) Absentee voting shall be permitted only for duly registered residents temporarily absent from the reservation, ill, or physically disabled.

(c) If the group is a tribe, or tribes, without a reservation as defined in this part, any duly registered member shall be entitled to vote on the adoption of a constitution and bylaws by either arriving at a polling place or by requesting, properly completing, and timely casting an absentee ballot as determined by the election board pursuant to the relevant Federal Statute; provided, that outside of Alaska and Oklahoma, a reservation shall be established for the tribe before it becomes entitled to vote on the adoption of a constitution.

(d) For a reorganized tribe to amend its constitution and bylaws, only members who have duly registered shall be entitled to vote; provided, that registration is open to the same class of voters that was entitled to vote in the Secretarial election that effected its reorganization, unless the amendment article of the existing constitution provides otherwise.

(e) For a reorganized tribe to revoke its constitution and bylaws, only members who have duly registered shall be entitled to vote; provided, that registration is open to the same class of voters as was entitled to vote in the Secretarial election that effected its reorganization, unless the amendment article of the existing constitution provides otherwise.

(f) For a reorganized tribe to ratify a charter or to adopt a charter amendment, any adult member who has duly registered shall be entitled to vote, provided that if the tribe is of a reservation, only duly registered members physically residing on the reservation shall be entitled to vote.

Except as it may be further limited by this part, a contitution and bylaws, amendments thereto, or charter and charter amendments shall be considered adopted, ratified, or revoked if a majority of those actually voting are in favor of adoption, ratification, or revocation. The total vote cast, however, must be at least 30 percent of those entitled to vote, unless, with regard to amendments, the constitution provides otherwise. The names of persons appearing on the registration list who have not reached eighteen years of age by the date of the election, shall be removed from the list of registered voters when determining whether the required percentage of participation has been achieved. Unless the existing constitution or charter provides otherwise, none of the actions cited in this section shall become effective until they are approved by the Secretary. The validity of any charter ratification shall be dependent upon the tribe first having reorganized. Duly ratified charters shall be revoked or surrendered only by Act of Congress.

(a) There shall be an election board consisting of the officer in charge acting as chairman and at least two representatives of the tribal governing body or an authorized representative committee. Where such persons may be unwilling or unable to serve, the chairman shall select at least two adult members of the tribe to serve. In addition, the officer in charge may appoint an interpreter and as many clerks and poll watchers as he/she deems necessary, but they shall not be members of the board.

(b) It shall be the duty of the board to conduct elections in compliance with the procedures described in this part and in particular:

(1) To see that the name of each person offering to vote is on the official list of registered voters;

(2) To keep the ballot boxes locked at all times except when ballots are being counted;

(3) To see that ballots are cast only by registered voters and that the voting list is checked to indicate this;

(4) To begin to count the regularly cast ballots immediately after the close of the polls and then the absentee ballots, pursuant to § 81.21;

(5) To post and certify the election returns;

(6) To return the following to the officer in charge:

(i) The ballots (in marked and locked boxes);

(ii) All unused ballots; and

(iii) The completed Certificate of Results of Election. The officer in charge shall retain the ballots and other material among official records for at least one year. At the end of one year, the officer in charge shall forward the contents of the boxes and other related material to the appropriate Federal Records Center.

If: (a) Voting districts have not already been designated for tribal elections in the tribal constitution or by tribal election ordinance or resolution; and (b) in the election board's judgment voting districts are needed, the board shall establish them and designate a polling place for each district. Where a reservation exists, no voting district may be established beyond its boundaries.

(a) Where voting districts have been established by the tribal constitution, ordinance, resolution, or by the election board, the election board shall appoint district election boards for each district, which shall have the duties prescribed above for the election board except that they shall return to the election board:

(1) The ballots (in marked and locked boxes),

(2) All unused ballots, and

(3) Their certifications of the district election results on the certification forms prescribed by the election board.

(b) The board will compile the election results for the entire reservation and transmit them together with the aforementioned ballots and ballot boxes to the officer in charge.

(a) Only registered voters will be entitled to vote, and all determinations of the sufficiency of the number of ballots cast will be based upon the number of registered voters. The election board, upon receipt of authorization to conduct an election, shall notify by regular mail all adult members of the tribe, who to its knowledge are eligible to vote pursuant to § 81.6 of the need to register if they intend to vote. Any tribal member who, to the election board's knowledge, will become 18 years of age within 150 days (180 days for Alaska tribes) from the date of authorization and who is otherwise eligible to vote shall also be notified and shall be eligible to register, provided that such a person shall not be entitled to vote if election day falls before the individual's 18th birthday. This notice shall be sent to an individual's last known address as it appears on the records of the local unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs having jurisdiction. Each notice addressed to a tribal member not residing on the reservation shall be accompanied by a preaddressed registration form (BIA Form 8302) which shall set forth the following information in the upper right corner:

(1) OMB Clearance Number 1076-003, Expires June 30, 1983;

(2) The name and address of the person desiring to register;

(3) A statement with a signature line attesting that the individual is a tribal member and is at least 18 years of age, or will be within 150 days, (180 days for Alaska tribes) from the date of authorization; and

(4) The three following statements: “Completion of and return of this registration form is necessary if you desire to become qualified to vote in the forthcoming constitutional or charter election.” “This form, upon completion and return to the election board, shall be the basis for determining whether you qualify to have your name placed upon the list of registered voters and receive a ballot” and “completion and return of this form is voluntary.” Members who qualify as absentee voters and wish to cast an absentee ballot must complete and return the above registration form before, or in conjunction with, requesting an absentee ballot in sufficient time to permit compliance with § 81.12.

(b) The following records shall be kept for all notices:

(1) Names and addresses of persons to whom notices are mailed;

(2) Date of mailing; and

(3) A copy of each return registration request (including from whom received and date and time of receipt).

The election board shall compile in alphabetical order an official list of registered voters arranged by voting districts, if any. This list shall designate, where applicable, those who have requested an absentee ballot and the members of the tribe who are or will have attained the age of 18 years within 150 days (180 days for Alaska tribes) from the date an election is authorized and who have duly registered to vote. A copy of this list shall be supplied to any district election board and shall be posted at the headquarters of the local administrative unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the tribal headquarters, and at various other public places designated by the election board at least 20 days prior to the election.

The election board shall determine the eligibility of any written claim to vote presented to it by one whose name does not appear on the official list of registered voters as well as any written challenge of the right to vote of anyone whose name is on the list. Its decision shall be final. It shall rule on all claims no later than ten days before the election. Any claim not presented at least ten days before the election shall be disallowed. Nonresident claimants successfully appealing omission from the list shall immediately be furnished an absentee ballot. Omission of names from the voters list due to late registration, if notification (pursuant to § 81.14) has been timely mailed, shall not be considered grounds for challenge.

Not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice shall be given of the date of the election. Such notice shall include the location of where the results will be posted. The notice shall also advise that persons must register if they intend to vote. The election board shall determine whether the notice will be given by television, radio, newspaper, poster, or mail, or by more than one of these methods and whether in an Indian language in addition to English. A copy of any written election notice may be mailed to each registered voter and shall be posted at the local administrative unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and elsewhere as directed by the election board. At any time after receiving Secretarial authorization to hold the election, the board shall make available to the adult members of the tribe the text of any amendment or proposed constitution and bylaws, amendment thereto, charter, or charter amendment. The election board may determine the manner and timing of the distribution. However, the text shall be posted at least within the local administrative unit of the Bureau and the tribal headquarters within two days following the giving of notice of the election date by the election board.

If polling places are established, the polls shall remain open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., local time, unless different hours are set by the election board and the voters are informed of this in the election notice.

Interpreters, where needed, may be provided to explain the manner of voting to any voter who asks for instructions; provided, that all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that the interpreter does not influence the voter in casting the ballot. The interpreter may accompany the voter into the booth upon the latter's request.

There shall be no electioneering during voting hours within 50 feet of any voting place. Sample ballots will be permitted in the voting booth.

(a) Registered voters may vote by arriving at the appropriate polling place within the prescribed voting hours telling officials their names and addresses, signing their signature or mark on the voting list, and by marking and placing in the ballot box the ballots which will be handed to them. Voting shall be by secret ballot.

(b) Voting may take place at the same time regarding the adoption of a constitution, the ratification of a charter, or the amendment of such documents; provided, that entitlement to vote for the proposal is consistent with § 81.6 of this part and, provided further, that no charter shall be considered ratified if the proposed constitution is not adopted and approved.

(c) The election board may choose not to use polling places and provide for the issuance and receipt of ballots entirely through the the United States Postal Service. In that event, the election board shall use the appropriate procedures set forth in this part relating to absentee balloting.

(a) Nonresident members who have registered may vote by absentee ballot except as prohibited by § 81.6. Also, whenever, due to temporary absence from the reservation, illness, or physical disability, a registered and otherwise eligible voter is not able to vote at the polls and notifies the election board, the voter shall be entitled to vote by absentee ballot. Upon his or her request, the election board shall give or mail absentee ballots to registered voters who may be entitled to receive them pursuant to § 81.6. At the same time, such voters will also be provided a copy of the proposal to be voted upon when the full text does not appear on the ballot. Appropriate records shall be kept of those from whom requests are received and the date they were received. The election board shall allow an absentee voter no less than ten days from the mailing out of an absentee ballot to receive and return the ballot. This period shall not be afforded absentee voters desiring to exchange a mutilated or spoiled ballot less than ten days before the election date. While requests for absentee ballots received less than ten days before an election will be promptly honored, no absentee ballot will be counted if received later than either the close of the polls or after some other deadline established by the election board. The election board shall furnish election officials the names of individuals who have been given or had mailed to them an absentee ballot.

(b) Accompanying the absentee ballot shall be:

(1) An inner envelope bearing on the outside, the words “Absentee Ballot,”

(2) Instructions for completion of the absentee ballot,

(3) A copy of the proposed amendment, and

(4) A preaddressed outer envelope, imprinted on the back with a certificate as follows:

(c) The absentee voter shall mark the ballot and the ballot shall then be folded so as to conceal the marking and be placed in the envelope marked “Absentee Ballot” and the envelope sealed. The voter shall then place the sealed envelope marked “Absentee Ballot” in the outer envelope, seal it and complete the certificate and mail it. The preaddressed outer envelope shall be directed to the election board at the reservation. Absentee ballots must be received by the election board not later than the close of the polls or as otherwise directed by the election board.

(d) The election board shall make and keep a record of ballots mailed, to whom mailed, the date of mailing, the address on the envelope, the date of the return of the ballot, and from whom received. After duly recording the receipt date of absentee ballots received on time, representatives of the election board shall open the outer envelopes, secure them and place the unmarked inner envelopes containing the ballots in a separate box reserved for that purpose. After all other ballots have been counted, the absentee ballots shall be counted immediately and included in the results of the election.

(a) Ballots are to be prepared clearly and simply so that it is easy for the voters to indicate a choice between no more than two alternatives. For example, if a tribal council or the petitioners propose to reduce the one-half degree blood quantum required to qualify for membership but want the voters to decide whether it should be one-fourth or one-eight, it would not be appropriate to put those two alternatives on the ballot. Doing so, would deny the voters an opportunity to vote for keeping the one-half degree blood quantum. Neither would it be appropriate to include all three blood quantum alternatives. Rather, those proposing the change should decide which blood quantum is to be submitted to the voters. The ballot in the Secretarial election would then give the electors the choice of marking either “yes” or “no.” A vote against the proposed change would be in favor of keeping the one-half degree blood quantum in the example.

(b) In preparing ballots for proposed amendments, care should be taken to ensure that:

(1) Each proposed amendment addresses only a single question.

(2) If a proposed amendment conflicts with other provisions of the document being amended, the ballot shall be prepared so that the question includes all changes in those other directly related provisions in order to avoid contradictions within the document.

(3) When more than one amendment is being submitted to the voters at a given election, the proposals shall be identified with alphabetical designations rather than numerical. The first of the several proposals would be labeled “Proposed Amendment A,” the next would be “Proposed Amendment B,” etc. Those amendments that are adopted and approved would then be assigned consecutive numbers to follow those assigned any earlier amendments that may have been make to that governing document. A statement similar to the following shall appear on each of the proposed amendments and shall be completed following the election:

(c) The election board will supply all ballots. Each ballot shall be stamped in red ink on its face in the same place:

(d) Should any voter spoil or mutilate a ballot in the course of voting at a poll, the voter shall destroy it in the presence of the election officials and the election officials shall then make note of the destroyed ballot and furnish the voter with another ballot.

(e) Any spoiled or mutilated absentee ballot may be exchanged for a new one by returning it to the election board with a request for another. The board shall honor the request promptly and note the dates of related actions. No extension of time will be granted for receipt of exchanged ballots that might not be cast on time.

All duly cast ballots are to be counted. Even though it will not be possible to determine the intent of the voter regarding spoiled and mutilated ballots, they are to be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage of voters have cast their ballots in the election. Invalid ballots shall not be counted for purposes of determining the required percentage of votes cast.

Any qualified voter, within three days following the posting of the results of an election, may challenge the election results by filing with the Secretary through the officer in charge the grounds for the challenge, together with substantiating evidence. If in the opinion of the Secretary, the objections are valid and warrant a recount or new election, the Secretary shall order a recount or a new election. The results of the recount or new election shall be final.

(a) The results of the election shall be posted in the local Bureau of Indian Affairs office, tribal headquarters, and at other appropriate public places determined by the election board.

(b) The election board shall certify the results of the election on the following form and transmit them to the local unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs:

(a) Action to approve or disapprove constitutional actions will be taken promptly by the authorizing officer following receipt of the original text of the material voted upon and the original of the Certificate of Results of Election from the officer in charge.

(1) When required and granted, the authorizing officer shall furnish a tribe with written approval of constitutional actions. In the absence of an election challenge, the approval shall be issued promptly following the expiration of the contest period. Copies of his/her written approval, the Certificate of Results of Election, and the text of the material voted upon shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 18th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20245.

(2) When a proposed constitution or charter action is rejected by the voters, the authorizing officer shall indicate in writing to the tribe his/her awareness of the election results and send to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC, copies of the communication, the Certificate of Results of Election and the text of the material voted upon.

(3) When the authorizing officer disapproves a constitutional action, he/she shall in writing promptly notify the tribe of the determination and furnish the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC, a copy of the communication along with the Certificate of Results of Election and the text of the material voted upon.

(b) Where Secretarial approval of proposed constitutional and charter actions is required in conjunction with authorization of an election, copies of the formal approval shall immediately be furnished the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC, by the authorizing officer and be followed in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section by copies of the Certificate of the Results of Election and the text of the material voted upon as soon as it is available.

As used in this part:

(a) Area Director means the Director of the Bureau Area Office having administrative jurisdiction over the petitioners' tribe.

(b) Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(c) Charter means a charter of incorporation the Secretary may issue to a recognized tribe pursuant to a Federal Statute.

(d) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his/her authorized representative.

(e) Constitution or Constitution and Bylaws means the written organizational framework of any tribe for the exercise of governmental powers.

(f) Eligible, entitled, or qualified voter means the status achieved by a tribal member who meets the requirement of a tribal constitution or election ordinance to vote in a tribal election; provided, that where a tribe has reorganized pursuant to a Federal Statute, to be an entitled or a qualified voter for purposes of this part, the tribal member must be at least 18 years of age and be eligible to register for voting in a Secretarial election (see part 81 of this chapter).

(g) Federal Statute means one of the following: (1) The Act of June 18, 1934, 48 Stat. 984, as amended (Indian Reorganization Act), (2) the Act of June 26, 1936, 49 Stat. 1967 (Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act), or (3) the Act of May 1, 1936, 49 Stat. 1250 (Alaska Native Reorganization Act).

(h) Local Bureau Official means the Superintendent, Field Representative, or other line officer of the Bureau of Indian Affairs who has local administrative jurisdiction over the tribe concerned.

(i) Local Bureau unit means the Bureau office having local administrative jurisdiction over the tribe concerned.

(j) Member means any person who is duly enrolled in a tribe, who meets a tribe's written criteria for membership, or is recognized as belonging to a tribe by the local Indians comprising that tribe.

(k) Organized tribe means any tribe that has adopted a constitution outside of a Federal Statute.

(l) Reorganized tribe means any tribe that has adopted a constitution pursuant to a Federal Statute.

(m) Secretarial election means an election held within a tribe pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary (as distinguished from tribal elections which are conducted under tribal authority (See Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe v. Andrus, 566 F.2d 1085 (8th Cir., 1977), cert. denied 439 U.S. 820 (1978)).

(n) Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or his/her authorized representative.

(o) Spokesman for the petitioners means the authorized voter of a tribe initiating a petition or designated by the initiators of a petition to speak on their behalf.

(p) Tribe means any Indian entity that is listed or is eligible to be listed in the Federal Register pursuant to § 83.6(b) of this chapter as recognized and receiving services from the Bureau that has adopted a constitution approved by the Secretary or the Commissioner.

The purpose of this part is to provide uniformity and order in the formulation and submission of petitions requesting the Secretary or the Commissioner to call elections to amend tribal constitutions, to issue charters pursuant to a Federal Statute, and for such other purposes where constitutions and charters provide for petitioning to effect action by the Secretary or Commissioner.

The regulations in this part apply:

(a) To any tribe which provides in its constitution for petitioning the Secretary or the Commissioner to call elections to amend the tribal constitution;

(b) To any tribe whose constitution or charter provides for petitioning to effect any other action by the Secretary or Commissioner; and

(c) To those tribal members at least 18 years of age who, pursuant to a Federal Statute, may wish to petition the Secretary to issue a charter to their tribe.

All members eligible to vote in elections conducted by a tribe shall be entitled to sign petitions to effect actions by the Secretary or Commissioner within the scope of § 82.2; provided, that where a tribe is reorganized pursuant to a Federal Statute, only persons eligible to register for Secretarial elections may petition.

(a) The numerical sufficiency of any petition submitted pursuant to this part shall be based upon a number determined by the local Bureau official:

(1) By consultation with the tribal governing body regarding the current number of tribal voters; or

(2) For reorganized tribes, the number of members considered eligible to register for a Secretarial election and who are at least 18 years of age.

(b) The number shall be made available to the spokesman for the petitioners upon request along with a cut-off date when, for purposes of the petition, no further names will be added.

Petitions may consist of as many pages as are necessary to accommodate the signatures of the petitioners. However, each sheet of a petition must set forth at least a summary of the objectives of the petitioners and must show the date upon which the petition was signed by each individual as well as the current mailing address of each signer.

(a) Signatures to a petition must be authenticated in one of the following ways:

(1) Through having each signer subscribe or acknowledge his/her signature before a notary public;

(2) Through having the collector of signatures appeal before a notary and sign, in his/her presence, on each sheet of the petition, a statement attesting that the signatures were affixed on the dates shown and by the individuals whose names appear thereon, and that to the best of his/her knowledge the signatories are eligible, entitled, or qualified voters.

(b) Only an eligible, entitled, or qualified tribal voter shall be recognized as a valid collector of petition signatures.

All petitions submitted pursuant to this part must be filed with the local Bureau official having administrative jurisdiction over the tribe. No petitions will be accepted until a spokesman for the petitioners declares that he/she wishes to make an official filing. Once a declaration of the official filing is made and the petition is given to the local Bureau official, that official shall immediately enter on the petition the date of receipt (this date becomes the date of official filing) and shall inform the spokesman for the petitioners that no additional signatures may be added and that no withdrawal of signatures will be permitted. The local Bureau official shall also acknowledge, in writing, receipt of the petition, indicating the exact number of signatures which are attached and the official filing date. Upon this written acknowledgment of the petition, the local Bureau official shall publicly post at the local Bureau unit serving the tribe a statement of the matter proposed in the petition. This statement shall remain posted for a period of 30 days from the official filing date.

(a) Once an official filing has been made, the local Bureau official shall immediately have copies made of the petition and its signatures. The local Bureau official shall keep these copies at the Agency or field office for 15 days following the date of official filing, during which time they shall be available for examination by authorized voters of the tribe upon request. During this 15-day period, challenges of signatures may be filed with the local Bureau official.

(b) Challenges will be considered on the following grounds:

(1) Forgery of signatures; and

(2) Lack of proper qualifications of a signer.

(a) Within 30 days after the official filing date, the local Bureau official shall forward to the Area Director, or when the Area Director is the local Bureau official, directly to the Commissioner, the original of the petition and its accompanying signatures, together with recommendations concerning challenges and conclusions concerning:

(1) The validity of the signatures;

(2) The adequacy of the number of signatures; and

(3) The propriety of the petitioning procedure.

(b) The Area Director or the Commissioner, as the case may be, shall within 45 days after the official filing date decide upon each challenge and the sufficiency of the petition and announce whether the petition shall be acted upon. If a decision is reached that the petitioning action is for any reason insufficient, the spokesman for the petitioners and the governing body of the tribe will be so informed and given the reasons for the decision. If a petitioning action warrants action by the Secretary or Commissioner, the spokesman for the petitioners and the governing body of the tribe concerned will be so informed. The decision in such matters shall be final. The procedures for implementing any action initiated by the acceptance of a petition will be determined in accordance with pertinent directives and regulations.

Any petition submitted under this part, shall be considered only for the purpose stated therein. Once a petition has been acted upon, it shall not be used again.

The purpose of this part is to implement the provisions of the Indian Tribal Economic Development and Contract Encouragement Act of 2000, Public Law 106-179, which amends section 2103 of the Revised Statutes, found at 25 U.S.C. 81.

The Act means the Indian Tribal Economic Development and Contract Encouragement Act of 2000, Public Law 106-179, which amends section 2103 of the Revised Statutes, found at 25 U.S.C. 81.

Encumber means to attach a claim, lien, charge, right of entry or liability to real property (referred to generally as encumbrances). Encumbrances covered by this part may include leasehold mortgages, easements, and other contracts or agreements that by their terms could give to a third party exclusive or nearly exclusive proprietary control over tribal land.

Indian tribe, as defined by the Act, means any Indian tribe, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native Village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the Secretary to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or his or her designated representative.

Tribal lands means those lands held by the United States in trust for an Indian tribe or those lands owned by an Indian tribe subject to federal restrictions against alienation, as referred to Public Law 106-179 as “Indian lands.”

Unless otherwise provided in this part, contracts and agreements entered into by an Indian tribe that encumber trial lands for a period of seven or more years require Secretarial approval under this part.

Yes, the following types of contracts or agreements do not require Secretarial approval under this part:

(a) Contracts or agreements otherwise reviewed and approved by the Secretary under this title or other federal law or regulation. See, for example, 25 CFR parts 152 (patents in fee, certificates or competency); 162 (non-mineral leases, leasehold mortgages); 163 (timber contracts); 166 (grazing permits); 169 (rights-of-way); 200 (coal leases); 211 (mineral leases); 216 (surface mining permits and leases); and 225 (mineral development agreements);

(b) Leases of tribal land that are exempt from approval by the Secretary under 25 U.S.C. 415 or 25 U.S.C. 477;

(c) Sublease and assignments of leases of tribal land that do not require approval by the Secretary under part 162 of this title;

(d) Contracts or agreements that convey to tribal members any rights for temporary use of tribal lands, assigned by Indian tribes in accordance with tribal laws or custom;

(e) Contracts or agreements that do not convey exclusive or nearly exclusive proprietary control over tribal lands for a period of seven years or more;

(f) Contracts or agreements that are exempt from Secretarial approval under the terms of a corporate charter authorized by 25 U.S.C. 477;

(g) Tribal attorney contracts, including those for the Five Civilized Tribes that are subject to our approval under 25 U.S.C. 82a;

(h) Contracts or agreements entered into in connection with a contract under the Indian Self-Determination Act, 25 U.S.C. 450f, or a compact under the Tribal Self-Governance Act, 25 U.S.C. 458aa.

(i) Contracts or agreements that are subject to approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., and the Commission's regulations; or

(j) Contracts or agreements relating to the use of tribal lands for hydropower projects where the tribal lands meet the definition of a “reservation” under the Federal Power Act (FPA), provided that:

(1) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a license or an exemption;

(2) FERC has made the finding under section 4(e) of the FPA (16 U.S.C. 797(e)) that the license or exemption will not interfere or be inconsistent with the purpose for which such reservation was created or acquired; and

(3) FERC license or exemption includes the Secretary's conditions for protection and utilization of the reservation under section 4(e) and payment of annual use charges to the tribe under section 10(e) of the FPA (16 U.S.C. 803(e)).

(a) The Secretary will disapprove a contract or agreement that requires Secretarial approval under this part if the Secretary determines that such contract or agreement:

(1) Violates federal law; or

(2) Does not contain at least one of the following provisions that:

(i) Provides for remedies in the event the contract or agreement is breached;

(ii) References a tribal code, ordinance or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction that discloses the right of the tribe to assert sovereign immunity as a defense in an action brought against the tribe; or

(iii) Includes an express waiver of the right of the tribe to assert sovereign immunity as a defense in any action brought against the tribe, including a waiver that limits the nature of relief that may be provided or the jurisdiction of a court with respect to such an action.

(b) The Secretary will consult with the Indian tribe as soon as practicable before disapproving a contract or agreement regarding the elements of the contract or agreement that may lead to disapproval.

A contract or agreement that requires Secretarial approval under this part is not valid until the Secretary approves it.

If the Secretary disapproves a contract or agreement that requires Secretarial approval under this part, the contract or agreement is invalid as a matter of law.

As used in this part 87, terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section.

(a) Act means the Act of October 19, 1973 (Pub. L. 93-134; 87 Stat. 466, 467, 468).

(b) Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative.

(c) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his authorized representative.

(d) Area Director means the Area Director or his equivalent of any one of the Area Offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs or his authorized representative.

(e) Superintendent means the Superintendent or Officer in Charge of any one of the Agency Offices or other local offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs or his authorized representative.

(f) Congressional Committees means the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.

(g) Indian tribe or group means any Indian tribe, nation, band, pueblo, community or identifiable group of Indians, or Alaska Native entity.

(h) Tribal governing body means, as recognized by the Secretary, the governing body of a formally organized or recognized tribe or group; the governing body of any informally organized tribe or group, the governing body of a formally organized Alaska Native entity or recognized tribe in Oklahoma, and for the purposes of the Act the recognized spokesmen or representatives of any descendant group.

(i) Plan means the document submitted by the Secretary, together with all pertinent records, for the use or distribution of judgment funds, to the Congressional Committees.

(j) Enrollment means that aspect of a plan which pertains to making or bringing current a roll of members of an organized, reservation-based tribe with membership criteria approved or accepted by the Secretary, a roll of members of an organized or recognized entity in Oklahoma, or Alaska or elsewhere, or a roll prepared for the purpose of making per capita payments for judgments awarded by the Indian Claims Commission or United States Court of Claims; or which pertains to using an historical roll or records of names, including tribal rolls closed and made final, for research or other purposes.

(k) Program means that aspect of a plan which pertains to using part or all of the judgment funds for tribal social and economic development projects.

(l) Per capita payment means that aspect of a plan which pertains to the individualization of the judgment funds in the form of shares to tribal members or to individual descendants.

(m) Use or distribution means any utilization or disposition of the judgment funds, including programing, per capita payments, or a combination thereof.

(n) Individual beneficiary means a tribal member or any individual descendant, found by the Secretary to be eligible to participate in a plan, who was born on or prior to, and is living on, the approval date of the plan.

(o) Approval date means the date that a plan is approved by the Congress. Except for a plan disapproved by either House, the approval date of a plan shall be the sixtieth (60) day after formal submittal of a plan by the Secretary to the Congressional Committees, excluding days on which either the House of Representatives or the Senate is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three (3) calendar days to a day certain. In the event a proposed plan is disapproved by either House, or in the event the Secretary is unable to submit a plan and therefore proposes legislation, the approval date shall be the date of the enabling legislation for the disposition of the judgment funds.

(p) Minor is an individual beneficiary who is eligible to participate in a per capita payment and who has not reached the age of eighteen (18) years.

(q) Legal incompetent is an individual beneficiary eligible to participate in a per capita payment and who has been declared to be under a legal disability, other than being a minor, by a court of competent jurisdiction, including tribal courts.

(r) Attorney fees and litigation expenses means all fees and expenses incurred in litigating and processing tribal claims before the Indian Claims Commission or the United States Court of Claims.

The regulations in this part govern the preparation of proposed plans for the use or distribution, pursuant to the Act, of all judgment funds awarded from the date of the Act to Indian tribes and groups by the Indian Claims Commission or the United States Court of Claims, excepting any tribe or group whose trust relationship with the Federal Government has been terminated and for which there exists legislation authorizing the disposition of its judgment funds; and of all funds deriving from judgments entered prior to the date of the Act for which there has been no enabling legislation.

(a) As soon as appropriate after the tribal meetings have been held and the Commissioner has reviewed the tribal proposal(s), the Area Director, or such other official of the Department of the Interior as he shall designate to act for him, shall hold a hearing of record to receive testimony on the tribal proposal(s).

(b) The hearing shall be held after appropriate public notice beginning at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of such hearing, and after consultation with the governing body of the tribe or group regarding the date and location of the hearing, to obtain the testimony of members of the governing body and other representatives, spokesmen or members of the tribe or group on the proposal(s).

(c) All testimony at the hearing shall be transcribed and a transcript thereof shall be furnished to the Commissioner and the tribal governing body immediately subsequent to the hearing. Particular care shall be taken to insure that minority views are given full opportunity for expression either during the hearing or in the form of written communications by the date of the hearing.

(d) Whenever two or more tribes or groups are involved in the use or distribution of the judgment funds, including situations in which two or more Area Offices are concerned, every effort shall be made by the Area Director or Directors to arrange for a single hearing to be conducted at a time and location as convenient to the involved tribes and groups as possible. Should the tribes and groups not reach agreement on such time or place, or on the number of entities to be represented at the hearing, the Commissioner, after considering the views of the affected tribes and groups, shall within twenty (20) days of receipt of such advice by the Area Director, designate a location and date for such hearing and invite the participation of all entities he considers to be involved and the Commissioner's decision shall be final.

Subsequent to the hearing of record, the Commissioner shall prepare all pertinent materials for the review of the Secretary. Pertinent materials shall include:

(a) The tribal use or distribution proposal or any alternate proposals;

(b) A copy of the transcript of the hearing of record;

(c) A statement on the hearing of record and other evidence reflecting the extent to which such proposal(s) meets the desires of the affected tribe or group, including minorities views;

(d) Copies of all pertinent resolutions and other communications or documents received from the affected tribe or group, including minorities;

(e) A copy of the tribal constitution and bylaws, or other organizational document, if any; a copy of the tribal enrollment ordinance, if any; and a statement as to the availability or status of the membership roll of the affected tribe or group;

(f) A statement reflecting the nature and results of the investment of the judgment funds as of thirty (30) days of the submittal of the proposed plan, including a statement concerning attorney fees and litigation expenses;

(g) A statement justifying any compromise proposal developed by the Commissioner in the event of the absence of agreement among any and all entities on the division or apportionment of the funds, should two or more entities be involved;

(h) And a statement regarding the feasibility of the proposed plan, including a timetable prepared in cooperation with the tribal governing body, for the implementation of programing and roll preparation.

An extension of the one hundred and eighty (180) day period, not to exceed ninety (90) days, may be requested by the Secretary or by the governing body of any affected tribe or group submitting such request to both Congressional Committees through the Secretary, and any such request shall be subject to the approval of both Congressional Committees.

(a) Within thirty (30) calendar days after the date of a resolution by either House disapproving a plan, the Secretary shall simultaneously submit proposed legislation authorizing the use or distribution of the funds, together with a report thereon, to the Chairmen of both Congressional Committees, at the same time sending copies of the proposed legislation to the governing body of the affected tribe or group. Such proposed legislation shall be developed on the basis of further consultation with the affected tribe or group.

(b) In any instance in which the Secretary determines that circumstances are not conducive to the preparation and submission of a plan, he shall, after appropriate consultation with the affected tribe or group, submit proposed legislation within the 180-day period to both Congressional Committee simultaneously.

An approved plan that includes provisions for enrollment requiring formal adoption of enrollment rules and regulations shall be implemented through the publication of such rules and regulations in the Federal Register. Persons not members of organized or recognized tribes and who are not citizens of the United States shall not, unless otherwise provided by Congress, be eligible to participate in the use or distribution of judgment funds, excepting heirs or legatees of deceased individual beneficiaries.

In assessing any tribal programing proposal the Secretary shall consider all pertinent factors, including the following: the percentage of tribal members residing on or near the subject reservation, including former reservation areas in Oklahoma, or Alaska Native villages; the formal educational level and the general level of social and economic adjustment of such reservation residents; the nature of recent programing affecting the subject tribe or group and particularly the reservation residents; the needs and aspirations of any local Indian communities or districts within the reservation and the nature of organization of such local entities; the feasibility of the participation of tribal members not in residence on the reservation; the availability of funds for programing purposes derived from sources other than the subject judgment; and all other pertinent social and economic data developed to support any proposed program.

(a) The per capita shares of living competent adults shall be paid directly to them. The shares of minors, legal incompetents and deceased individual beneficiaries, enhanced by investment earnings, shall be held in individual Indian money (IIM) accounts unless otherwise provided as set out in this section. While held in IIM accounts, said shares shall be invested pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 162a and shall be the property of the minors or legal incompetents or the estates of the deceased individual beneficiaries to whom the per capita payments were made.

(b)(1) Unless otherwise provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, minors' per capita shares, until the minors attain the age of 18 years, shall be retained in individually segregated IIM accounts and handled as provided in § 115.4 of this chapter. Should it be determined that the funds are to be invested pursuant to a trust, minors who will have reached the age of 18 years within six months after the establishment of the trust shall have their funds retained at interest in IIM accounts and paid to them upon attaining their majority.

(2) A private trust for the minors' per capita shares may be established subject to the approval of the tribal governing body and the Secretary on the following conditions:

(i) The tribal governing body specifically requests the establishment of such trust, and the trust provides for segregated amounts to each individual minor, based on his per capita share, and

(ii) The trust agreement specifically provides that the investment policy to be followed is that of preserving the trust corpus and of obtaining the highest interest rates current money markets can safely provide. The trust agreement must further provide that maturity dates of investments cannot exceed the period of the trust and that only the following types of investment shall be made: United States Treasury obligations; Federal agency obligations; repurchase/resell agreements; United States Treasury bills; Bankers' acceptance, provided the assets of the issuing bank exceed $1 billion or the issuing bank pledges full collateral; Certificates of deposit, provided the assets of the issuing bank exceed $1 billion or the issuing bank pledges full collateral; Commercial paper, provided it is rated prime-2 by Moody or A-2 by Standard and Poor or is obligation of a company with outstanding unsecured debt rated Aa by Standard and Poor.

(c) The per capita shares of legal incompetents shall be held in IIM accounts and administered pursuant to the provisions of § 115.5 of this chapter.

(d) The shares of deceased individual beneficiaries, plus all interest and investment income accruing thereto, shall be paid to their heirs and legatees upon their determination as provided in 43 CFR part 4, subpart D.

(e) All per capita shares, including all interest and investment income accruing thereto, while they are held in trust under the provisions of this section, shall be exempt from Federal and State income taxes and shall not be considered as income or resources when determining the extent of eligibility for assistance under the Social Security Act, as amended.

(f) All per capita shares or portions thereof, including all interest and investment income accruing thereto, which are not paid out but which remain unclaimed with the Federal Government shall be maintained separately and be enhanced by investment, and shall, unless otherwise provided in an effective plan or in enabling legislation, be subject to the provisions of the Act of September 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 584. No per capita share or portion thereof shall be transferred to the U.S. Treasury as “Monies Belonging to Individuals Whose Whereabouts are Unknown.”

As soon as possible after the appropriation of judgment funds and pending approval of a plan or the enactment of legislation authorizing the use or distribution of the funds, the Commissioner shall invest such funds pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 162a. Investments of judgment funds and of investment income therefrom will continue to be made by the Commissioner after the approval of a plan or enactment of use or distribution legislation to the extent funds remain available for investment under such plan or legislation, and provided that thereafter investments of judgment funds made available for tribal use are not undertaken by the tribe pursuant to authorizing law. Invested judgment funds, including investment income therefrom, shall be withdrawn from investment only as currently needed under approved plans or legislation authorizing the use or distribution of such funds.

A timetable prepared in cooperation with the tribal governing body shall be included in the plan submitted by the Secretary for the implementation of all programing and enrollment aspects of a plan. At any time within one calendar year after the approval date of a plan, the Area Director shall report to the Commissioner on the status of the implementation of the plan, including all enrollment and programing aspects, and thenceforth shall report to the Commissioner on an annual basis regarding any remaining or unfulfilled aspects of a plan. The Area Director shall include in his first and all subsequent annual reports a statement regarding the maintenance of the timetable, a full accounting of any per capita distribution, and the expenditure of all programing funds. The Commissioner shall report the deficient performance of any aspect of a plan to the Secretary, together with the corrective measures he has taken or intends to take.

(a) Indian tribes organized pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984; 25 U.S.C. 461-479), as amended, may employ legal counsel. The choice of counsel and the fixing of fees are subject under 25 U.S.C. 476 to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative.

(b) Attorneys may be employed by Indian tribes not organized under the Act of June 18, 1934, under contracts subject to approval under 25 U.S.C. 81 and the Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950, 5 U.S.C. 481, note, by the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative.

(c) Any action of the authorized representative of the Secretary of the Interior which approves, disapproves or conditionally approves a contract pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section shall be final.

(d) Practice of such attorneys before the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior is subject to the requirements of 43 CFR 1.1 through 1.7.

The purpose of the regulations in this part is to establish policies and procedures for the government of Indian villages, Osage Reservation, Oklahoma.

As used in this part:

(a) Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative.

(b) Superintendent means the Superintendent or other officer in charge of Osage Agency.

(c) Council means the Osage Tribal Council, that elected governing body of the Osage Tribe of Indians.

(d) Tribal Member means any person of Osage Indian blood of whatever degree, allotted or unallotted.

(e) Minor means any person under 21 years of age.

(f) Resident means an adult tribal member who has resided in the village for thirty (30) days, in the 12-month period preceding the election.

The act of June 28, 1906 (34 Stat. 539), as amended by the act of June 24, 1938 (52 Stat. 1034), set aside certain tribal lands exclusively as dwelling sites for the use and benefit of the Osage Indians until January 1, 1984, unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress. These lands are described as follows:

(a) Grayhorse Indian Village. The southeast quarter (SE 1/2) of the southeast quarter (SE 1/4), and the west half (W 1/2) of the southwest quarter (SW 1/4) of the southeast quarter (SE 1/4), and the south half (S 1/2) of the northeast quarter (NE 1/4) of the southeast quarter (SE 1/4) of the southwest quarter (SW 1/4), and the south half (S 1/2) of the north half (N 1/2) of the northeast quarter (NE 1/4) of the southeast quarter (SE 1/4) of the southwest quarter (SW 1/4), and the southeast quarter (SE 1/2) of the southeast quarter (SE 1/4) of the southwest quarter (SW 1/4) of sec. fifteen (15); and the north half (N 1/2) of the northeast quarter (NE 1/4), and the northeast quarter (NE 1/4) of the northwest quarter (NW 1/4) of sec. twenty-two (22), all in township twenty-four (24) north, range six (6) east of the Indian meridian, and containing 197.5 acres, more or less.

(b) Hominy Indian Village. Lots Six (6) and Seven (7), and the East Half (E 1/2) of the Southwest Quarter (SW 1/4) of Section Six (6) in Township Twenty-two (22) North, Range Nine (9) East of the Indian Meridian, and containing 160 acres, more or less.

(c) Pawhuska Indian Village. Lots One (1) and Two (2), and the South Half (S 1/2) of the Northeast Quarter (NE 1/4) of Section Three (3) in Township Twenty-five (25) North, Range Nine (9) East of the Indian Meridian, and containing 160 acres, more or less.

Plats of the Grayhorse Indian Village, the Pawhuska Indian Village, and the Hominy Indian Village, certified by Ralph M. Tolson, Registered Engineer, on July 5, 1966, are the official plats of dedication of said villages and shall be filed of record with the county clerk of Osage County, State of Oklahoma.

The following described tracts, as shown on the plats of the three villages, are reserved from selection by individuals and are set aside for sepultural use or for public use by tribal members:

(a) Grayhorse Indian Village:

(1) Public Squares.

(2) Parks, and

(3) Cemetery.

(b) Hominy Indian Village:

(1) Public squares.

(2) Cemetery, and

(3) Lot 1 in block 1 set aside for religious and educational purposes to the Society of Friends, its Associate Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs and its or their representative at Hominy, Okla., by Resolution of the Osage Tribal Council dated June 6, 1956, and approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, September 7, 1956.

(c) Pawhuska Indian Village:

(1) Wakon Iron Square.

(d) Those individuals who have summer homes or dance arbors located on the Public Square of the Hominy Indian Village shall be permitted to retain said summer homes or dance arbors during their lifetimes if they are maintained in a condition satisfactory to the Hominy Indian Village Committee. Following the owner's death, the improvements shall be removed within ninety (90) days or become the property of the Hominy Indian Village.

Each of the three (3) villages described herein shall organize a village committee to provide for the health, safety and welfare of its inhabitants, for the maintenance of tribal property, and to serve as custodian and manager of tribal property and improvements located within said village except that tract described in § 91.5(b)(3). Each village committee shall be composed of five (5) members, domiciled in the village, one of whom shall be designated by the committee as chairman. The committees shall be elected biennially by the residents of the villages, except in the Grayhorse Indian Village where the committee shall be appointed by the Council from among those tribal members residing in or historically associated with the village. The procedure for initial committee elections shall be established by the Council. Each village committee shall prepare a constitution and by-laws to be approved by the Council and the Superintendent before said committee will have any authority to govern, and any changes or amendments thereto must likewise be approved by the Council and the Superintendent. All actions of the committee are subject to appeal to the Council whose decision shall be final: Provided, That such committee shall have no control or authority to grant permission for the use of tribal property described in § 91.5 for the holding of dances. Such authority shall remain in the Council and any group or individual using the property for dance purposes without the written permission of the Council shall be in violation of these regulations: Provided, further, That the village committee shall not permit the use of any of the tracts described in § 91.5 in any manner that would conflict with Council authorization for dance purposes.

The issuance of permits for the use of land for dwelling purposes within any village reserve described in § 91.3 except tracts reserved for specific purposes by § 91.5 will be under the jurisdiction of the Superintendent. Permits may be issued only to tribal members upon application to the Superintendent: Provided, That only one permit shall be issued to any one individual and that erection of a dwelling house shall be started on such land within six (6) months from date of approval of the permit or such permit shall be automatically terminated except that upon written application the Superintendent may extend such permit for an addition six (6) months: Provided, further, That only one dwelling shall be constructed under any one permit. Permits shall be issued for the use of one to three contiguous lots, depending upon the quality and permanency of the improvements to be placed thereon. Permits issued under this section shall be made in duplicate in a manner to be prescribed by the Superintendent. The original copy shall be filed in the Branch of Realty, Osage Agency, and the duplicate copy shall be mailed to the permittee.

No improvements located within the village reserves described in § 91.3 shall be sold, mortgaged, transferred or assigned without the approval of the Superintendent.

(a) Improvements may be mortgaged for home improvements or the erection of new improvements. Such mortgages shall be made with acceptable lending agencies and shall be approved by the Superintendent. The lending agency shall have the right:

(1) To foreclose the mortgage and to sell the improvements within six (6) months of the date of foreclosure judgment to any eligible tribal member with the understanding that the use of the land on which the improvements are situated shall be transferable to the new owner; or

(2) To foreclose the mortgage and to sell the improvements to a non-tribal member, who shall remove the improvements from the village reserve within six (6) months of the date of sale. In the event of removal of the mortgaged property, it shall be the responsibility of the lending agency to level the land on which such improvements were located and to remove all debris, sidewalks, etc., leaving the premises in an orderly condition. Failure to make such disposition within the time stated in this paragraph shall result in forfeiture of the improvements to the village committee.

(b) Improvements may be sold by the owner thereof with the approval of the Superintendent. Sale of such improvements shall be accomplished by bill of sale executed by the owner in triplicate who shall file all copies with the Superintendent. If the purchaser of such improvements is a member of the Osage Tribe, the bill of sale shall be accompanied by a relinquishment of the permit in favor of the vendee for the occupancy of the land on which such improvements are located. If the purchaser is not a member of the Osage Tribe, such purchaser shall be required to endorse an agreement on the reverse of all copies of the bill of sale that he will:

(1) Remove the improvements from the village reserve within six (6) months of date of approval of the bill of sale;

(2) Transfer the title thereof as provided in this section to a tribal member who is eligible; or

(3) Failing to make such disposition within the time stated forfeit title to the village committee.

(c) Upon approval of the bill of sale by the Superintendent, the original or certified copy shall be filed in the Branch of Realty, Osage Agency, the duplicate copy mailed to the purchaser, and the triplicate copy mailed to the seller.

(a) Upon the death of the owner of improvements in a village reserve, such improvements shall, in probate matters, be subject to the jurisdiction of the county courts, State of Oklahoma, and shall be subject to inheritance or bequest in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws. The land within a village reserve is held in trust for the benefit of tribal members and is not subject to inheritance or purchase.

(b) When such improvements or interests therein are inherited by or bequeathed to a non-tribal member, he or she shall dispose of such improvements in the manner provided for disposition of improvements by purchaser under § 91.8: Provided, That when such non-tribal member is a legally adopted minor child such child may continue to occupy the land during its minority: Provided, further, That when such non-tribal member is the surviving spouse such individual, so long as he or she remains single may continue to occupy the land during his or her lifetime or may sell the improvements as provided herein and may receive a proceeds therefrom. In the event such surviving spouse remarries, the right to continuous occupancy of the land pursuant to this § 91.9 shall terminate and such surviving spouse shall make disposition of such improvements as provided for purchasers in § 91.8. If upon the death of the surviving spouse title to the improvements vests in a non-tribal member, they shall be sold as provided in § 91.8 and the proceeds distributed to the persons entitled thereto.

(c) Improvements inherited by tribal members may be occupied or rented in accordance with § 91.10: Provided, No tribal member shall be issued more than two permits or own more than two sets of improvements, one of which must be inherited property and one occupied by the tribal member: Provided, further, No tribal member shall be permitted to retain more than one set of improvements for rental. If this provision is violated, the tribal member will have three years, from the date of written notice from the Superintendent that such provision has been violated, within which to dispose of the surplus property in accordance with § 91.8.

The Superintendent may issue a certificate of permission to rent for a period of one (1) year improvements located on land held under valid permit, subject to renewal in the discretion of the Superintendent, upon written application by the owner of such improvements and the prospective tenant: Provided, That such prospective tenant is a tribal member and the property to be rented is that heretofore occupied or inherited by the owner. Certificates of permission issued under this section may be withdrawn upon 30-day notice to the tenant by the Superintendent and such tenant expelled from the village reserve. The application and certificate of permission on a form to be prescribed by the Superintendent shall be made in triplicate and all copies forwarded to the Superintendent for action. Upon approval by the Superintendent, the original copy of the application and certificate shall be filed in the Branch of Realty, Osage Agency, the duplicate copy of each forwarded to the owner, and the triplicate copy of each forwarded to the tenant.

(a) No livestock shall be permitted to trespass in any village reserve except that unassigned lots or unplatted areas enclosed by adequate fences may be leased by the village committee with the approval of the Superintendent and the proceeds therefrom credited to the account of the village committee. Trespassing livestock may be impounded by the village committee. The village committee shall give notice of impoundment to the owner of the animal, if known, by certified mail or by posting in the village square. The notice shall advise the owner that a $10 charge shall be assessed per day for each animal impounded and a reasonable charge for forage consumed and that the animal or animals shall be sold at the expiration of twenty (20) days from the date of mailing or posting the notice. In the event an animal is sold, the balance after deducting $10 per day for impoundment and a reasonable forage charge, shall be deposited at the Osage Agency and the owner may claim said funds if satisfactory proof of ownership is presented to the Superintendent of the Osage Agency within six (6) months of the date of sale. After six (6) months, any funds remaining on deposit will become the property of the village in which the animal was trespassing.

(b) No horses, mules, bovine, hogs, sheep, or goats shall be penned on assigned lots.

No permanent business enterprises shall be carried on within the boundaries of a village reserve and no public buildings shall be erected on lands within the boundaries of a village reserve except on tracts described in § 91.5 maintained for the use and benefit of tribal members. The construction or acquisition of dwellings for rental purposes is prohibited. The village committee may grant permission and charge fees for temporary concessions within the village reserve during Indian celebrations, dances, community gatherings, etc., such temporary permits to last only for the term of activities for which granted.

Health, sanitation, and sewerage disposal problems within the village reserves shall be subject to and controlled by applicable County and State laws.

The Superintendent shall prepare a certified list of all current permittees with a description of lots held, which descriptions shall conform to the plats certified July 5, 1966. Said list shall be served by certified mail on the individual permittees and the village committee chairman and shall be posted at the Osage Agency and each of the three village squares. Unless a protest is filed with the Superintendent within ninety (90) days of the mailing and posting, said certified list of assigned lots and the individual permittees shall be final and conclusive. Protests may be filed by tribal members claiming an interest in an assigned lot and such protest shall be determined by the Superintendent after notice and hearing.

The regulations in this part may be suspended or amended at any time by the Secretary of the Interior: Provided, That such amendments or suspension shall not serve to change the terms or conditions of any mortgage approved in accordance with § 91.8(a).