[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 24974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10092]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary is announcing that the Secretarial 
Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform (the Commission) 
will hold a public webinar meeting on May 16, 2012. Having gathered 
valuable background information during the first meeting held in 
Washington, DC, March 1-2, 2012, the Commission is beginning to develop 
a comprehensive evaluation of how the Department of the Interior 
manages and administers trust responsibilities to American Indians. The 
Secretarial Commission's charter requires the Commission to provide 
well-reasoned and factually-based recommendations for potential 
improvements to the existing management and administration of the trust 
administration system. The Commission is committed to early public 
engagement and welcomes your participation in these important meetings.

DATES: The Commission's webinar meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. and end 
at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2012. Attendance is open to the 
public, but limited space is available. Members of the public who wish 
to attend must RSVP by May 11, 2012, by registering at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/115154409. Instructions for joining the 
webinar will be emailed after registration occurs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Designated Federal Official, Jodi 
Gillette, Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street 
NW., MS-4141, Washington, DC 20240; or email to Jodi.Gillette@bia.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of President Obama's commitment to 
fulfilling this nation's trust responsibilities to Native Americans, 
the Secretary of the Interior appointed five members to serve on the 
Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform, 
established under Secretarial Order No. 3292, dated December 8, 2009. 
The Commission will play a key role in the Department's ongoing efforts 
to empower Indian nations and strengthen nation-to-nation 
relationships.
    The Commission will complete a comprehensive evaluation of the 
Department's management and administration of the trust assets within a 
two-year period and offer recommendations to the Secretary of the 
Interior of how to improve in the future. The Commission will:
    (1) Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Department's 
management and administration of the trust administration system;
    (2) Review the Department's provision of services to trust 
beneficiaries;
    (3) Review input from the public, interested parties, and trust 
beneficiaries which should involve conducting a number of regional 
listening sessions;
    (4) Consider the nature and scope of necessary audits of the 
Department's trust administration system;
    (5) Recommend options to the Secretary to improve the Department's 
management and administration of the trust administration system based 
on information obtained from the Commission's activities, including 
whether any legislative or regulatory changes are necessary to 
permanently implement such improvements; and
    (6) Consider the provisions of the American Indian Trust Fund 
Management Reform Act of 1994 providing for the termination of the 
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, and make 
recommendations to the Secretary regarding any such termination.
    The following items will be on the agenda:
     Update on action items from March 2012 meeting;
     Report and discuss progress of subcommittees;
     Review and update work plan;
     Discuss draft communications and outreach plan;
     Report on Commission meeting dates and locations, 
anticipated agenda for June; and
     Public comments.
    Written comments may be sent to the Designated Federal Official 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. To review 
all related material on the Commission's work, please refer to http://www.doi.gov/cobell/commission/index.cfm. All meetings are open to the 
public.

    Dated: April 20, 2012.
David J. Hayes,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-10092 Filed 4-25-12; 8:45 am]
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