[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 55860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22355]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Tribal Listening Sessions on Sacred Sites on Federal Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Indian Affairs will conduct a listening session with Indian 
tribes to obtain oral and written comments concerning sacred sites 
located on Federal lands. This session in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the sixth 
in a series of listening sessions held since the beginning of August.

DATES: The listening session will be held Tuesday, September 18, 2012. 
Written input/suggestions are due September 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for 
the location of the tribal listening session. Submit comments by email 
to: [email protected] or by U.S. mail to: Office of the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, attn: Dion 
Killsback, Mail Stop 4141 MIB, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dion Killsback, Counselor to the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, (202) 208-6939.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department, through the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, intends to develop a policy to 
strengthen the protection of sacred sites on Federal lands. For many 
years the Department has received input on sacred sites and to that 
end, the Department is seeking specific input on, but not limited to, 
the following topics regarding sacred sites:
     Meanings of sacred sites and whether the Departments 
should attempt to define the term ``sacred site'' more definitively;
     Recognized leaders of tribal government and tribal 
spiritual leaders who should be included in the Department's 
determination of whether a site is considered ``sacred'' by a tribe.
     Cultural and social views of existing Departmental 
practices or policies that should be revised to protect sacred sites 
and steps necessary to make appropriate revisions;
     Development of potential Departmental practices or 
policies to protect sacred sites;
     How the Department should facilitate tribal access to 
tribally provided information regarding sacred sites.
    The tribal listening session will be held at the following date and 
location. Please arrive early to allow time for security clearance and 
bring identification:

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                   Date                                    Time                               Venue
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September 18, 2012.......................  9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m................  Federal Building, 3rd Floor
                                                                                 Courtroom, 333 South Boulder
                                                                                 Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103.
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    Dated: August 31, 2012.
Donald E. Laverdure,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-22355 Filed 9-10-12; 8:45 am]
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