[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69879-69880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27773]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[Fund: 133D5670LC, Fund Center: DS10100000 Functional Area:
DLCAP0000.000000 WBS: DX.10120]
Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations Under Cobell Settlement
AGENCY: Office of the Deputy Secretary, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations has released its
2014 Status Report that details what the Program has been doing to
execute terms of the Cobell Settlement. The Program continues to
actively engage tribes and individuals across Indian Country to raise
awareness of the Program and will host a listening session on March 19,
2015, in Laveen, Arizona. We hope to receive feedback on the Report
from tribes and individuals.
DATES: The listening session will take place on March 19, 2015, at the
Vee Quiva Hotel, 15091 South Komatke Lane, Laveen, AZ 85339. Comments
must be received by April 20, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Treci Johnson, Public Relations
Specialist, Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, (202) 208-6916.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program or
Program) is the Department of the Interior's (Department) collaborative
effort with Indian Country to realize the historic opportunity afforded
by the Cobell Settlement--a $1.9 billion Trust Land Consolidation
Fund--to compensate individuals who willingly choose to transfer
fractional land interests to tribal nations for fair market value.
Directly following final approval of the Settlement in December 2012
and early consultations in 2011, the Department established the Buy-
Back Program and published an Initial Implementation Plan in light of
consultation that occurred in 2011 and 2012. The Department released an
Updated Implementation Plan in November 2013 after several rounds of
additional government-to-government consultation with tribes and
feedback on the Initial Implementation Plan.
The Department is currently implementing the Buy-Back Program at
multiple locations across Indian Country. Thus far, the Program has
made $754 million in offers to individual landowners and paid more
[[Page 69880]]
than $209 million directly to more than 16,000 individuals that decided
to sell fractional interests. This has restored the equivalent of more
than 350,000 acres to tribes. Our working relationships with tribes (12
cooperative agreements or other arrangements to date) and continued
outreach to landowners are important elements of continued progress.
II. Listening Session
The purpose of the upcoming listening session is to gather input
from tribes in order for the Department to continue to refine its land
consolidation processes, and engage individual landowners who may have
questions about the Program. An agenda and RSVP information will be
announced closer to the date of the event.
III. Seeking Tribal Input
The Buy-Back Program is committed to continuous consultations
throughout the life of the Program in compliance with the letter and
spirit of Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments) and Secretarial Order 3314 (Department of
the Interior Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes).
At the beginning of 2013, Department officials conducted extensive
tribal consultations on the following:
(1) Developing an efficient, fair process for landowners of
fractionated interests to participate in the Buy-Back Program;
(2) Identifying and maximizing opportunities for tribal
involvement; and
(3) Offering tribes flexibility to execute Program requirements in
the manner best suited for the unique needs of each community.
While the Department welcomes feedback related to any aspect of the
Program, the following areas are of particular interest:
Implementation at Less-Fractionated Locations. There are
about 110 less-fractionated locations that contain approximately 10
percent of the outstanding fractional interests. The Program continues
to explore ways for additional less-fractioned locations to participate
in buy-back efforts in an efficient and cost-effective manner. For
example, the Buy-Back Program has received requests from tribes for
reimbursement of past and future purchases of fractionated interests
acquired under tribal or other land consolidation efforts. To date, no
reimbursement requests have been awarded through the Buy-Back Program.
Until the Program renders a decision on such reimbursement requests, no
reimbursement requests will be granted, and tribes should not proceed
with that expectation. The Program encourages the submission of
comments or ideas on whether and how reimbursements might work.
Whereabouts Unknown. Whereabouts unknown (WAU) is the term
used to describe IIM account holders without current address
information on file with OST. The Settlement provides for an outreach
effort to locate landowners whose whereabouts are unknown as of the
date of final approval of the Settlement. The Program has not exercised
WAU purchases thus far and is seeking input from tribes and individuals
on whether and how it should implement the provision. Since the
Program's inception, the focus has been locating WAU through outreach
efforts so the individuals can receive and consider an offer.
Improvements. Where structural improvements exist on a
tract, a number of issues may complicate the acquisition of fractional
interests in the tract. While the Program does not intend to acquire
structural improvements, which are non-trust property, the Program
seeks additional feedback from landowners and tribes about acquiring
interests in tracts with structural improvements, including instances
in which the Program might choose to acquire interests. For example,
the Program might make offers for interests in a tract with non-
residential structural improvements (e.g., a tract only with an
uninhabited agricultural shed or hay barn), but not on tract where
residences are located unless the tribe has a policy or resolution in
place ensuring that residents' interests are recognized and protected.
Public Domain. Under the Settlement, fractional interests
acquired by the Program are to be immediately held in trust or
restricted status for the recognized tribe that exercises jurisdiction
over the land. When identifying the locations with fractional interests
that may be consolidated, the Program excludes land area names that
include the term public domain or off reservation because use of these
terms indicate that there may be no recognized tribe that exercises
jurisdiction over the land. The Program has encouraged feedback,
however, on the list of locations in its 2012 and 2013 implementation
plans. Since then, the Program has received feedback from several
tribes suggesting that certain land areas should be included. The
Program is now seeking general feedback on whether and if so how the
Program should incorporate public domain or off reservation land areas
into the Program, including any suggested standards or processes that
could be applied.
IV. Additional Resources
The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations 2014 Status Report and
additional information about the Buy-Back Program is available at:
http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram. In addition, landowners can contact
their local Fiduciary Trust Officer or call Interior's Trust
Beneficiary Call Center at (888) 678-6836.
Dated: November 19, 2014.
Michael L. Connor,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-27773 Filed 11-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-10-P