[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9382]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 19403]]



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 151


Acquisition of Title to Land in Trust; Delay of Effective Date

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Delay of effective date of final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action temporarily delays for 120 days the effective date 
of the rule titled ``Acquisition of Title to Land in Trust,'' that we 
published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2001. We are extending 
the comment period in order to seek comments on whether the final rule 
should be amended in whole or in part or withdrawn in whole or in part.

 DATES: The effective date of the Acquisition of Title to Land Trust 
rule, amending 25 CFR Part 151, published in the Federal Register of 
Tuesday, February 20, 2001, at 68 FR 10815, is delayed from April 16, 
2001, to August 13, 2001. Comments must be received by June 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on whether the final rule should be amended 
in whole or in part or withdrawn in whole or in part to: Terry Virden, 
Director, Office of Trust Responsibilities, MS 4513-MIB, 1849 C Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20240. You can also submit comments by electronic 
mail to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Virden, Director, Office of 
Trust Responsibilities, Mail Stop: 4513-MIB, 1849 ``C'' Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20240; telephone 202-208-5831; electronic mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action temporarily delays for 120 days 
the effective date of the rule entitled ``Acquisition of Title to Land 
in Trust,'' published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2001, at 
66 FR 3452. On February 5, 2001, the Department published an extension 
of the effective date of the amended rule from January 16, 2001, to 
March 17, 2001. 66 FR 8899. On February 20, 2001, the Department 
published a correction to the rule published on February 5th and 
corrected the delay effective date to April 16, 2001. 66 FR 10815. This 
document now extends the effective date of the final rule from April 
16, 2001, an additional 120 days, to a new effective date of August 13, 
2001, in order to seek comments on whether the final rule should be 
amended in whole or in part or withdrawn in whole or in part.
    During the extension of the effective date of the final rule to 
April 16, the Department reviewed the rule and decided it should 
solicit public comments on whether to amend the rule in whole or in 
part or to withdraw the final rule in whole or in part. During this 
120-day delay of the effective date of the final rule, the Department 
will seek comments for 60 days on whether the final rule should be 
withdrawn in whole or in part or amended in whole or in part. At the 
end of the 120 days, the Department will evaluate the comments received 
and make a determination on whether to amend the rule in whole or in 
part or to withdraw the final rule in whole or in part. Given the 
imminence of the effective date of the final rule, seeking prior public 
comment on this temporary delay would have been impractical, as well as 
contrary to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and 
implementation of regulations.
    To the extend that 5 U.S.C. section 553 applies to this action, 
this extension of the comment period is exempt from notice and comment 
because it constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. section 
553(b)(A). Alternatively, the Department's extension of the comment 
period without opportunity for public comment is based upon the good 
cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. sections 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), in 
that seeking public comment on the extension of the effective date is 
impractical, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest.

    Dated: April 11, 2001.
James McDivitt,
Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs (Management).
[FR Doc. 01-9382 Filed 4-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-M