[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 64054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30734]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Office of Special Trustee for American Indians

Office of Indian Trust Transition


Tribal Consultation on Indian Trust Asset Management

AGENCIES: Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of 
the Special Trustee for American Indians, Office of Indian Trust 
Transition, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary, along with the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians, and Office 
of Indian Trust Transition, will conduct meetings on Indian trust asset 
management. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss a proposed 
reorganization of the Department's trust responsibility functions to 
improve the management of Indian trust assets. Any tribe, band, nation 
or individual is encouraged to attend the meetings and to submit 
written comments.

DATES: The dates and city locations of the consultation meetings are as 
follows:

     December 13, 2001--Albuquerque, New Mexico
     December 20, 2001--Minneapolis, Minnesota
     January 3, 2002--Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
     January 10, 2002--Rapid City, South Dakota
     January 17, 2002--San Diego, California
     January 23, 2002--Anchorage, Alaska
     February 1, 2002--Washington, DC (Arlington, Virginia)

ADDRESSES: The addresses for the consultation meetings, which will all 
begin promptly at 9:00 a.m., are as follows:

     Albuquerque, New Mexico--The Hyatt Regency, 330 Tijeras 
Street NW
     Minneapolis, Minnesota--The Double Tree Hotel, 7901 24th 
Ave. South
     Oklahoma City, Oklahoma--Westin Hotel, 1 North Broadway
     Rapid City, South Dakota--Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza, 505 
N. 5th Street
     San Diego, California--Hanalei Red Lion Hotel, 2270 Hotel 
Circle North
     Anchorage, Alaska--Hilton Anchorage, 500 West 3rd Street
     Washington, DC--Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson 
Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne R. Smith, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW., MS 4140 MIB, Washington, 
DC 20240 (202/208-7163).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meetings is to involve 
affected and interested parties in the process of organizing the 
Department's trust asset management responsibility functions. The 
Department has determined that there is a need for dramatic change in 
the management of Indian trust assets. This need has been made apparent 
in several ways. An independent consultant has analyzed important 
components of the Department's trust reform activities and made several 
recommendations, including the recommendation that the Department 
consolidate trust functions under a single entity. Concerns have also 
been raised in the Cobell v. Norton case, which is currently pending in 
the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia. Internal 
review has also supported reorganization. Additionally, a recent report 
commissioned by the Department of the Interior has supported 
reorganization. This report, developed by the EDS Corporation, is being 
made available online at www.doi.gov for public review. A new office in 
the Department, the Office of Indian Trust Transition, has been created 
to plan and support reorganization. While preliminary actions have been 
taken by the Department, the plan for reorganization is still in the 
early stages of development. Prior notice of the first two consultation 
meetings scheduled in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, were published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2001 
(66 FR 63306).
    Written comments may be submitted at any of the above listed 
meeting locations or may be mailed to the address indicated under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Interested persons may examine 
written comments during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. 
EST) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, 
Washington, DC, Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. 
Commenters who wish to remain anonymous must clearly state this 
preference at the beginning of their written comments. The Department 
will honor requests for anonymity to the extent allowable by law.
    These meetings support administrative policy on tribal consultation 
by encouraging maximum direct participation of representatives of 
tribal governments, tribal organizations and other interested persons 
in important Departmental processes.

    Dated: December 7, 2001.
J. Steven Griles,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-30734 Filed 12-10-01; 8:45 am]
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