[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48934-48935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20935]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Land Acquisitions; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of 
Michigan

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of final agency determination to take land into trust 
under 25 CFR part 151.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs made a final agency 
determination to acquire approximately 96 acres, more or less, of land 
into trust for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of 
Michigan on July 18, 2003. This notice is published in the exercise of 
authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 Departmental Manual 8.1.

[[Page 48935]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published to comply with the 
requirement of 25 CFR part 151.12(b) that notice be given to the public 
of the Secretary's decision to acquire land in trust at least 30 days 
prior to signatory acceptance of the land into trust. The purpose of 
the 30-day waiting period in 25 CFR part 151.12(b) is to afford 
interested parties the opportunity to seek judicial review of final 
administrative decisions to take land in trust for Indian tribes and 
individual Indians before transfer of title to the property occurs. On 
July 18, 2003, the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs decided to 
accept approximately 96 acres, more or less, of land into trust for the 
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan under the 
authority of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Act, 25 
U.S.C. 1300k-1300k-7 (1994), which also restored Federal recognition to 
the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the Little River 
Band of Ottawa Indians. In a memorandum dated November 12, 1997, the 
Associate Solicitor, Division of Indian Affairs, determined that the 
Little Traverse Bay Bands is a restored tribe within the meaning of 
Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), 25 U.S.C. 2719 
and that the trust acquisition of the parcel known as the ``Mackinaw 
City Tract'' qualified as restored lands. The Mackinaw Tract is within 
Emmet County. On August 5, 1999, the Associate Solicitor, Division of 
Indian Affairs further concluded that the site of the temporary 
Victories casino qualified as ``restored'' land within the meaning of 
section 20 of IGRA, because it is within Emmet County and is exempt 
from the general prohibition against gaming on land acquired in trust 
after October 17, 1988. On March 24, 2003, the Field Solicitor, Twin 
Cities concluded that pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1300k-4(a) the acquisition 
of land located in Emmet County, Michigan for the Little Traverse Bay 
Bands is a mandatory acquisition for purposes of 25 CFR 151.10 and is 
considered ``restored'' land for purposes of 25 U.S.C. 
2719(b)(1)(B)(iii) of IGRA.
    The land referred to in Commitment No. 60016179, situated in the 
Township of Resort, County of Emmet, State of Michigan is described as 
follows:

    The Northeast \1/4\ of the Southeast \1/4\ and the South one-
half of the Northwest \1/4\ of the Southeast \1/4\, all in Section 
12, Township 34 North, Range 6 West, except: Commencing at the East 
\1/4\ corner of Section 12, Township 34 North, Range 6 West; Resort 
Township, Emmet County, Michigan; thence South along the East line 
of said Section 12, for a distance of 427.29 feet; thence West 33.00 
feet to a concrete monument on the West edge of Greenwood Cemetery 
Road, which is the point of beginning; thence West 217.00 feet to a 
concrete monument, thence South 160.00 feet to a concrete monument; 
thence East 217.00 feet to a concrete monument on the West edge of 
Greenwood Cemetery Road; thence North 160.00 feet to the point of 
beginning.

    The land referred to in Commitment No. 60016178, situated in the 
Township of Resort, County of Emmet, State of Michigan is described as 
follows:

    The Southeast \1/4\ of the Southeast \1/4\ of Section 12, 
Township 34 North, Range 6 West.

    The property consists of approximately 96 acres located in Emmet 
County, Michigan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Skibine, Office of Indian 
Gaming Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, MS-4543 MIB, 1849 C 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 219-4066.

    Dated: July 18, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-20935 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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