[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 64917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28478]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians


Tribal Consultation on Participation by the Office of the Special 
Trustee for American Indians in the Department of the Interior 
Consolidation of Agency Appraisal Functions: Reopening of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the period during which the Office 
of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) will accept written 
comments concerning potential issues related to participation by OST in 
the Department of the Interior plan to consolidate agency appraisal 
functions, has been reopened to be effective from the date of this 
publication in the Federal Register until December 1, 2003. Pursuant to 
the September 17, 2003 notice published in the Federal Register, the 
period for written comments on this matter closed on November 7, 2003. 
In response to tribal requests, however, OST is reopening the comment 
period and extending it to December 1, 2003, to allow tribes and other 
interested parties an extended opportunity to provide written comments 
on this matter.
    On June 19, 2003, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton announced 
that real estate appraisal functions currently performed by various 
agencies within the Department would be consolidated into a single 
office. This action is taken in response to concerns about the 
objectivity and management of appraisal functions carried out by 
several agencies within the Department, and documented in reports 
issued by the Department's Inspector General, the General Accounting 
Office and other groups.
    The goals of a consolidated appraisal organization include: To 
restore public and consumer confidence in land valuations; to ensure 
greater appraiser independence for unbiased valuation services that 
meet the highest professional standards; and a sharing of skills and 
resources throughout the Department. In addition, the consolidation is 
expected to provide better coordination and consistency of appraisal 
guidance, enhanced professional development of appraisers, and greater 
efficiencies in contract monitoring and development.
    Since July 2003, OST has participated in the Departmental action 
team composed of appraisal and realty specialists from affected offices 
within the Department. The action team has been meeting to determine 
the best way to accomplish the consolidation, with as minimal 
disruption to appraisal services as possible. Participation on this 
action team, and additional discussions with the Department, indicate 
that it would be in the best interest of the OST appraisal program to 
join this consolidation. Specific issues unique to the appraisal of 
Indian trust assets as conducted by the OST Office of Appraisal 
Services, and by self-governance and self-determination tribes, 
however, require special consideration. OST held four tribal 
consultation sessions to discuss these issues. Two meetings were held 
on September 24, 2003 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and two meetings were held on 
October 28, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In response to requests for 
additional time to submit written comments on the proposal to OST, the 
comment period has been reopened from the date of publication to 
December 1, 2003.

DATES: All comments are due by December 1, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send or hand-deliver written comments to: Carrie Moore, 
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Suite 5140, Washington, DC 20240. Submissions by facsimile should be 
sent to (202) 208-7545.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Moore at (202) 208-4866 or Pat 
Gerard at (505) 816-1313.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the consultation is to 
provide Indian tribes and other interested parties with the opportunity 
to comment on issues relevant to OST participation in the Department of 
the Interior consolidation of agency appraisal programs.
    Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish us 
to withhold your name, street address, and other contact information 
(such as fax or phone number) from public review or from disclosure 
under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently 
at the beginning of your comment. We will honor your request to the 
extent allowable by law. We will make available for public inspection 
in their entirety all submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses.
    This notice is published in accordance with the authority delegated 
by the Secretary of the Interior to the Special Trustee for American 
Indians by 209 DM 11.

Ross Swimmer,
Special Trustee for American Indians, Office of the Special Trustee for 
American Indians.
[FR Doc. 03-28478 Filed 11-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P