[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 70520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31161]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs; Application 
Deadline for Self-Governance in 2005

AGENCY: Office of Self-Governance and Self-Determination, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of application deadline.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, the Office of Self-Governance and Self-
Determination (OSG) establishes a March 1, 2004, deadline for tribes/
consortia to submit completed applications to begin participation in 
the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2005 or calendar year 
2005.

DATES: Completed application packages must be received by March 1, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Application packages for inclusion in the applicant pool 
should be sent to William A. Sinclair, Director, Office of Self-
Governance and Self-Determination, Department of the Interior, Mail 
Stop 2548, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kenneth D. Reinfeld, Office of 
Self-Governance and Self-Determination, Telephone 202-208-5734.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 
(Pub. L. 103-413), as amended by the Fiscal Year 1997 Omnibus 
Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-208) the Director, Office of Self-
Governance and Self-Determination may select up to 50 additional 
participating tribes/consortia per year for the tribal self-governance 
program, and negotiate and enter into a written funding agreement with 
each participating tribe. The Act mandates that the Secretary submit 
copies of the funding agreements at least 90 days before the proposed 
effective date to the appropriate committees of the Congress and to 
each tribe that is served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agency 
that is serving the tribe that is a party to the funding agreement. 
Initial negotiations with a tribe/consortium located in a region and/or 
agency which has not previously been involved with self-governance 
negotiations, will take approximately two months from start to finish. 
Agreements for an October 1 to September 30 funding year need to be 
signed and submitted by July 1. Agreements for a January 1 to December 
31 funding year need to be signed and submitted by October 1.
    Purpose of Notice 25 CFR 1000.10 to 1000.31 will be used to govern 
the application and selection process for tribes/consortia to begin 
their participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal 
year 2005 and calendar year 2005. Applicants should be guided by the 
requirements in these subparts in preparing their applications. Copies 
of these subparts may be obtained from the information contact person 
identified in this notice.
    Tribes/consortia wishing to be considered for participation in the 
tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2005 or calendar year 
2005 must respond to this notice, except for those which are (1) 
currently involved in negotiations with the Department; (2) one of the 
83 tribal entities with signed agreements; or (3) one of the tribal 
entities already included in the applicant pool as of the date of this 
notice.

    Dated: December 2, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-31161 Filed 12-17-03; 8:45 am]
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