[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75084-75085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27453]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Proposed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Pilot Referral 
Program for Interior Board of Land Appeals

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), Department of the 
Interior (DOI), in collaboration with DOI's Office of Collaborative 
Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR) and the U.S. Institute for 
Environmental Conflict Resolution, has developed an alternative dispute 
resolution (ADR) pilot referral program for the Interior Board of Land 
Appeals (IBLA). The IBLA pilot program is one component of a 
Department-wide effort to expand the appropriate use of ADR processes 
to address environmental, public lands, and natural resources disputes 
involving DOI's bureaus and offices. OHA is making available for public 
review and comment a number of documents that describe and will be used 
to implement the IBLA pilot program.

DATES: To be considered, written or electronic comments on the IBLA 
pilot program must be received on or before January 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the 
IBLA pilot program. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Submit written comments to the Interior Board of 
Land Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203.
     Fax: Send comments by facsimile to the Interior Board of 
Land Appeals at (703) 235-8349.
     Direct Internet Response: Submit electronic comments by 
following the instructions for submitting comments provided at the 
following Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/regulatory/index.htm.
    Received comments will be available for public review. Comments may 
be inspected between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the 
address provided above. Comments may also be viewed electronically at 
the Web site listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Greenberg, Dispute Resolution 
Specialist, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203, 703-
235-3750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IBLA pilot program has two main 
components:
     During the initial case docketing process, IBLA will alert 
parties to the availability of voluntary ADR processes to achieve 
settlement of their appeals.
     Following a preliminary review of the appeal, IBLA will 
select, through use of ADR suitability criteria, appeals that may be 
appropriate for direct negotiation, assisted negotiation/mediation, or 
other ADR processes (for example, joint fact-finding).
    The IBLA pilot program is intended to educate parties about the 
potential for ADR and offer them an opportunity to develop creative 
solutions to their disputes, thereby reducing the expense and time 
involved in the appeals process and potentially limiting further 
litigation.

[[Page 75085]]

    The documents for public review and comment include the following:
     A description of the IBLA pilot program;
     A one-page ``ADR Referral Data Sheet,'' containing general 
information about ADR, which would be included with the docketing 
notice sent to the parties in each case;
     An ``IBLA Pilot ADR Referral Program Information Sheet,'' 
which includes more detailed information about the pilot referral 
program and which would be sent to parties whose appeals are identified 
as suitable for ADR or who request further information; and
     Responses to Frequently Asked Questions.
    Electronic copies of the documents for public review can be viewed 
at the Bureau of Land Management Regulatory Actions Web site, http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/regulatory/index.htm. To view the documents, go to 
the Web site and click on ``Web based automated regulations comment 
system''; select ``Interior Board of Land Appeals'' and ``View/Create 
Comments for Open Regulations''; click on the link for IBLA; click on 
``Pilot Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Referral Program''; and 
then click on the available documents.
    Electronic versions of the documents are also available on the CADR 
Web site at http://www.doi.gov/cadr/. Click on the link for the Office 
of Hearings and Appeals.
    Hard copies of the documents can be obtained from the Interior 
Board of Land Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department 
of the Interior, 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203, 
703-235-3750.
    The development and implementation of the IBLA pilot program is 
authorized by the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996, 5 
U.S.C. 571-584.

    Dated: December 6, 2004.
Robert S. More,
Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals.
[FR Doc. 04-27453 Filed 12-14-04; 8:45 am]
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