[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 37107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12731]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Certification.

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SUMMARY: The American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 requires the 
Secretary of the Interior to certify that we developed an informational 
notice about the Act and its provisions. The Act also requires the 
Secretary of the Interior to certify that we sent the notice to 
individual Indian holders of interest in trust or restricted land by 
direct mail, and published the notice in the Federal Register and 
newspapers. This certification fulfills this requirement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eufrona Snyder, Special Assistant--
Trust Management, Office of Trust Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240, 
telephone number (202) 208-3614.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by the American Indian Probate 
Reform Act of 2004, the Secretary of the Interior has signed this 
certification and we are publishing it today to inform interested 
members of the public.
    I, Gale A. Norton, in my capacity as Secretary of the Department of 
the Interior, herewith certify as follows: That consistent with the 
requirements of Public Law 108-374, the American Indian Probate Reform 
Act of 2004 (``AIPRA''), I have determined that the Department of the 
Interior has by April 25, 2005, provided notice designed to inform 
Indian owners of trust or restricted land of:
    1. The changes to prior law made by this Act, with emphasis on 
changes made to testate disposition and interstate descent of their 
interests in trust or restricted land;
    2. Estate planning options available to the owners, including any 
opportunities for receiving estate planning assistance or advice;
    3. The use of other devices for consolidating land ownership, such 
as negotiated sales, gift deeds, and land exchanges; and
    4. The toll-free call center telephone number for obtaining 
information regarding the provisions of the Act and any trust assets of 
such owners.
    Further, such notice has been provided to individual Indian holders 
of interests in trust or restricted land and Individual Indian Money 
(IIM) account holders by direct mail in instances where the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs has a current mailing address; through the Federal 
Register, and through local newspapers in areas with significant Indian 
populations, reservation newspapers, and newspapers that are directed 
to an Indian audience. Notice was also given through the field offices 
delivering copies of notices to those Indian landowners and IIM account 
holders in their respective areas.

    Dated: June 20, 2005.
Gale A. Norton,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 05-12731 Filed 6-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-M