[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 42 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9836-9840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3667]



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Part II





Department of the Interior





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Bureau of Indian Affairs



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25 CFR Part 61



Preparation of Rolls of Indians; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 42 / Monday, March 5, 2007 / Rules 
and Regulations  

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 61

RIN 1076-AE44


Preparation of Rolls of Indians

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is amending its regulations 
governing the compilation of rolls of Indians in order to open the 
enrollment application process for the Western Shoshone Identifiable 
Group of Indians. The enrollment application process will give 
individuals an opportunity to file applications to share in the Western 
Shoshone judgment fund distribution authorized under the Western 
Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of July 7, 2004.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule becomes effective on April 4, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daisy West, Office of Indian Services, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 4513-MIB, 
Washington, DC, (202) 513-7641.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document is 
vested in the Secretary of the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301, 25 U.S.C. 2 
and 9, and Public Law 108-270, 118 Stat. 805. The Secretary has 
delegated this authority to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Departmental Manual.

Background

    The Western Shoshone Judgment Fund Distribution Act dated July 7, 
2004, Pub. L. 108-270, 118 Stat. 805 (Act), requires the Secretary of 
the Interior to establish a judgment fund per capita roll to distribute 
the judgment funds awarded to the Western Shoshone by the Indian Claims 
Commission on August 15, 1977, in Docket No. 326-K. The Act also 
establishes a Western Shoshone Educational Fund with the funds awarded 
in Dockets Nos. 326-A-1 and 326-A-3. The principal funds will be held 
in a perpetual trust and the interest funds will be used for 
educational purposes. Those listed on the per capita payment roll, and 
their lineal descendants will be eligible to receive the education 
funds.

Review of Public Comments

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs published a proposed rule to amend the 
regulations in 25 CFR part 61 on May 19, 2005, 70 FR 28859. The comment 
period was open for 162 days, from May 19, 2005, to October 28, 2005. 
Copies of the proposed rule were mailed to approximately 2,300 
individuals along with a notice of two public meetings that were being 
held for the purpose of discussing the proposed rule. The first meeting 
was held on August 20, 2005, in Elko, Nevada. Approximately 500 
individuals attended the meeting. The second meeting was held on August 
27, 2005, in Reno, Nevada. Approximately 600 individuals attended the 
second meeting. We received written comments from 36 individuals 
concerning the proposed rule. The comments and our responses to the 
comments are organized into 8 categories. We combined similar comments 
when the response is the same for each of the comments.

1. Application Period

    Comment: We received several comments regarding the length of the 
application period. Recommendations were made that the application 
period should be limited to 180 days because BIA is giving individuals 
too much time to file applications. Another individual recommended that 
the application period be for one year.
    Response: We will not establish a firm application deadline date 
because we do not know how long it will take BIA to complete the 
enrollment process. The BIA has a trust responsibility to give 
potential eligible beneficiaries every opportunity to file an 
application to share in the judgment fund. Almost 10 years ago the BIA 
was required to reopen an enrollment application period because the 
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Loudner v. U.S., 108 F.3d 
896 (8th Cir. 1997), held that the BIA did not give proper notice of 
the application period, and that 5 months was not a sufficient time 
period within which to file applications, in light of internal agency 
delays in implementing distribution of the fund.
    BIA has developed a process for establishing the application 
deadline date that takes into account the time it may take the BIA to 
implement the distribution. BIA has adopted the process for 
establishing the application deadline date that was described in the 
notice of proposed rule. The process adopted for establishing an 
application deadline is described below under the heading ``Application 
Deadline'' of this preamble.
    Comment: The example BIA used to illustrate the process for 
establishing an application deadline date should be amended to reduce 
the number of applications received from 10,000 to 5,000 applications.
    Response: The number used to illustrate the process for 
establishing an application deadline date is only an example. Reducing 
the number used as an example will not clarify our explanation of the 
process.

2. Eligibility Requirements in 25 CFR 61.4(k)(1)

    Comment:
    (a) The \1/4\ blood degree requirement is abusive to their 
grandchildren. The funds should be distributed to all Western Shoshone 
descendants regardless of blood degree.
    (b) The regulations should be amended to allow those who died prior 
to the date of the Act to be eligible for a share of the funds. The 
amendment would allow the decedent's heirs, who might otherwise be 
ineligible, to share in the decedent's estate.
    (c) Minors' parents filed applications on behalf of their children 
to share in earlier judgment fund distributions. The applications were 
filed without the minors' consent. Consequently, many of those 
individuals are ineligible to share in the Western Shoshone judgment 
fund distribution. The regulation should be amended to say that 
``individual Indians of Western Shoshone descent of age 18 or older (at 
the time of judgment payment roll preparation) that share in any other 
judgment is ineligible * * *''
    Response: We cannot adopt the recommendations because the 
eligibility requirements in the proposed rule were established by 
Congress in Section 3 of the Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act. 
The BIA cannot change the requirements established through enactment of 
law.
    Comment: Some of the Western Shoshone are concerned that their 
application to share in this judgment fund distribution will be denied 
because they were eligible to share in other awards. They did not apply 
to share, or receive payment from the other judgment fund 
distributions. To clarify the issue, the BIA should insert the words 
``and did receive'' into 25 CFR 61.4(k)(1)(iv) so that it will read 
``Any individual that is certified by the Secretary to be eligible to 
receive and did receive a per capita payment from any other aboriginal 
land claim * * *``
    Response: That situation will not occur. We will limit our review 
to 1/ judgment fund distributions derived from non-Western Shoshone 
aboriginal land claims monies, and 2/ to those individuals who are 
actually listed on an approved judgment fund payment roll, or who have 
received notification that their application was approved to share in a 
non-Western Shoshone judgment fund distribution. Only those

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individuals would be deemed ineligible to share in the Western Shoshone 
judgment fund who are listed on an approved non-Western Shoshone 
judgment fund payment roll, or who have received notification that 
their application was approved to share in a non-Western Shoshone 
judgment fund distribution. The words ``and did receive'' would add 
many more years to the review process because BIA would need to 
document whether an individual actually received a payment. In some 
instances it would be impossible to document because the actual checks 
used to make the per capita payment were destroyed by the Department of 
the Treasury many years ago. In cases where the cancelled checks still 
exist, an individual might appeal their denial claiming that they did 
not endorse the check.

3. Consultation With Tribal Governments

    Comment: The statement should be amended to add the words ``or any 
political organization.''
    Response: We will not adopt the recommendation because Executive 
Order 13175 and 513 DM 2 require us to consult with federally 
recognized tribes when appropriate. We are not required to consult with 
political organizations, thus we are not required to evaluate the 
potential effects of this rule on political organizations.

4. Information Collection

    Comment:
    (a) The estimated burden hours on the public to prepare and file an 
application should be reduced because everyone already has the required 
information and documentation.
    (b) The BIA should reduce the number of applications it expects to 
receive from 10,000 to 6,000 because of the recommendation to limit the 
application period to 180 days.
    (c) The BIA should reduce its estimate of the number of applicants 
from 10,000 to 5,000 because of the \1/4\ Western Shoshone blood degree 
requirement.
    (d) The BIA should reduce its estimate of the time required to 
review the applications and prepare the roll because BIA already has 
all of the necessary information concerning the applicants.
    Response: We used our prior experience in enrollment matters to 
develop our estimate of the burden hours required for persons to 
prepare and file an application. We stand by our estimate.
    Comment: The BIA should collect Social Security Numbers to 
determine if payments were made to the applicants from earlier judgment 
fund distributions.
    Response: The enrollment application form contains a space for the 
applicant to provide their Social Security Number.
    Comment: Elders should be asked to verify descendants of family 
members if no other record exists.
    Response: The provisions in 25 CFR 61.9 describe the types of 
records an applicant can use to establish eligibility for enrollment. 
Affidavits are among the documents listed. The applicant can request an 
elder to provide an affidavit describing the elder's personal knowledge 
of an individual's birth date or place of birth, etc.
    Comment:
    (e) The application process should include Internet online filing.
    Response: BIA does not have access to the Internet.

5. Review Process

    Comment: BIA should use a computer to manage the application and 
review process.
    Response: BIA will use computers in all phases of the application 
review process.
    Comment: The BIA should make other judgment fund rolls available to 
BIA staff and contractors. The same process used to develop those rolls 
should be used to develop the Western Shoshone roll.
    Response: Other judgment fund per capita rolls will be cross-
referenced with the applications we receive under this enrollment 
process.
    Comment: The applications should be reviewed as they are received. 
Once the application period closes, 90 days will be sufficient time 
period to complete the review. If necessary, additional time could be 
granted in 90-day increments.
    Response: The applications will be reviewed in the quickest manner 
possible. The quickest way is usually by reviewing applications by 
family group.
    Comment: BIA should give the general public access to the Indian 
census rolls prepared between the years 1885 and 1940. Currently, the 
information is limited to the descendants of those listed on the census 
rolls.
    Response: BIA does not release personal information to the general 
public. The census rolls, however, are available from the National 
Archives Records Administration (NARA).
    Comment: BIA should not use the census records prepared by BIA 
between 1885 and 1940 because the records are inaccurate.
    Response: The census records are the most comprehensive lists of 
Western Shoshone Indians available to us. If the census records contain 
inaccurate or conflicting information pertaining to a particular 
individual, we will use other records to help clarify or correct the 
record.
    Comment: BIA should provide a copy of the completed roll to the 
Administrative Committee responsible for the Western Shoshone 
Educational Trust Fund.
    Response: The Western Shoshone per capita payment roll is subject 
to the provisions of the Privacy Act. The information contained on that 
roll will not be released to anyone without the explicit permission of 
the individuals listed. Each individual who participates in the 
distribution has the option to decide if they want to release 
information to a third party concerning their participation in the 
distribution.
    The Administrative Committee will need to develop a procedure for 
collecting such information from individuals who want to voluntarily 
reveal their participation in the Western Shoshone judgment fund 
distribution.
    Comment: BIA should recruit volunteers to review enrollment 
applications if BIA does not have sufficient funding to hire staff so 
that the enrollment process can be complete within a year.
    Response: BIA is not authorized to recruit volunteers to review 
enrollment applications. It would be a violation of the prohibition 
against augmentation of appropriations.

6. Appeal Process

    Comment: BIA should establish a separate appeal process for the 
Western Shoshone Roll preparation.
    Response: The appeal process contained in 25 CFR part 62 is 
sufficient to handle any appeals filed in this process. If it were 
necessary for a separate appeal process to be established for the 
Western Shoshone Roll preparation, it would cause at least another year 
delay to promulgate additional regulations.

7. Partial Per Capita

    Comments:
    (a) BIA should make a partial per capita payment to all individuals 
determined eligible as of the date of the closing of the application 
period.
    (b) BIA should make a partial per capita payment to the elders 
first.
    (c) BIA should define the term ``elderly'' to mean all individuals 
55 years of age, or older, on July 7, 2004.
    (d) The partial per capita payment should be $10,000.
    (e) The partial per capita payment should be 50 percent.
    (f) BIA should not make a partial payment.

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    Response: The Secretary has a responsibility to ensure that the 
judgment funds are distributed to eligible individuals in a timely 
manner. We anticipate that the review process will be lengthy and may 
cause hardship to many. We are adopting the recommendation to make a 
partial per capita payment to all individuals determined eligible as of 
the date of the closing of the application period. It will encourage 
applicants to file early. It will also give the Western Shoshone the 
ability to implement Section 4 of the Western Shoshone Claims 
Distribution Act prior to the completion of the roll. Section 4 
pertains to the distribution of a separate fund, called the Western 
Shoshone Joint Judgment Funds, for educational purposes.

8. Informational Meetings

    Comments:
    (a) Meetings should be held in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, to 
accommodate the Western Shoshone who are not members of federally 
recognized tribes.
    (b) Meetings should be limited to Te-Moak, Duckwater, Yomba, Ely, 
Duck Valley and Fallon Reservations. Meetings should not be held at 
other Shoshone and Shoshone-Paiute Reservations.
    Response: We are adopting the recommendation to hold meetings in 
Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. Some of the non-enrolled applicants have 
indicated that they would feel intrusive if they had to attend a 
meeting held within another tribe's jurisdiction. We will not adopt the 
recommendations to limit the locations where meeting will be held 
because it limits the amount of information available to potential 
applicants.

Changes to the Proposed Rule

    We are adding Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, to the list of locations 
where we will conduct public meetings for the purpose of answering 
questions and assisting applicants to prepare and file their 
applications. We also adopted the recommendation to make a partial per 
capita payment. The enrollment process will be lengthy and we want to 
make the funds available to the Western Shoshone as quickly as 
possible.

Additional Notice and Public Meetings

    We will take several steps to ensure that all potential applicants 
are informed of the opening of the enrollment application period.
    (1) We will notify all BIA Regional Directors and Agency 
Superintendents and require them to post notices in regional offices, 
agency offices, community centers on and near reservations, and in 
Indian Health Clinics.
    (2) We will notify tribal newspapers and newspapers of general 
circulation in major communities in Nevada, California, Idaho, Arizona, 
Oregon and Utah.
    (3) We will hold community meetings in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, 
and on or near the Indian reservations or the established service areas 
for the following tribes: Duckwater, Duck Valley, Ely, Fallon, Ft. 
McDermitt, Te-Moak, Timbisha and Yomba.
    At each of the community meetings we will:
    (1) Inform potential beneficiaries of the opening of the enrollment 
process for this judgment fund;
    (2) Inform potential beneficiaries of eligibility criteria; and
    (3) Help applicants to prepare and file applications.

Application Deadline

    We will not establish a firm application deadline in this rule. In 
order to allow adequate time for submitting and processing applications 
we will establish a deadline using the following three steps:
    Step 1. One hundred and eighty days (180) after opening the 
enrollment application process, we will count all applications that we 
have received.
    Step 2. We will note the date on which we complete the eligibility 
determinations of 90 percent of the applications that we receive by the 
date established under Step 1.
    Step 3. The application deadline will be 90 days after the date 
noted in Step 2.
    For example, if we receive 10 applications during the first 180 
days after opening the application process, the final application 
deadline date will be 90 days after we process 9 applications. 
Similarly, if we receive 10,000 applications during the first 180 days 
after opening the application process, the final application deadline 
date will be 90 days after we process 9,000 applications.
    We will take several steps to ensure that all potential applicants 
are informed of the application deadline date for filing applications 
to share in the Western Shoshone judgment fund distribution.
    1. We will notify all BIA Regional Directors and Agency 
Superintendents and require them to post notices in regional offices, 
agency offices, community centers on and near reservations, and in 
Indian Health Clinics.
    2. We will notify tribal newspapers and newspapers of general 
circulation in major communities in Nevada, California, Idaho, Arizona, 
Oregon and Utah.
    3. We will hold community meetings in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, 
and on or near the Indian reservations or the established service areas 
for the following tribes: Duckwater, Duck Valley, Ely, Fallon, Ft. 
McDermitt, Te-Moak, Timbisha and Yomba.
    At each of the community meetings we will:
    (1) Inform potential beneficiaries of the application deadline date 
for filing applications to share in the distribution of the Western 
Shoshone judgment fund;
    (2) Inform potential beneficiaries of eligibility criteria; and
    (3) Help applicants to prepare and file applications.

Partial Per Capita Payment

    A partial per capita payment will be made to all individuals 
determined eligible as of the closing date of the enrollment 
application period. It will take us approximately 90 days to determine 
the total number of applicants, and to update the addresses of all of 
the individuals listed on the partial per capita roll. We anticipate 
that the first partial payment will not exceed a 70 percent share of 
the funds. The remaining funds will be distributed after all of the 
applications have been reviewed and the appeal process is complete. The 
final payment of remaining funds will include a second partial payment 
to those who participated in the first payment, and a full (100 
percent) share to all individuals determined eligible after the closing 
date of the enrollment application period.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    This document is not a significant rule and is not subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 
12866.
    (1) This rule will not have an effect of $100 million or more on 
the economy. It will not adversely affect in a material way the 
economy, productivity competition, jobs, the environment, public health 
or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. This 
rule only involves individual Indians who wish to apply for a share of 
the Western Shoshone judgment funds.
    (2) This rule will not create a serious inconsistency or otherwise 
interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency. This rule 
does not impact other agency programs.

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    (3) This rule does not alter the budgetary effects or entitlement, 
grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights or obligations of 
their recipients. This rule does not impact other agency programs. The 
funds distributed to eligible applicants will not be considered to be 
income or resources for any purpose; or be used as a basis for denying 
or reducing financial assistance or any other benefit to which a 
household or Western Shoshone member would otherwise be entitled to 
receive under the Social Security Act, or any other Federal or 
federally-assisted program. (See subsection 3(c)(3) of Pub. L. 108-
270.)
    (4) This rule does not raise novel legal or policy issues. All 
potential legal or policy issues were litigated in several Federal 
courts during the 1980s and 1990s, before the enactment of Public Law 
108-270.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of the Interior certifies that this document will 
not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small 
entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
Because this rule makes technical changes that do not affect the 
substance of the rules there is no economic effect at all, other than 
to improve the utility of the rules for users.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)

    This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:
    (1) Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more. This rule does not involve small business; it only involves 
individuals who wish to apply to share in the judgment fund 
distribution.
    (2) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government 
agencies, or geographic regions.
    (3) Does not have significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of 
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or 
tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 million per 
year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State, 
local or tribal governments or the private sector. A statement 
containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(1 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required. This rule does not involve 
small business; it only involves individuals who wish to apply to share 
in the judgment fund distribution.

Takings (Executive Order 12630)

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630, the rule does not have 
significant takings implications. This rule does not affect property 
rights of the public. This rule does not involve a taking, it only 
involves individuals who wish to apply to share in the judgment fund 
distribution. A takings implication assessment is not required.

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13132, this rule does not have 
significant Federalism effects. A significant Federalism assessment is 
not required. The rule will not have substantial direct effects on a 
state or tribe, in the relationship between the Federal Government and 
a state or tribe, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
among the various levels of government.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    This rule complies with the requirements of Executive Order 12988. 
Specifically, this rule:
    (a) Does not unduly burden the judicial system;
    (b) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) requiring that all 
regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and ambiguity and be 
written to minimize litigation; and
    (c) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all 
regulations be written in clear language and contain clear legal 
standards.
    Any enrollment appeals will be decided by the Secretary of the 
Interior under 25 U.S.C. 62.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule requires collection of information from many enrollees. 
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), 
the Department submitted a copy of the application to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for its review. OMB approved the 
application form and assigned it OMB Control Number 1076-0165 with the 
expiration date of June 30, 2008.
    The information collected is submitted to obtain a benefit, namely 
a share in the funding distribution. The nature of the information, 
such as birth/death certificates, etc., indicates the respondent will 
keep their own copies indefinitely for their own purposes. Because of 
the nature of some of the information, it will be protected under the 
Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
    The burden of preparing and submitting an application to share in 
the judgment fund distribution will vary widely depending upon the 
applicant's age and family history. Individuals 50 years or older will 
probably spend an average of 1 hour per response. Those individuals 30 
years and younger, and non-enrolled tribal members may require 20 hours 
to prepare a response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. 
The applicants are required to file only once during the estimated 2-
year enrollment application period. We estimate that the total burden 
hours for the entire process is 112,000 hours for a 2-year annual 
average of 56,000 hours.
    We invite comments on:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the Program, including the practical utility 
of the information to BIA;
    (2) the accuracy of BIA's burden estimates;
    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and
    (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology.
    You may submit comments on ways to reduce the burden to the 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at 625 Herndon Parkway, 
Herndon, VA 20170.
    We will not request nor sponsor a collection of information, and 
you need not respond to such a request, if there is no valid Office of 
Management and Budget Control Number.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is not required. 
This rule does not impact the environment; it only involves individuals 
who wish to apply to share in the judgment fund distribution.

Consultation With Indian Tribes (Executive Order 13175)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13175, we understand that we 
must relate to federally recognized Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis. We have evaluated potential effects on federally 
recognized Indian tribes and have determined that there are no 
potential effects. The judgment

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funds do not belong to any federally recognized tribe, nor can any 
tribe treat the judgment funds as a tribal resource. The judgment funds 
will be distributed to individual Indians of Western Shoshone descent, 
who may or may not be enrolled with a federally recognized tribe.

Effects on the Nation's Energy Supply (Executive Order 13211)

    In accordance with Executive Order 13211, this regulation does not 
have a significant effect on the nation's energy supply, distribution, 
or use. This rule does not involve the nation's energy supply; it only 
involves individuals who wish to apply to share in the judgment fund 
distribution.

Data Quality Act

    In developing this rule, we did not conduct or use a study, 
experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Data Quality Act 
(Pub. L. 106-554).

List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 61

    Indians, Indians--claims.

    Dated: February 16, 2007.
Michael D. Olsen,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, Part 61 of Chapter 1 of Title 
25 Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth below.

PART 61--PREPARATION OF ROLLS OF INDIANS

0
1. The authority citation for 25 CFR part 61 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 2 and 9, 1300d-3(b), 1401 et 
seq., and Pub. L. 108-270.


0
2. Section 61.3 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  61.3  Information collection.

    The Office of Management and Budget has reviewed and approved the 
information collection for Sec.  61.4(k). The OMB Control Number 
assigned is 1076-0165. A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and 
you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

0
3. Section 61.4 is amended by adding a new paragraph (k) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  61.4  Qualifications for enrollment and the deadline for filing 
application forms.

* * * * *
    (k) Western Shoshone Identifiable Group of Indians.
    (1) Under section 3(b)(1) of the Act of July 7, 2004, Pub. L. 108-
270, 118 Stat. 805, the Secretary will prepare a roll of all 
individuals who meet the eligibility criteria established under the Act 
and who file timely applications prior to a date that will be 
established by a notice published in the Federal Register. The roll 
will be used as the basis for distributing the judgment funds awarded 
by the Indian Claims Commission to the Western Shoshone Identifiable 
Group of Indians in Docket No. 326-K. To be eligible a person must:
    (i) Have at least \1/4\ degree of Western Shoshone blood;
    (ii) Be living on July 7, 2004;
    (iii) Be a citizen of the United States; and
    (iv) Not be certified by the Secretary to be eligible to receive a 
per capita payment from any other judgment fund based on an aboriginal 
land claim awarded by the Indian Claims Commission, the United States 
Claims Court, or the United States Court of Federal Claims, that was 
appropriated on or before July 7, 2004.
    (2) Indian census rolls prepared by the Agents or Superintendents 
at Carson or Western Shoshone Agencies between the years of 1885 and 
1940, and other documents acceptable to the Secretary will be used in 
establishing proof of eligibility of an individual to:
    (i) Be listed on the judgment roll; and
    (ii) Receive a per capita payment under the Western Shoshone Claims 
Distribution Act.
    (3) Application forms for enrollment must be mailed to Tribal 
Government Services, BIA-Western Shoshone, Post Office Box 3838, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85030-3838.
    (4) The application period will remain open until further notice.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-3667 Filed 3-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P