[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-802]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Indian Gaming Commission

25 CFR Part 514

RIN 3141-0001


Amendments to Various National Indian Gaming Commission 
Regulations; Correction

AGENCY: National Indian Gaming Commission.

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On July 27, 2009 (74 FR 36926), the National Indian Gaming 
Commission (``NIGC'') published a final rule updating various NIGC 
regulations and streamlining procedures. On August 25, 2009 (74 FR 
42275), NIGC extended the effective date of the changes made by the 
final rule to December 31, 2009. This publication corrects inadvertent 
errors left in Sec.  514.1 of the final rule so that fees and fee 
statements are due on June 30th and December 31st of each calendar 
year, not on March 1st and August 1st as originally published.

DATES: Effective Date: This correction is effective on January 19, 
2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher White, Comptroller, at 
(202) 632-7003; fax (202) 632-7066 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 
(``IGRA''), 25 U.S.C. 2701-2721, NIGC is funded through fees assessed 
on Class II and Class III gaming operations. Prior to the December 31, 
2009 effective date of NIGC's final rule, ``Amendments to Various 
National Indian Gaming Commission Regulations'' (74 FR 36926), NIGC 
regulations required tribes to submit fees and fee statements four 
times per year. The prior regulations also required that the fees and 
fee statements be received at NIGC's Washington, DC headquarters no 
later than the last day of each quarter[horbar]March 31st, June 30th, 
September 30th, and December 31st of each calendar year.
    The final rule amended 25 CFR 514.1 to require the payment of fees 
and submission of fee statements only twice each year, and it 
implemented the ``mailbox'' rule such that payments and submissions 
were timely if sent on or before their due dates.
    Unfortunately, as published, the final rule contained incorrect due 
dates for fees and fee statements, giving them as March 1 and August 1 
of each calendar year. This publication corrects Sec.  514.1(c)(2), 
Sec.  514.1(c)(6)(i), and Sec.  514(d) so that the due dates for the 
submission of fees and fee statements read correctly as June 30th and 
December 31st of each calendar year. This correction makes no change to 
the adoption of the mailbox rule. Payments and submissions are still 
timely if sent on or before June 30th and December 31st of each 
calendar year.
    The NIGC finds that it may make this correction without notice and 
public comment. The changes are few and ministerial, and they remove 
typographical errors so that the adopted regulations read correctly and 
reflect the NIGC's intent. What is more, leaving the incorrect dates in 
place during a notice-and-comment period has the potential to prejudice 
Indian tribes and is therefore contrary to the public interest.
    The incorrect final rule would make fees and fee statements due on 
March 1, 2010, a full four months (121 days) before the NIGC intended 
them to be due. Further, as a practical matter, NIGC could not propose 
an amended rule, receive and review comments, publish an amended final 
rule, and have that amended rule become effective before March 1. As a 
result, unless the final rule is corrected immediately, any failure by 
a tribe to submit fees by March 1 would be a technical violation of 
NIGC regulations and cause concern about the possibility, however 
remote, of a notice of violation and attendant fines and penalties.
    Even though that outcome is unlikely, there is no need to 
artificially place tribes out of compliance with IGRA or to create a 
risk of adverse enforcement actions. An immediate ministerial change to 
three sentences will correct the NIGC's error, preserve tribal 
compliance with IGRA, and alleviate any concern about the possibility 
of enforcement actions.

List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 514

    Gambling, Indians--lands, Indians--tribal government, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

0
Accordingly, 25 CFR part 514 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

PART 514--FEES

0
1. The authority citation for part 514 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  25 U.S.C. 2706, 2708, 2710, 2717, 2717a.


Sec.  514.1  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  514.1 as follows:
0
a. Amend paragraph (c)(2) by correcting ``March 1st and August 
1st'' to read ``June 30th and December 31st''.
0
b. Amend paragraph (c)(6)(i) by correcting ``March 1st'' to 
read ``June 30th''.
0
c. Amend paragraph (d) by correcting ``March 1st and August 1st'' to 
read ``June 30th and December 31st''.

    Dated: January 12, 2010.
George T. Skibine,
Acting Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2010-802 Filed 1-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7565-01-P