[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5265-5267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2323]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians--Cherokee Code Chapter 18B, 
Regulation of Alcoholic Beverages

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice publishes the Amendment to the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians--Cherokee Code Chapter 18B, Regulation of Alcoholic 
Beverages. This Ordinance regulates and controls the possession, sale 
and consumption of liquor within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' 
Reservation. This Ordinance will increase the ability of the tribal 
government to control the community's liquor distribution and 
possession, and at the same time will provide an important source of 
revenue for the continued operation and strengthening of the tribal 
government and the delivery of tribal services.

DATES: Effective Date: This Amendment is effective 30 days after 
publication February 2, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chanda Joseph, Tribal Relations 
Specialist, Eastern Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 545 
Marriott Drive, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37214, Telephone: (615) 
564-6750; Fax: (615) 564-6701; or, De Springer, Office of Indian 
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW., MS-4513-MIB, 
Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: (202) 513-7626.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Act of August 15, 1953, 
Public Law 83-277, 67 Stat. 586, 18 U.S.C. 1161, as interpreted by the 
Supreme Court in Rice v. Rehner, 463 U.S. 713 (1983), the Secretary of 
the Interior shall certify and publish in the Federal Register notice 
of adopted liquor ordinances for the purpose of regulating liquor 
transactions in Indian country. The purpose of this Ordinance is to 
govern the sale, possession and distribution of alcohol within the 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' Reservation. On September 8, 2011, 
the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians duly adopted 
Ordinance No. 768 (2011) which amended Cherokee Code Chapter 18B. This 
notice is published in accordance with the authority delegated by the 
Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs. I 
certify that the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 
duly adopted Ordinance No. 768 (2011) on September 8, 2011.

    Dated: January 26, 2012.
Larry Echo Hawk,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
    The amended sections of Cherokee Code Chapter 18B, Regulation of 
Alcoholic Beverages read as follows:

Ordinance No. 768 (2011)

    Whereas, the Tribal Council established Cherokee Code Chapter 18B 
to govern the regulation of alcoholic beverages (Chapter 18B is 
attached); and
    Whereas, the North Carolina Legislature has enacted changes to its 
ABC laws to allow the Tribe to self regulate the purchase, possession, 
consumption, sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages at retail that 
require changes to Cherokee Code Chapter 18B.
    Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Tribal Council of the Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians in Council assembled, at which a quorum is 
present, that Chapter 18B of the Cherokee Code is

[[Page 5266]]

amended in the nature of a substitute to read as follows:
    A new Sec.  18B-109 shall be added as follows:
    Sec.  18B-109. No person shall have malt beverages or unfortified 
wine shipped directly from a point outside this State to the Eastern 
Band of Cherokee Indians for resale on Indian country lands, within 
this State under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians if those alcoholic beverages are for resale.
    A new Sec.  18B-112 shall be added as follows:
    Sec.  18B-112. Tribal alcoholic beverage control.
    (a) Chapter 18B of the North Carolina General Statutes has been 
amended to provide that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a 
federally recognized Indian tribe and sovereign nation, shall be exempt 
from the provisions of Chapter 18B of the North Carolina General 
Statutes, except for those made applicable by section 18B-112 of the 
North Carolina General Statutes and enacted as tribal law herein. The 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall hold lawful tribal elections as 
set out in tribal law and in a manner consistent with North Carolina 
General Statute 18B-600(a), and if the result of such election 
authorizes the activity upon which a vote was held, the activity shall 
be deemed authorized by this section. For the purposes of this section, 
the Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission shall possess the same 
powers and authority conveyed upon the North Carolina Alcoholic 
Beverage Control Commission by any section of Chapter 18B of the North 
Carolina General Statutes made applicable to the tribe by this section 
as enacted herein.
    (b) Compliance Required. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shall 
comply with the following provisions of Chapter 18B of the North 
Carolina General Statutes to the extent they apply to or can be made 
applicable to the tribe:
    (1) The following provisions of Article 1. General Provisions.
    a. G.S. 18B-101(4), (7), 7(c), (9), (10), (11), (12), (12a), (13), 
(14), (14a), (14b) and (15).
    b. G.S. 18B-102.1.
    c. G.S. 18B-104.
    d. G.S. 18B-105 except that this section shall not apply to any 
establishment where gaming is permitted under a state compact and 
pursuant to federal law.
    e. G.S. 18B-109(b).
    f. G.S. 18B-110.
    g. G.S. 18B-111.
    h. G.S. 18B-112.
    (2) Article 1A. Compensation for Injury Caused by Sales to Underage 
Persons to the extent it applies to retail establishments or the Tribal 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission if it operates ABC stores, or any 
other permitted establishment, at retail pursuant to the provisions of 
this section.
    (3) Article 3. Sale, Possession, and Consumption, except for G.S. 
18B-308 and 18B-309.
    (4) Article 4. Transportation.
    (5) Article 5. Enforcement, except for G.S. 18B-500 and G.S. 18-
501.
    (7) Article 9. Issuance of Permits, except for G.S. 18B-902(g) and 
(h) and G.S. 18B-906.
    (8) Article 10. Retail Activity, except for G.S. 18B-1001.1, G.S. 
18B-1001.2, and G.S. 18B-1001.3.
    Any provision of this Chapter which has not been made applicable to 
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians by this section shall act as a bar 
to engaging in activity authorized by that Article or section.
    (c) Alcoholic Beverages Which May Be Sold. No alcoholic beverage 
may be sold on Indian Country lands under the jurisdiction of the 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians pursuant to this section which has not 
been approved for sale in this State by the North Carolina Alcoholic 
Beverage Control Commission.
    (d) Establishment of a Tribal Commission. Chapter 18B of the North 
Carolina General Statutes has been amended to recognize that the 
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is authorized to establish a Tribal 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to regulate the purchase, 
possession, consumption, sale, and delivery of alcoholic beverages at 
retail on any land designated as Indian Country pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 
1151 under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 
The tribal commission shall have exclusive authority to issue retail 
permits to retail establishments, located wholly on Indian Country 
lands under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, 
and to regulate the purchase, possession, consumption, sale, and 
delivery of alcoholic beverages at retail outlets and premises. Permits 
issued by the Tribal Commission pursuant to this section shall be 
deemed issued by the state for the purposes of sales and delivery of 
beer and wine by wholesalers to the retail outlets located on Indian 
Country lands. The fees generated by the Tribal Alcoholic Beverage 
Control Commission for the issuance of retail permits may be retained 
by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to offset costs of operating 
the Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
    (e) Establishment of Rules. The Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control 
Commission shall adopt the rules of the North Carolina Alcoholic 
Beverage Commission regulating retail outlet activity.
    (f) Authority of the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control 
Commission. The Tribe recognizes the authority of the North Carolina 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to enter into agreements with the 
Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to provide for the sale, 
delivery, and distribution of spirituous liquor to the Tribal Alcoholic 
Beverage Control Commission. The Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control 
Commission shall purchase spirituous liquor for resale by the Tribal 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission exclusively from the North 
Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission at the same price and on 
the same basis that such spirits are purchased by local boards. To the 
extent there is a conflict of between the Tribal Alcoholic Beverage 
Control Commission's authority or purpose and the North Carolina 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission's authority or purpose, the North 
Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission shall prevail, to the 
extent there is no conflict of law as provided in Subsection (j) below.
    (g) Discrimination. The Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control 
Commission shall not discriminate against non-Indians in the 
application of the Tribal ABC law. Non-Indians shall be entitled to 
apply for and receive ABC permits in the same manner as an Indian on 
Indian Country lands under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians.
    (h) Resolution of Contested Cases. If the Tribal Alcoholic Beverage 
Control Commission levies a fine, or suspends or revokes a permit 
pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 18B-104 for a violation of the 
provisions applicable to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in this 
Section, the permittee shall have the right of appeal of an agency 
final decision of the Tribal Commission to the tribal courts. Any 
further appeal shall be to the appellate courts of the tribe. All fines 
paid to the tribal commission in satisfaction of any penalty assessed 
by the Tribal Commission may be retained by the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians to offset costs of operating the Tribal Alcoholic 
Beverage Control Commission.
    (i) Failure to Comply With Laws of the State of North Carolina. The 
Tribe shall conform to future amendments to Chapter 18B of the North 
Carolina

[[Page 5267]]

General Statutes as required by 18 U.S.C. 1161.
    (j) Conflict of Laws. If any provision of North Carolina General 
Statutes Section 18B-112 or its application conflicts with federal law, 
the conflict of laws shall be resolved in favor of the federal law 
unless compliance with the federal law abrogates a right reserved to 
the State under the Constitution of the United States.
    Sec.  18B-200(e) shall be amended to read as follows:
    (e) Employees. The chairman is authorized to employ, discharge, and 
otherwise supervise subordinate personnel of the Commission.
    A new Sec.  18B-200(j) shall be added to read as follows:
    (j) All Commissioners are subject to the same criminal background 
checks as TCGE and TGC employees. Each Commissioner is required to 
update their information.
    Sec.  18B-203. Powers and duties of the Commission shall be amended 
to read as follows:
    Sec.  18B-203. Powers and duties of the Commission
    (a) Powers.--The Commission shall have authority to:
    (1) Administer the Tribal ABC laws;
    (2) Provide for enforcement of the Tribal ABC laws, in conjunction 
with the ALE Division;
    (3) Issue ABC permits as allowed under this Ordinance;
    (4) Adopt rules and procedures for the issuance and enforcement of 
ABC permits;
    (5) Administer an annual budget with said budget to be approved 
annually by the Tribal Council;
    (6) Act as the distributor of all alcohol on tribal trust lands. 
Spirituous liquor and fortified wine shall be purchased by the TABCC 
directly from North Carolina Warehouse, or as needed from a Local ABC 
Store. Malt beverages and unfortified wine shall be purchased from 
North Carolina authorized distributors and may be redistributed from a 
TABCC warehouse or authorized to be delivered directly to a TABCC 
authorized permitee; and
    (7) Issue any Retail ABC license or permit issued by the North 
Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, including a temporary 
license or permit. Negotiate and enter into contract with North 
Carolina ABC Commission for purchase of spirituous liquor and fortified 
wine; and
    (8) Adopt fiscal control rules concerning the borrowing of money, 
maintenance of working capital, investments, appointment of a financial 
officer, the daily deposit of funds and any other rules necessary to 
assure the proper accountability of public funds.
    Sec.  18B-600. Alcoholic beverage elections shall be amended to 
read as follows:
    Sec.  18B-600. Alcoholic beverage elections
    (a) All alcohol referendum questions shall be conducted in 
accordance with Tribal law and its election procedures as set forth in 
Section 161-9 of the Cherokee Code.
    (b) As authorized in NC 18B-600, the following kinds of alcoholic 
beverage elections shall be allowed as authorized by Tribal Council:
    (1) Malt beverage;
    (2) Unfortified Wine;
    (3) ABC store; and
    (4) Mixed beverage
    A new Sec.  18B-603 shall be added to read as follows:
    Sec.  18B-603. Effect of alcoholic beverage elections on issuance 
of permits:
    North Carolina 18B-603 language is adopted as Tribal Law (except 
(e) Mixed Beverages at Airports, (f)(2) Special ABC Areas, and (h) 
Permits based on existing permits).
    Sec.  18B-700. Retail sale of alcoholic beverages shall be amended 
to read as follows:
    Sec.  18B-700. Retail sale of alcoholic beverages.
    Spirituous liquor, fortified and unfortified wine and malt 
beverages may be offered for retail sale only under the provisions of a 
permit issued by the TABCC as authorized by the provisions of this 
ordinance. The TABCC shall operate any retail spirituous and fortified 
wine store that may in the future be authorized by Tribal election. The 
TABCC shall also be authorized to operate a retail malt beverage and 
unfortified wine store should that facility be authorized by a Tribal 
election.
    Sec.  18B-800 shall be amended to read as follows:
    Sec.  18B-800. All alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold shall 
be purchased by the permittee from TABCC or as directed by TABCC.
    A New Sec.  18B-804 Alcoholic beverage Pricing shall read as 
follows:
    Sec.  18B-804. Alcoholic beverage Pricing
    The uniform pricing of Spirits sold to permittees and the public 
shall be the same uniform price as published by North Carolina 18B-804. 
Where a tax or markup is imposed in this section, the TABCC is 
authorized to impose the same tax or markup as a Tribal tax or markup, 
where appropriate, and to utilize such tax or markup in operations of 
TABCC and profits after operation shall be distributed as determined by 
Tribal Council.
    Sec.  18B-900 shall be amended to read as follows:
    Sec.  18B-900. The TCGE shall be eligible to receive and to hold a 
Tribal ABC permit for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages on the 
premises of Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel as authorized by the 
special election referendum held on June 4, 2009. At the request of 
TCGE, TABCC is authorized to issue a permit to a contracted or leased 
facility providing a service for TCGE on the premises of Harrah's 
Cherokee Casino and Hotel.
    Be it further ordained that this amendment shall be effective upon 
ratification by the Principal Chief, and all prior ordinances and 
resolutions that are inconsistent with this ordinance are rescinded.

[FR Doc. 2012-2323 Filed 2-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P