[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23283-23284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09145]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[DLCAP000.000000-DX.10120]


Request for Nominations To Serve on Board of Trustees for the 
Cobell Education Scholarship Fund

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening; request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, Public Law 111-
291, 124 Stat. 3064, and the Class Action Settlement Agreement 
(``Agreement''), Cobell v. Salazar, the Secretary of the Interior is 
reopening the request for nominations of candidates to serve on the 
Board of Trustees (``Board'') for the Cobell Education Scholarship 
Fund. The Board serves as an oversight body to the American Indian 
College Fund and must consist of no more than five members that will 
include two representatives selected by the Secretary and two 
representatives selected by the Plaintiff, and one representative 
selected by the non-profit organization. The Secretary will consider 
nominations received within 30 days after the publication of this 
notice. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice provides 
additional information.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before May 20, 2013. 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn will be hosting a 
tribal leader call on Monday, April 22, 2013 from 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. 
to discuss the duties and responsibilities of Board members as well as 
any questions you may have regarding nominations to the Board. To 
participate on the call, please dial 1-800-369-2020, passcode 5207626.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Lizzie Marsters, Chief of Staff 
to the Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., 
Room 6118, Washington, DC 20240 or email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lizzie Marsters, Chief of Staff to the 
Deputy Secretary, at [email protected] or call 202-219-7499.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board of Trustees for the Cobell 
Education Scholarship Fund is being established to fulfill the 
requirements set forth in the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, Public Law 
111-291, 124 Stat. 3064. Specifically, the Claims Resolution Act of 
2010 states ``the 2 members of the special board of trustees to be 
selected by the Secretary under paragraph G.3. of the Settlement shall 
be selected only after consultation with, and after considering the 
names of possible candidates timely offered by, federally recognized 
Indian tribes.'' Pursuant to the Agreement, the Secretary is to select 
one non-profit organization among those entities nominated by the 
Plaintiffs to administer the funds provided for in the Agreement for 
the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund and to establish a Scholarship 
Program to provide financial assistance to Native American students to 
defray the cost of attendance at both post-secondary vocational schools 
and institutions of higher education. On March 12, 2013, the Secretary 
of the Interior announced the American Indian College Fund as the non-
profit organization. The Board of Trustees shall oversee the management 
of the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund. The Cobell Education 
Scholarship Fund was created as an incentive to participate in the Land 
Buy-Back Program for Indian Nations (Buy-Back Program), the $1.9 
billion land consolidation program authorized by the Claims Resolution 
Act of 2010. The Buy-Back Program contributes up to $60 million of the 
$1.9 billion to the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund based on the 
dollar amount of land purchased through the Buy-Back Program. In 
addition to the maximum $60 million that can be contributed to the 
Fund, the principal amount of any class member funds in an IIM 
(Individual Indian Monies) account, for which the whereabouts are 
unknown and left unclaimed for five years after Final Approval of the 
Settlement, will be transferred to the organization selected to 
administer the Cobell Education Scholarship Fund and will be governed 
by the Board of Trustees. Similarly, any leftover funds from the 
administration of the Settlement Fund (after all payments under the 
Settlement are made) will be contributed towards the Cobell Education 
Scholarship Fund. Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn 
will be hosting a tribal leader call on Monday, April 22, 2013 from 
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. to discuss the duties and responsibilities of Board 
members as well as any questions you may have regarding nominations to 
the Board. To participate on the call, please dial 1-800-369-2020, 
passcode 5207626.
    Objective and Duties. The Board will be responsible for the 
oversight and supervision of the activities of the non-profit 
organization. The duties of the Board include, but are not limited to, 
appointing an auditor to review the finances and procedures of the 
organization, approving policies and objectives regarding the Cobell 
Education Scholarship Fund and Scholarship program, approving an 
investment policy and approving priorities and criteria for awarding 
scholarships. The Board shall develop and adopt a charter outlining the 
Board of Trustees' role and responsibilities overseeing the non-profit 
organization and the administration and management of the Cobell 
Education Scholarship Fund and the Scholarship Program. The Board or 
Trustees shall be empowered by majority vote to remove the funds from 
the selected organization for any reason, including mismanagement, and 
to select a new entity.
    Membership. The members of the Board shall serve for an initial 
term of four years and may be reappointed for an unlimited number of 
successive terms. A member may be removed for cause by the appointing 
entity and any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment. No member of the Board shall have had any 
contracts to transact business with the non-profit organization within 
a period of two calendar years and will disclose any appearance of a 
conflict of interest. Members will serve without compensation, but will 
be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses related to the performance 
of their duties as members of the Board.
    Nomination Information. The best boards are a mix of 
characteristics, skills, experiences, and diversity. Individuals who 
are nominated should be prepared to contribute a significant amount of 
time and effort to further the goals of the scholarship fund; should 
have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, 
finance, education or public service; should possess the requisite 
intelligence, education and experience to make a significant 
contribution to the Board; have the highest ethical standards, free of 
significant conflicts of interest that might not allow the proper 
execution of the duties of a member of the Board; and have a strong 
commitment to serving the interests of Native American students. Please 
send

[[Page 23284]]

curriculum vitae, a letter of intent which indicates a willingness to 
serve, and a 250-word statement which supports your candidacy to Lizzie 
Marsters, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary, Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Room 6118, Washington, DC 20240 or email 
to [email protected].

    Dated: April 15, 2013.
David J. Hayes,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-09145 Filed 4-15-13; 4:15 pm]
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