[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38617-38618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15329]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 83

[DR.5A211.IA000413]
RIN 1076-AF18


Procedures for Establishing That an American Indian Group Exists 
as an Indian Tribe

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of tribal consultation sessions and public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs is 
examining ways to improve the Department's process for acknowledging an 
Indian tribe, as set forth in regulations. This document announces a 
comment period, tribal consultation sessions, and public comment 
sessions on a preliminary discussion draft of potential revisions to 
improve the Federal acknowledgment process.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 16, 2013. See the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for dates of the 
tribal consultation sessions and public comment sessions.

ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for 
locations of the tribal consultation sessions and public hearings and a 
Web site where the preliminary discussion draft is available. You may 
submit comments by any of the following methods:
--Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. The rule is 
listed under the agency name ``Bureau of Indian Affairs'' and Docket ID 
``BIA-2013-0007.''
--Email: [email protected]. Include ``1076-AF18'' in the subject 
line of the message.
--Mail or Hand-Delivery: Elizabeth Appel, Office of Regulatory Affairs 
& Collaborative Action, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street 
NW., MS 4141, Washington, DC 20240. Include ``1076-AF18'' on the cover 
of the submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Appel, Acting Director, 
Office of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action, (202) 273-4680, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department's process for acknowledging 
an Indian tribe is set forth at 25 CFR part 83, ``Procedures for 
Establishing that an American Indian Group exists as an Indian Tribe'' 
(Part 83 Process). Through adherence to this process, the Department 
seeks to make consistent, well-grounded decisions when acknowledging a 
petitioner's government-to-government relationship with the United 
States. The Part 83 Process is criticized for being, among other 
things, expensive, burdensome, less than transparent, and inflexible. 
The preliminary discussion draft of potential revisions to part 83 is 
intended to generate comments on potential improvements to the process, 
while maintaining the integrity of the acknowledgment decisions.
    This notice announces the availability of a preliminary discussion 
draft of potential revisions for public review at: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm. Comments on the discussion draft 
are due by the date indicated in the DATES section of this notice. We 
will be hosting several meetings to obtain input on the

[[Page 38618]]

discussion draft. Morning sessions are tribal consultation sessions 
reserved only for representatives of federally recognized tribes. 
Afternoon sessions are open to the public.
    The meetings to obtain input will be held on the dates and at the 
locations shown below. All times are local.

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                Date                   Tribal consultation session             Public meeting                 Location                   Venue
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July 23, 2013......................  9 a.m.-12 p.m..................  1 p.m.-4 p.m...................  Canyonville, Oregon..  Seven Feathers Casino
                                                                                                                               Resort, 146 Chief
                                                                                                                               Miwaleta Lane,
                                                                                                                               Canyonville, OR 97417,
                                                                                                                               (541) 839-1111.
July 25, 2013......................  9 a.m.-12 p.m..................  1 p.m.-4 p.m...................  Solvang, California..  Hotel Corque, 400 Alisal
                                                                                                                               Road Solvang, CA 93463,
                                                                                                                               (800) 624-5572.
July 29, 2013......................  9 a.m.-12 p.m..................  1 p.m.-4 p.m...................  Petosky, Michigan....  Odawa Casino Resort, 1760
                                                                                                                               Lears Road, Petosky, MI
                                                                                                                               49770, (877) 442-6464.
July 31, 2013......................  9 a.m.-12 p.m..................  1 p.m.-4 p.m...................  Indian Island, Maine.  Sockalexis Arena, 16
                                                                                                                               Wabanaki Way, Indian
                                                                                                                               Island, ME 04468, (800)
                                                                                                                               255-1293.
August 6, 2013.....................  9 a.m.-12 p.m..................  1 p.m.-4 p.m...................  Marksville, Louisiana  Paragon Casino Resort, 711
                                                                                                                               Paragon Place,
                                                                                                                               Marksville, LA 71351,
                                                                                                                               (800) 946-1946.
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Following this first round of consultation and public input, we will 
review the comments received and then prepare a proposed rule for 
publication in the Federal Register. This will open a second round of 
consultation and the formal comment period to allow for further 
refining of the regulations prior to publication as a final rule.

    Dated: June 21, 2013.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-15329 Filed 6-26-13; 8:45 am]
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