[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 24445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09817]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[DS10100000/33D5670LC/DLCAP0000.000000/DX.10120 ]


Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations Under Cobell Settlement

AGENCY: Office of the Deputy Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of tribal listening session.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary will conduct a listening session 
on the status of implementation of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal 
Nations. The purpose of the session is to meet with Indian tribes to 
discuss progress to date and receive feedback. Indian landowners may 
also attend to provide input.

DATES: The listening session will take place on May 29, 2014, from 1 
p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time.

ADDRESSES: Federal Building, Auditorium, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, 
OR 97232-4128.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Genevieve Giaccardo, Senior Advisor on 
Tribal Relations, (202) 208-1541.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Cobell Settlement was approved with finality on November 24, 
2012, following the exhaustion of appeals through the U.S. Supreme 
Court. Within a month following final approval, the Department of the 
Interior established the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-
Back Program) and published an Initial Implementation Plan. The 
Department engaged in government-to-government consultation on this 
plan and released an Updated Implementation Plan in November 2013.
    The Department is currently implementing the Buy-Back Program at 
multiple locations across Indian Country. Since November 24, 2012, the 
Department has sent offers to nearly 19,000 landowners. Thus far, 
Interior has paid over $40 million to Indian landowners across the 
United States for voluntarily restoring the equivalent of more than 
122,000 acres of land to tribal governments. Tribal governments are 
helping plan for and implement the Buy-Back Program at specific 
locations through cooperative agreements or other arrangements.
    The purpose of this session is to gather input from tribes in order 
for the Department to continue to refine its land consolidation 
processes. Landowners may also attend the session to provide input.

II. Additional Resources

    The Updated Implementation Plan and additional information about 
the Buy-Back Program is available at: http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram. In addition, landowners can contact their local 
Fiduciary Trust Officer or call Interior's Trust Beneficiary Call 
Center at (888) 678-6836.

III. Listening Session Details

    Time and Date: May 29, 2014, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. PT.
    Place: Federal Building, Auditorium, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, 
OR 97232-4128.

    Dated: April 24, 2014.
Michael L. Connor,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-09817 Filed 4-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-10-P