[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29799-29800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11981]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[DS10100000/133D5670LC/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; correction.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary previously announced that it 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. This 
notice corrects the previously published notice to provide RSVP and 
testimony information and an agenda.

DATES: The listening session will take place on May 29, 2014, from 1 
p.m.-4 p.m. Pacific Time. Please RSVP by May 27, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The listening session will take place at the Federal 
Building, Auditorium, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4128. 
Please RSVP via email or telephone to Genevieve Giaccardo, 
[email protected] or (202) 208-1541.

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 (the Department) 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 over 19,000 landowners. Thus far, 
Interior has paid nearly $60 million to Indian landowners across the 
United States for voluntarily restoring the equivalent of more than 
170,000 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.
    Please RSVP by May 27, 2014 to Genevieve Giaccardo.
    Written comments will be accepted prior to, during, or directly 
after the meeting. Due to time constraints during the meeting, written 
comments cannot be read but will be incorporated into the record.

[[Page 29800]]

    The agenda for the listening session will be:

1:00 p.m.--Invocation
1:15 p.m.--Introductions
1:30 p.m.--Opening Remarks by Deputy Secretary Michael Connor
1:45 p.m.--Buy-Back Program Status Update
2:00 p.m.--Tribal Leader Oral Comments
3:00 p.m.--Break
3:15 p.m.--Individual Landowner Comments

    Dated: May 16, 2014.
Michael Connor,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-11981 Filed 5-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-10-P