[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22183-22184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08776]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[167A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]

25 CFR Part 151

RIN 1076-AF28


Title Evidence for Trust Land Acquisitions

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Interim final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published an interim final 
rule on title evidence for trust land acquisitions and received 
comments during the public comment period. The BIA anticipates making 
technical revisions to the rule in response to those comments. This 
notice delays the effective date of the interim final rule for 30 days, 
during which time BIA plans to publish a final rule with technical 
revisions.

DATES: The effective date of the interim final rule published March 1, 
2016 (81 FR 10477) is delayed from April 15, 2016 to May 16, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office 
of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs; telephone (202) 273-4680, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 1, 2016, BIA published an interim 
final rule with an effective date of April 15, 2016. 81 FR 10477. The 
interim final rule deletes the requirement for fee-to-trust applicants 
to furnish title evidence that meets the ``Standards for the 
Preparation of Title Evidence in Land Acquisitions by the United 
States'' issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and replaces 
the requirement with a more targeted requirement for title evidence, 
because adherence to the DOJ standards is not required for acquisitions 
of land in trust for individual Indians or Indian tribes. The BIA 
received 13 comments during the public comment period and anticipates 
making technical changes in response to those comments. The interim 
final rule stated that BIA may withdraw, initiate a proposed 
rulemaking, or revise the rule in response to comments. The BIA has 
determined that technical revisions to the rule may be appropriate and 
is therefore delaying the effective date of the rule for 30 days, 
during which time

[[Page 22184]]

BIA will publish a final rule with technical revisions.

    Dated: April 12, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-08776 Filed 4-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P