[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 645-646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27997]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 11

[201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]
RIN 1076-AF46


List of Courts of Indian Offenses; Future Publication of Updates

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule revises one section of our regulations to 
provide that the current list of areas in Indian Country with Courts of 
Indian Offenses (also known as CFR Courts) will be published and 
updated in the Federal Register and on the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
(BIA) website. Currently, that section of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, itself, lists the areas in Indian Country with CFR Courts, 
requiring a rulemaking each time a court is added or deleted. Allowing 
for publication in the Federal Register, in lieu of a rulemaking, will 
better keep Tribal members and the public updated on the current status 
of the Courts of Indian Offenses.

DATES: This rule takes effect on January 7, 2020.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Generally, Courts of Indian Offenses operate 
in those areas of Indian country where Tribes retain jurisdiction over 
Indians that is exclusive of State jurisdiction, but where Tribal 
courts have not been established to fully exercise that jurisdiction. 
The Code of Federal Regulations, at 25 CFR 11.100, currently lists each 
Tribe for which Courts of Indian Offenses have been established.
    On occasion, a Court of Indian Offenses is established or re-
established or, alternatively, a Court of Indian Offenses ceases 
operation because BIA and a Tribe enter into a contract or compact for 
the Tribe to provide judicial services or the Tribe establishes a court 
system that meets regulatory requirements. Each time one of these 
changes occurs, the list of Courts of Indian Offenses must be updated 
for public transparency. Because the list of Courts of Indian Offenses 
is directly in Sec.  11.100, a rulemaking is required to change the 
list. During the time it takes to conduct a rulemaking, the list in the 
Code of Federal Regulations is not accurate.
    On July 23, 2019, BIA published a proposed rule to remove the list 
of CFR Courts from the regulations and instead require the BIA to 
publish the current list and any updates to the current list in the 
Federal Register and on its website. 84 FR 35355. During the public 
comment period, BIA received one comment which suggested requirements 
related to Tribal courts, which are not relevant to this rulemaking. 
Therefore, BIA made no changes to the proposed rule.
    This final rule allows enables BIA to keep the list of CFR Courts 
updated and accurate, improving transparency for Tribal members and the 
public who wish to know what areas in Indian Country have CFR Courts 
established. The rule also revises Sec.  11.104 to clarify that the 
list would no longer be published directly in Sec.  11.100, but rather 
would be published in accordance with the directions in Sec.  11.100 to 
publish in the Federal Register and on the BIA website.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866)

    Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides that the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) will review all significant rules. OIRA has determined 
that this rule is not significant.
    E.O. 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while calling for 
improvements in the Nation's regulatory system to promote 
predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most 
innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. 
The E.O. directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches that reduce 
burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public 
where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and consistent with 
regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further that regulations 
must be based on the best available science and that the rulemaking 
process must allow for public participation and an open exchange of 
ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent with these 
requirements.

B. E.O. 13771: Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs

    This action is not an E.O. 13771 regulatory action because this 
rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866.

[[Page 646]]

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of the Interior certifies that this document will 
not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small 
entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
It does not change current funding requirements and would not impose 
any economic effects on small governmental entities.

D. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:
    (a) Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more.
    (b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government 
agencies, or geographic regions.
    (c) Will not have significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of the 
U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or 
Tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 million per 
year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State, 
local, or Tribal governments or the private sector. A statement 
containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is not required.

F. Takings (E.O. 12630)

    This rule does not effect a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under E.O. 12630. A takings implication 
assessment is not required.

G. Federalism (E.O. 13132)

    Under the criteria in section 1 of E.O. 13132, this rule does not 
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
federalism summary impact statement. A federalism summary impact 
statement is not required.

H. Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

    This rule complies with the requirements of E.O. 12988. 
Specifically, this rule: (a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) 
requiring that all regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and 
ambiguity and be written to minimize litigation; and (b) Meets the 
criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all regulations be written 
in clear language and contain clear legal standards.

I. Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175)

    The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its 
government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes through a 
commitment to consultation with Indian Tribes and recognition of their 
right to self-governance and Tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this 
rule under the Department's consultation policy and under the criteria 
in E.O. 13175 and have determined there are no substantial direct 
effects on Federally recognized Indian Tribes that will result from 
this rulemaking because BIA consults on an individual basis with each 
Tribe for which there is a change in the status of their CFR Court.

J. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 
prohibits a Federal agency from conducting or sponsoring a collection 
of information that requires OMB approval, unless such approval has 
been obtained and the collection request displays a currently valid OMB 
control number. Nor is any person required to respond to an information 
collection request that has not complied with the PRA. There is no 
information collection requiring OMB approval associated with this 
rule. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless the form or 
regulation requesting the information displays a currently valid OMB 
Control Number.

K. National Environmental Policy Act

    This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. A detailed statement 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not 
required because this is an administrative and procedural regulation. 
(For further information see 43 CFR 46.210(i)). We have also determined 
that the rule does not involve any of the extraordinary circumstances 
listed in 43 CFR 46.215 that would require further analysis under NEPA.

L. Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)

    This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition 
in E.O. 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not required.

M. Determination To Issue an Final Rule With Immediate Effective Date

    We are publishing this final rule with an immediate effective date, 
as allowed under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Good cause for an immediate 
effective date exists because the delay in publishing this rule would 
inhibit access to justice for Tribal members and likely obstruct speedy 
trial rights for members of those Tribes coming under the jurisdiction 
of the CFR court.

List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 11

    Courts, Indians-law.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, amends 25 CFR part 11 as follows:

PART 11--COURTS OF INDIAN OFFENSES AND LAW AND ORDER CODE

0
1. The authority for part 11 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; R.S. 463, 25 U.S.C. 2; R.S. 465, 25 
U.S.C. 9; 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; 38 Stat. 586, 25 U.S.C. 200.

Subpart A--Application; Jurisdiction

0
2. Revise Sec.  11.100 to read as follows:


Sec.  11.100  Where are Courts of Indian Offenses established?

    (a) A list of the areas in Indian Country where Courts of Indian 
Offenses are established is available on the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
website (www.bia.gov) and is published periodically in the Federal 
Register.
    (b) The Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, will maintain on the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs website (www.bia.gov) an updated list of the 
areas in Indian Country where Courts of Indian Offenses are established 
and, upon any change to the list, will publish notice of the change in 
the Federal Register with an updated complete list.

0
3. Revise Sec.  11.104(a) introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  11.104   When does this part apply?

    (a) The regulations in this part continue to apply to each area in 
Indian Country listed in accordance with Sec.  11.100 until either:
* * * * *

    Dated: December 4, 2019.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-27997 Filed 1-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P