[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33825-33826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11892]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[223D0102DM; DS65100000; DLSN00000.000000; DX.65101; Docket No. DOI-
2022-0008]


Strengthening Public Trust in the Department of the Interior Law 
Enforcement Programs

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of listening sessions and request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: In an effort to identify opportunities for improvement in law 
enforcement programs of the Department of the Interior (DOI) (National 
Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land 
Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Reclamation) and to 
strengthen public trust in the Department's law enforcement practices 
and policies, the DOI is hosting twelve (12) listening sessions open to 
the public. DOI seeks to engage with diverse stakeholders who interact 
with, are impacted by, or have experience with DOI Law Enforcement 
Officers to strengthen public relations and inform DOI law enforcement 
programs. Transparency, building public trust and ensuring 
accountability are key tenets that support equitable law enforcement 
experiences across diverse geographic and demographic populations. The 
public can submit comments through this Federal Register Notice which 
will inform themes and recommendations for the Department.

DATES: The Department of the Interior will hold twelve (12) virtual 
listening sessions on the following dates:

 Monday, June 13, 2022, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. EDT
 Wednesday, June 15, 2022, from 9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. EDT

[[Page 33826]]

 Tuesday, June 21, 2022, from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
 Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. EDT
 Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. EDT
 Monday, June 27, 2022, from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. EDT
 Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. EDT
 Thursday, June 30, 2022, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. EDT
 Wednesday, July 6, 2022, from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. EDT
 Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. EDT
 Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. EDT
 Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. EDT

    Interested persons are also invited to submit comments in writing 
or online on or before August 2, 2022.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may 
submit comments online at https://www.regulations.gov/ by entering 
``DOI-2022-0008'' in the search bar and clicking ``Search'' or by mail 
to U.S. Department of the Interior, LE Task Force, 1849 C Street NW, MS 
3428, Washington, DC 20240. You may respond to some, or all of the 
questions listed in the ``Supplementary Information--Questions'' 
section of this document. All public comments received are subject to 
the Freedom of Information Act and will be posted in their entirety at 
https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal or business 
confidential information provided. Do not include any information you 
would not like to be made publicly available.
    If you plan to attend one of the virtual listening sessions and 
need assistance in a language other than English or if you are a person 
with disabilities who needs a reasonable accommodation, please contact 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Branum, 
[email protected], (703-239-7126). Additionally, 
you can visit the DOI Law Enforcement Task Force website at: https://www.doi.gov/oles/doi-law-enforcement-task-force.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 7, 2021, Secretary Deb Haaland announced the establishment 
of a new departmental law enforcement task force to implement the 
highest standards for protecting the public and provide necessary 
policy guidance, resources, and training to agency personnel within the 
DOI. Led by Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau, the Task 
Force is responsible for implementing the Secretary's vision of 
utilizing an equity lens and evidence-based decision making to review 
and identify opportunities for improvement in law enforcement programs 
of the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of 
Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Reclamation. 
The Task Force will focus on ways to (1) strengthen trust in our law 
enforcement programs; (2) ensure appropriate policy and oversight is 
implemented; and (3) ensure supportive resources are available for 
officer mental health, wellness, and safety.
    A working group of subject matter experts, representatives of 
Bureaus with law enforcement programs, Bureau of Reclamation, and the 
DOI's Office of Law Enforcement and Security identified both internal 
and external key stakeholders that will inform this process. External 
stakeholders will include members of the public, visitors, advocacy 
groups, cooperating state and local organizations, neighbors and 
community members, and members of Tribes. With the goal of providing 
recommendations to improve the law enforcement programs within the DOI, 
the working group seeks input from these key stakeholders on DOI law 
enforcement services and areas for possible improvement.
    DOI is conducting twelve (12) virtual listening sessions and 
inviting public comments to obtain stakeholder input on public 
perception of DOI law enforcement and understand how the DOI can best 
develop and maintain public trust, transparency, and legitimacy with 
its stakeholders.

Questions for Discussion

Polling Questions

     Location: Where are you participating from?
     Affiliation: What organization, tribe/nation, or 
association are you affiliated with?

Discussion Questions

     What are your perceptions of DOI law enforcement? What 
experiences or interactions have you had with them?
     How can the Interior best develop and maintain public 
trust, transparency, and legitimacy in the communities DOI law 
enforcement works in or serves?
     Is your perception of DOI law enforcement positive or 
negative? Which practices does DOI law enforcement engage in that 
inform your feelings about them?
     What recommendations or suggestions would you like to see 
adopted by DOI law enforcement (i.e., policies and practices, measures 
to increase diversity in officers to reflect the community, etc.)?
    Comments received in response to this notice, from listening 
sessions and in writing, will be evaluated and, as appropriate, 
incorporated into DOI's effort to improve public trust in law 
enforcement.

Registration Information

    Advanced registration for individuals and groups is strongly 
encouraged. For additional information about the listening sessions and 
to register for a listening session, please visit the DOI Law 
Enforcement Task Force website at: https://www.doi.gov/oles/doi-law-enforcement-task-force. Details for the sessions will be posted to the 
website.
    Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or Tele 
Braille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.
    This action is taken pursuant to delegated authority.

Joan M. Mooney,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management and Budget.
[FR Doc. 2022-11892 Filed 6-2-22; 8:45 am]
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