[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 45 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Pages 2806-2809]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination
With Indian Tribal Governments

 November 6, 2000

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish 
regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal 
officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal 
implications, to strengthen the United States government-to-government 
relationships with Indian tribes, and to reduce the imposition of 
unfunded mandates upon Indian tribes; it is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1.  Definitions. For purposes of this order:
    (a) ``Policies that have tribal implications'' refers to 
regulations, legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other 
policy statements or actions that have substantial direct effects on one 
or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution

[[Page 2807]]

of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian 
tribes.
    (b) ``Indian tribe'' means an Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, 
nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior 
acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally 
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a.
    (c) ``Agency'' means any authority of the United States that is an 
``agency'' under 44 U.S.C. 3502(1), other than those considered to be 
independent regulatory agencies, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5).
    (d) ``Tribal officials'' means elected or duly appointed officials 
of Indian tribal governments or authorized intertribal organizations.
    Sec. 2.  Fundamental Principles. In formulating or implementing 
policies that have tribal implications, agencies shall be guided by the 
following fundamental principles:
    (a) The United States has a unique legal relationship with Indian 
tribal governments as set forth in the Constitution of the United 
States, treaties, statutes, Executive Orders, and court decisions. Since 
the formation of the Union, the United States has recognized Indian 
tribes as domestic dependent nations under its protection. The Federal 
Government has enacted numerous statutes and promulgated numerous 
regulations that establish and define a trust relationship with Indian 
tribes.
    (b) Our Nation, under the law of the United States, in accordance 
with treaties, statutes, Executive Orders, and judicial decisions, has 
recognized the right of Indian tribes to self-government. As domestic 
dependent nations, Indian tribes exercise inherent sovereign powers over 
their members and territory. The United States continues to work with 
Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis to address issues 
concerning Indian tribal self-government, tribal trust resources, and 
Indian tribal treaty and other rights.
    (c) The United States recognizes the right of Indian tribes to self-
government and supports tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
    Sec. 3.   Policymaking Criteria. In addition to adhering to the 
fundamental principles set forth in section 2, agencies shall adhere, to 
the extent permitted by law, to the following criteria when formulating 
and implementing policies that have tribal implications:
    (a) Agencies shall respect Indian tribal self-government and 
sovereignty, honor tribal treaty and other rights, and strive to meet 
the responsibilities that arise from the unique legal relationship 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribal governments.
    (b) With respect to Federal statutes and regulations administered by 
Indian tribal governments, the Federal Government shall grant Indian 
tribal governments the maximum administrative discretion possible.
    (c) When undertaking to formulate and implement policies that have 
tribal implications, agencies shall:
(1)          encourage Indian tribes to develop their own policies to 
            achieve program objectives;
(2)          where possible, defer to Indian tribes to establish 
            standards; and
(3)          in determining whether to establish Federal standards, 
            consult with tribal officials as to the need for Federal 
            standards and any alternatives that would limit the scope of 
            Federal standards or otherwise preserve the prerogatives and 
            authority of Indian tribes.
    Sec. 4.   Special Requirements for Legislative Proposals. Agencies 
shall not submit to the Congress legislation that would be inconsistent 
with the policymaking criteria in Section 3.
    Sec. 5.   Consultation. (a) Each agency shall have an accountable 
process to ensure meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications. Within 
30 days after the effective date of this order, the head of each agency 
shall designate an official with principal responsibility for the 
agency's implementation of this order. Within 60 days of the effective 
date of this order, the designated official shall submit to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) a description of the agency's 
consultation process.
    (b) To the extent practicable and permitted by law, no agency shall 
promulgate any regulation that has tribal implications, that imposes 
substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal governments, and 
that is not required by statute, unless:

[[Page 2808]]

(1)          funds necessary to pay the direct costs incurred by the 
            Indian tribal government or the tribe in complying with the 
            regulation are provided by the Federal Government; or
(2)          the agency, prior to the formal promulgation of the 
            regulation,
(A)          consulted with tribal officials early in the process of 
            developing the proposed regulation;
(B)          in a separately identified portion of the preamble to the 
            regulation as it is to be issued in the Federal Register, 
            provides to the Director of OMB a tribal summary impact 
            statement, which consists of a description of the extent of 
            the agency's prior consultation with tribal officials, a 
            summary of the nature of their concerns and the agency's 
            position supporting the need to issue the regulation, and a 
            statement of the extent to which the concerns of tribal 
            officials have been met; and
(C)          makes available to the Director of OMB any written 
            communications submitted to the agency by tribal officials.
    (c) To the extent practicable and permitted by law, no agency shall 
promulgate any regulation that has tribal implications and that preempts 
tribal law unless the agency, prior to the formal promulgation of the 
regulation,
(1)          consulted with tribal officials early in the process of 
            developing the proposed regulation;
(2)          in a separately identified portion of the preamble to the 
            regulation as it is to be issued in the Federal Register, 
            provides to the Director of OMB a tribal summary impact 
            statement, which consists of a description of the extent of 
            the agency's prior consultation with tribal officials, a 
            summary of the nature of their concerns and the agency's 
            position supporting the need to issue the regulation, and a 
            statement of the extent to which the concerns of tribal 
            officials have been met; and
(3)          makes available to the Director of OMB any written 
            communications submitted to the agency by tribal officials.
    (d) On issues relating to tribal self-government, tribal trust 
resources, or Indian tribal treaty and other rights, each agency should 
explore and, where appropriate, use consensual mechanisms for developing 
regulations, including negotiated rulemaking.
    Sec. 6.   Increasing Flexibility for Indian Tribal Waivers.
    (a) Agencies shall review the processes under which Indian tribes 
apply for waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements and take 
appropriate steps to streamline those processes.
    (b) Each agency shall, to the extent practicable and permitted by 
law, consider any application by an Indian tribe for a waiver of 
statutory or regulatory requirements in connection with any program 
administered by the agency with a general view toward increasing 
opportunities for utilizing flexible policy approaches at the Indian 
tribal level in cases in which the proposed waiver is consistent with 
the applicable Federal policy objectives and is otherwise appropriate.
    (c) Each agency shall, to the extent practicable and permitted by 
law, render a decision upon a complete application for a waiver within 
120 days of receipt of such application by the agency, or as otherwise 
provided by law or regulation. If the application for waiver is not 
granted, the agency shall provide the applicant with timely written 
notice of the decision and the reasons therefor.
    (d) This section applies only to statutory or regulatory 
requirements that are discretionary and subject to waiver by the agency.
    Sec. 7.   Accountability.
    (a) In transmitting any draft final regulation that has tribal 
implications to OMB pursuant to Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 
1993, each agency shall include a certification from the official 
designated to ensure compliance with this order stating that the 
requirements of this order have been met in a meaningful and timely 
manner.
    (b) In transmitting proposed legislation that has tribal 
implications to OMB, each agency shall include a certification from the 
official designated to ensure compliance with this order that all 
relevant requirements of this order have been met.

[[Page 2809]]

    (c) Within 180 days after the effective date of this order the 
Director of OMB and the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental 
Affairs shall confer with tribal officials to ensure that this order is 
being properly and effectively implemented.
    Sec. 8.   Independent Agencies. Independent regulatory agencies are 
encouraged to comply with the provisions of this order.
    Sec. 9.   General Provisions. (a) This order shall supplement but 
not supersede the requirements contained in Executive Order 12866 
(Regulatory Planning and Review), Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice 
Reform), OMB Circular A-19, and the Executive Memorandum of April 29, 
1994, on Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments.
    (b) This order shall complement the consultation and waiver 
provisions in sections 6 and 7 of Executive Order 13132 (Federalism).
    (c) Executive Order 13084 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian 
Tribal Governments) is revoked at the time this order takes effect.
    (d) This order shall be effective 60 days after the date of this 
order.
    Sec. 10.   Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve 
the internal management of the executive branch, and is not intended to 
create any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or 
procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the United States, its 
agencies, or any person.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 November 6, 2000.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., November 8, 
2000]

  Note:  This Executive order was published in the  Federal Register  on 
November 9.