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Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
The Department of the Interior (DOI) has issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter announcing Tribal consultations on draft revisions to 25 CFR 151, Land Acquisition, and 25 CFR Part 293, Class III Tribal State Gaming Compact regulations. DOI has indicated that these consultations do not constitute a formal notice of proposed rulemaking. Following the conclusion of these consultations and consideration of Tribal Leader comments, DOI plans to issue a formal notice of proposed rulemaking. DOI has indicated that the draft 25 CFR Part 151 revisions seek to provide for a more efficient, less cumbersome, and less expensive fee-to-trust process. Additionally, the proposed draft revisions to the 25 CFR 293, Class III Gaming Compact regulations seek to provide clear guidance regarding the Secretary of the Interior’s review and evaluation process for Class III gaming compacts.
The dates, times, and links to register for the consultation are as follows—
Date/Time: Monday, May 9, 2022 at 10:00am ET
Date/Time: Monday, May 9, 2022 at 2:00pm ET
Date/Time: Friday, May 13, 2022 at 1:00pm ET
Date/Time: Monday, May 23, 2022 at 1:00pm ET
To view the redline draft revisions to the 25 CFR 151, Land Acquisition regulations, please click here. To view DOI’s Consultation Summary Sheet of Draft Revisions to 25 CFR Part 151, please click here. To view the redline draft revisions to the 25 CFR 293, Class III Tribal State Gaming Compact regulations, please click here. To view DOI’s Consultation Summary Sheet of Draft Revisions to 25 CFR Part 293, please click here.
USET SPF has long been an active and strong advocate for the protection and restoration of Tribal homelands since Tribal lands are a core aspect of Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and represent the foundation of our Tribal economies. On November 5, 2021, we submitted comments to DOI in response to a Dear Tribal Leader Letter seeking Tribal Nation priorities in the protection and restoration of Tribal homelands. Our comments urged DOI to commit to improvements that will facilitate the swift return of our homelands and their unqualified protection, as well as increased Tribal ownership and control. USET SPF also urged DOI commit to improve the land-into-trust process, work with Congress on a Carcieri Fix, address leasing and rights-of-way, and protect sacred sites and treaty rights, among other recommendations.
For more information on these consultations, please visit DOI’s website by clicking here. Written comments are due by 11:59pm ET on Thursday, June 30, 2022 and can be submitted to consultation@bia.gov. Questions regarding these consultations should be directed to Maria Wiseman, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate and the Environment, at (202) 208-7227, or by email to maria.wiseman@bia.gov.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
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