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Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Date: August 31, 2010 Echo Hawk Announces Tribal Consultation on Indian Gaming Land into Trust Determinations WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Gaming (OIG) will conduct tribal consultation with federally recognized tribes on Indian Gaming Land into Trust Determinations. A letter announcing the meetings was sent to tribal leaders on August 24, 2010. “I am pleased that Indian Affairs is continuing our consultation with tribes,” Echo Hawk said. “It is critical that we work together with tribes to address important issues regarding Indian Gaming and sovereignty.” Secretary Salazar issued a directive on July 18, 2010, recommending a thorough review of the "current guidance and regulatory standards" used to make decisions for off-reservation two-part determinations under Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and its implementing regulations. In accordance with the Secretary's directive, and in keeping with the Department of Interior's commitment to government-to-government consultation, the OIG will engage with tribal governments on three major subjects: (1) the January 3, 2008 Memorandum regarding Guidance on Taking Off-reservation Land into Trust for Gaming Purposes; (2) whether there is a need to revise any of the provisions of 25 C.F.R. Part 292, Subpart A (Definitions) and Subpart C (Two-Part Determinations); and (3) whether the Department of the Interior's process of requiring compliance with 25 C.F.R. Part 151 (Land Into Trust Regulations) should come before or after the Two-Part Determination. The Office of Indian Gaming implements the Secretary’s responsibilities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The office reviews and approves/disapproves fee-to-trust applications; gaming leases; tribal/state compacts; per capita distributions plans; gaming contracts; Secretarial procedures for class III gaming and requests to game on land acquired in trust after the enactment of IGRA. The office is also charged with developing policies and procedures, providing technical assistance and training in all of the above areas. The Office of Indian Gaming has scheduled consultations to be held on the following dates:
Comments may be mailed or hand delivered to the Office of Indian Gaming, 1849 C Street N.W., MS-3657-MIB, Washington, D.C. 20240. Please contact the Office of Indian Gaming at (202) 219-4066 for any additional questions you might have about the upcoming meetings. Additional information can be found on the “Current Tribal Consultations” page of the Indian Affairs website at http://www.indianaffairs.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm. -DOI- |
Courtesy of Victor Rocha