82 FR 51860 - Tribal Consultation on Indian Trust Asset Reform Act (ITARA) Sec. 304, Transition Plan for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 215 (November 8, 2017)
Office of the Secretary
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 215 (November 8, 2017)
| Page Range | 51860-51861 | |
| FR Document | 2017-24319 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 51860-51861] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-24319] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of the Secretary [18XD0120AF/DT20000000/DST000000/241A/T0110100] Tribal Consultation on Indian Trust Asset Reform Act (ITARA) Sec. 304, Transition Plan for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Department of the Interior (Department) will be hosting two Tribal consultation sessions on a proposal to transfer the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) to report to the Office of the Assistant Secretary-- Indian Affairs (AS-IA) in FY 2018 via a Secretary's Order. Under the proposal, the office would be headed temporarily by the Principal Deputy Special Trustee, who would be delegated the authorities of the Special Trustee for American Indians. Subsequently, the Department plans to appoint a career executive to act as the Director of OST. DATES: Tribal consultation sessions will be held by phone on Wednesday, December 13, 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. EST, and Thursday, December 14, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. EST. Comments on this proposal must be received by January 15, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via email to [email protected] or mail to Attn: ITARA Transition, c/o Elizabeth Appel, Office of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action--Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 4660, Washington, DC 20240. The toll free call-in number for the consultation sessions is: (888) 324-2907, and the passcode is 9793554. Additional information is available at www.doi.gov/OST/ITARA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action, Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, at [email protected] or (202) 273- 4680. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OST was established in the Department by the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (1994 Act), Public Law 103-412, when Congress decided a Special Trustee was needed to oversee reforms relating to trust responsibilities throughout the Department. In 1996, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) transferred management of Indian trust funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to the OST. See Secretarial Order No. 3197. OST has implemented reforms and managed Indian trust funds for over 20 years. In June 2016, Congress passed the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act (ITARA), Public Law 114-178. ITARA Section 304(a) requires the Secretary to prepare and submit a plan for the transition of functions of the OST to other bureaus or agencies within the Department within two years of submission of the plan to Congress. Beginning in August 2016, the Department held one listening session and 10 Tribal consultation sessions throughout Indian Country and held an open period to solicit comments via a notice in the Federal Register. Based on consultation feedback, the Department determined that the most appropriate place for OST's core functions is to remain with OST as a permanent organization. To ensure fully integrated Indian policy and programs, we propose to realign OST to report to AS-IA. To meet the two-year deadline required by ITARA Section 304(a), the Department proposes transferring the OST to AS-IA in FY 2018 via a Secretary's Order. Today, the OST holds approximately $5 billion under trust management and administers approximately 3,400 tribal trust accounts for more than 250 Indian Tribes and over 400,000 Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. Each year, OST disburses roughly $1.2 billion to individual Indians and tribes. Receipting, investing, and disbursing activity is accomplished through the processing of 10.3 million financial transactions. The OST organization features five Regional Trust Administrators with extensive backgrounds in trust management, with over 50 Fiduciary Trust Officers to serve as the primary [[Page 51861]] point-of-contact for beneficiaries on trust matters, allowing OST to coordinate trust asset management activities with the BIA, tribes, and individual beneficiaries in their respective geographic areas. The OST operates a Trust Beneficiary Call Center (TBCC) to support a strong beneficiary trust relationship as envisioned in the original reform goals. Section 306 of ITARA requires the Secretary to identify cost savings that would result from the elimination of ``any program, function, service, or activity . . . of the Office of the Special Trustee that will not be operated or carried out as a result of a transfer of functions and personnel following enactment of this Act''. As the proposed plan calls for all functions of OST to be transferred under AS-IA intact, there will be no cost savings as defined by ITARA. Moreover, appropriations for OST increased relatively quickly after its inception as functions were transferred from other organizations within the Department to OST. Funding levels peaked in FY 2007 when OST received $223.3 million. In the last decade, however, funding has steadily decreased as reforms have been completed and efficiencies have been realized. In FY 2017, OST received $138.8 million--a 38 percent decrease from its peak funding. Any cost savings resulting from trust reforms have already been captured in the form of decreased budget requests. Authority: E.O. 13175, 65 FR 67250. Jerold Gidner, Principal Deputy Special Trustee. [FR Doc. 2017-24319 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4334-63-P
![51860 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices
part 990, NEPA, the Consent Decree, the Administrative Record passcode is 9793554. Additional
Final PDARP/PEIS, the Phase III ERP/ The documents comprising the information is available at www.doi.gov/
PEIS and the Phase V ERP/EA. Administrative Record for the Draft OST/ITARA.
The Florida TIG is considering the Phase V.2 RP/SEA can be viewed FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
second phase of the Florida Coastal electronically at http://www.doi.gov/ Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of
Access Project in the Draft Phase V.2 deepwaterhorizon/administrativerecord. Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative
RP/SEA to address lost recreational Action, Office of the Assistant
Authority Secretary—Indian Affairs, at
opportunities in Florida caused by the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In the Draft The authority of this action is the Oil elizabeth.appel@bia.gov or (202) 273–
Phase V.2 RP/SEA, the Florida TIG Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et 4680.
proposes one preferred alternative, the seq.) and its implementing Natural SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OST was
Salinas Park Addition, which involves Resource Damage Assessment established in the Department by the
the acquisition and enhancement of a regulations found at 15 CFR part 990 American Indian Trust Fund
6.6-acre coastal parcel. The Florida and the National Environmental Policy Management Reform Act of 1994 (1994
Coastal Access Project was allocated Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Act), Public Law 103–412, when
approximately $45.4 million in early Kevin D. Reynolds, Congress decided a Special Trustee was
restoration funds, and the Salinas Park Designated Department of the Interior Natural needed to oversee reforms relating to
Addition would cost approximately $3.1 Resource Trustee Official. trust responsibilities throughout the
million of the $6.4 million remaining [FR Doc. 2017–24197 Filed 11–7–17; 8:45 am] Department. In 1996, the Secretary of
funds not utilized in the first phase of BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
the Interior (Secretary) transferred
the Florida Coastal Access Project. The management of Indian trust funds from
Florida TIG also considered two the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to the
additional land acquisition and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OST. See Secretarial Order No. 3197.
improvement alternatives, as well as the OST has implemented reforms and
no action alternative in the Draft Phase Office of the Secretary managed Indian trust funds for over 20
V.2 RP/SEA. One or more alternatives years.
[18XD0120AF/DT20000000/DST000000/
In June 2016, Congress passed the
may be selected for implementation by 241A/T0110100]
Indian Trust Asset Reform Act (ITARA),
the Florida TIG in the Final Phase V.2
Tribal Consultation on Indian Trust Public Law 114–178. ITARA Section
RP/SEA or in future restoration plans.
Asset Reform Act (ITARA) Sec. 304, 304(a) requires the Secretary to prepare
Details on the proposed second phase of
Transition Plan for the Office of the and submit a plan for the transition of
the Florida Coastal Access Project are
Special Trustee for American Indians functions of the OST to other bureaus or
provided in the Draft Phase V.2 RP/SEA. agencies within the Department within
The proposed second phase of the AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. two years of submission of the plan to
Florida Coastal Access Project is ACTION: Notice. Congress. Beginning in August 2016, the
intended to continue the process of Department held one listening session
using restoration funding to restore SUMMARY: This notice announces that and 10 Tribal consultation sessions
natural resources, ecological services, the Department of the Interior throughout Indian Country and held an
and recreational use services injured or (Department) will be hosting two Tribal open period to solicit comments via a
lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon consultation sessions on a proposal to notice in the Federal Register. Based on
oil spill. Additional restoration transfer the Office of the Special Trustee consultation feedback, the Department
planning for the Florida Restoration for American Indians (OST) to report to determined that the most appropriate
the Office of the Assistant Secretary— place for OST’s core functions is to
Area will continue.
Indian Affairs (AS–IA) in FY 2018 via remain with OST as a permanent
Next Steps a Secretary’s Order. Under the proposal, organization. To ensure fully integrated
the office would be headed temporarily Indian policy and programs, we propose
As described above, a public meeting by the Principal Deputy Special Trustee,
is scheduled to facilitate the public to realign OST to report to AS–IA. To
who would be delegated the authorities meet the two-year deadline required by
review and comment process on the of the Special Trustee for American
Draft Phase V.2 RP/SEA. After the ITARA Section 304(a), the Department
Indians. Subsequently, the Department proposes transferring the OST to AS–IA
public comment period ends, the plans to appoint a career executive to
Florida TIG will consider and address in FY 2018 via a Secretary’s Order.
act as the Director of OST. Today, the OST holds approximately
the comments received before issuing a DATES: Tribal consultation sessions will $5 billion under trust management and
final Phase V.2 RP/SEA. be held by phone on Wednesday, administers approximately 3,400 tribal
Public Availability of Comments December 13, 1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m. EST, trust accounts for more than 250 Indian
and Thursday, December 14, 9:00 a.m.– Tribes and over 400,000 Individual
Before including your address, phone 12:00 p.m. EST. Comments on this Indian Money (IIM) accounts. Each year,
number, email address, or other proposal must be received by January OST disburses roughly $1.2 billion to
personal identifying information in your 15, 2018. individual Indians and tribes.
comment, you should be aware that ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via Receipting, investing, and disbursing
your entire comment—including your email to consultation@bia.gov or mail to activity is accomplished through the
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
personal identifying information—may Attn: ITARA Transition, c/o Elizabeth processing of 10.3 million financial
be made publicly available at any time. Appel, Office of Regulatory Affairs & transactions.
While you can ask us in your comment Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs, The OST organization features five
to withhold your personal identifying 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 4660, Regional Trust Administrators with
information from public review, we Washington, DC 20240. The toll free extensive backgrounds in trust
cannot guarantee that we will be able to call-in number for the consultation management, with over 50 Fiduciary
do so. sessions is: (888) 324–2907, and the Trust Officers to serve as the primary
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices 51861
point-of-contact for beneficiaries on and associated funerary objects and Afognak, Native Village of Akhiok,
trust matters, allowing OST to present-day Indian Tribes or Native Native Village of Larsen Bay, Native
coordinate trust asset management Hawaiian organizations. Lineal Village of Ouzinkie, Native Village of
activities with the BIA, tribes, and descendants or representatives of any Port Lions, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak
individual beneficiaries in their Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian (previously listed as the Shoonaq’ Tribe
respective geographic areas. The OST organization not identified in this notice of Kodiak), and the Tangirnaq Native
operates a Trust Beneficiary Call Center that wish to request transfer of control Village (formerly Lesnoi Village (aka
(TBCC) to support a strong beneficiary of these human remains and associated Woody Island)).
trust relationship as envisioned in the funerary objects should submit a written
History and Description of the Remains
original reform goals. request to the Alaska Region USFWS. If
Section 306 of ITARA requires the no additional requestors come forward, Beginning in 1961 and continuing
Secretary to identify cost savings that transfer of control of the human remains through 1963, human remains
would result from the elimination of and associated funerary objects to the representing, at minimum, 23
‘‘any program, function, service, or lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or individuals, including 17 adults (two
activity . . . of the Office of the Special Native Hawaiian organizations stated in possible males, two possible females,
Trustee that will not be operated or this notice may proceed. and 13 individuals of indeterminate
carried out as a result of a transfer of DATES: Lineal descendants or
sex), five sub adults, and one infant
functions and personnel following representatives of any Indian Tribes or were removed from the Three Saints
enactment of this Act’’. As the proposed Native Hawaiian organizations, not Bay site (049–KOD–00083) on Kodiak
plan calls for all functions of OST to be identified in this notice that wish to Island as part of the Aleut-Konyag
transferred under AS–IA intact, there request transfer of control of these project conducted by the University of
will be no cost savings as defined by human remains and associated funerary Wisconsin-Madison, under the direction
ITARA. objects should submit a written request of Morgan Usadel, Donald Clark,
Moreover, appropriations for OST with information in support of the William Workman, and Peter Storck.
increased relatively quickly after its request to the Alaska Region USFWS at The collection was curated and stored at
inception as functions were transferred the address in this notice by December the University of Wisconsin-Madison
from other organizations within the 8, 2017. until 2006. The U.S. Army Corps of
Department to OST. Funding levels Engineers, working with the Regional
ADDRESSES: Edward J. DeCleva, Regional
peaked in FY 2007 when OST received Historic Preservation Officer of the
Historic Preservation Officer, U.S. Fish
$223.3 million. In the last decade, Alaska Region USFWS to determine
and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region,
however, funding has steadily decreased locations of Alaskan archeological
1011 East Tudor Road, MS–235,
as reforms have been completed and collections, located and recovered this
Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907)
efficiencies have been realized. In FY collection, conducted a complete
786–3399, email edward_decleva@
2017, OST received $138.8 million—a inventory, and returned the human
fws.gov.
38 percent decrease from its peak remains to the Alaska Region USFWS
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is for storage. No known individuals were
funding. Any cost savings resulting from
trust reforms have already been here given in accordance with the identified. The 23 associated funerary
captured in the form of decreased Native American Graves Protection and objects include 19 unmodified faunal
budget requests. Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. remains, 1 lot of charcoal samples, 1
3003, of the completion of an inventory carved bone figurine pin, 1 amber bead,
Authority: E.O. 13175, 65 FR 67250. of human remains and associated and 1 bone buckle.
Jerold Gidner, funerary objects under the control of the The Three Saints Bay site is a two
Principal Deputy Special Trustee. Alaska Region USFWS. The human component site, the lower component
[FR Doc. 2017–24319 Filed 11–7–17; 8:45 am]
remains and associated funerary objects corresponds to the prehistoric late
were recovered from site 049–KOD– Kachemak tradition winter settlement
BILLING CODE 4334–63–P
00083, Kodiak Island Borough, AK. dating to BP 2000 to 1100. The upper
This notice is published as part of the component consists of seven or eight log
National Park Service’s administrative houses, warehouse, barns, bunkhouses,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 carpentry shop, and storage buildings of
National Park Service U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in the first settlement established in North
this notice are the sole responsibility of America by the Russian American
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0024147; the museum, institution, or Federal
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Company in 1784. Five to nine burials
agency that has control of the Native were encountered at Three Saints Bay
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. American human remains and which, according to Donald Clark’s 1970
Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska associated funerary objects. The report, exhibited burial practices that fit
Region, Anchorage, AK National Park Service is not responsible within the general Kachemak traditional
for the determinations in this notice. pattern.
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. The present-day descendant of the
Consultation
ACTION: Notice. Kachemak tradition is the Alutiiq Tribe
A detailed assessment of the human of Old Harbor (previously listed as
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife remains was made by the Alaska Region Native Village of Old Harbor and Village
Service, Alaska Region, (Alaska Region USFWS professional staff in of Old Harbor).
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
USFWS), has completed an inventory of consultation with representatives of the
human remains and associated funerary Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Determinations Made by the Alaska
objects, in consultation with the Repository of Kodiak, Alaska, acting as Region USFWS
appropriate Indian Tribes or Native agent for the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor Officials of the Alaska Region USFWS
Hawaiian organizations, and has (previously listed as Native Village of have determined that:
determined that there is a cultural Old Harbor and Village of Old Harbor), • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
affiliation between the human remains Kaguyak Village, Native Village of human remains described in this notice
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Document Created: 2017-11-08 01:20:30
Document Modified: 2017-11-08 01:20:30
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Tribal consultation sessions will be held by phone on Wednesday, December 13, 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. EST, and Thursday, December 14, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. EST. Comments on this proposal must be received by January 15, 2018. | |
| Contact | Ms. Elizabeth Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs & Collaborative Action, Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, at [email protected] or (202) 273- 4680. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 51860 |
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