Search Results for agency_names:"Indian Affairs Bureau"

The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued final regulations revising the rules that implement Tribal Self-Governance as part of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. This update was created through negotiations among Self-Governance and non-Self-Governance Tribes and the Department. The new regulations aim to give Tribes more control over certain federal programs and associated funding, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and better align these regulations with Tribal sovereignty and self-determination principles. These rules also establish procedures for future involvement and input from Tribal nations, along with setting standards for managing federal programs and responsibilities.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs published a notice about changes to the Liquor Ordinance for the Blackfeet Tribe on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana. The amendment, effective January 21, 2025, updates regulations on the sale and control of alcoholic beverages. It aims to manage the sale of liquor to ensure public welfare and safety, with restrictions on who can sell alcohol and strict rules about when and where it can be sold. The ordinance also establishes penalties for violations and outlines conditions under which alcoholic beverage licenses can be granted or revoked.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is proposing to renew and revise its information collection for student admissions to Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. The aim is to make the application process easier, including allowing digital submissions. Public comments on this collection effort are invited, especially on its necessity, accuracy, clarity, and ways to reduce burdens on respondents. The deadline to submit comments is March 31, 2025, and more details are available through provided online links.

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs announced that an amendment to the Tribal-State compact for class III gaming between the Chitimacha Tribe and the State of Louisiana has been approved by law. This amendment extends the compact's term by seven years and raises the dollar amount for Tribal licensing and State certification of vendors to the Tribe's gaming facilities. The approval took effect automatically since the Secretary of the Interior did not act within the required 45-day review period set by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, part of the Interior Department, issued a final rule on inflation adjustments for civil monetary penalties, effective January 28, 2021. This rule is part of an annual process mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which aims to keep penalties effective in deterring violations by adjusting for inflation. Using guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Bureau calculated the 2021 cost-of-living adjustment to be 1.01182%. These updated penalties apply to violations occurring after November 2, 2015.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is announcing proposed adjustments to the irrigation assessment rates for irrigation projects on or associated with Indian reservations in the United States. These adjustments aim to recover costs for administration, operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation necessary for managing these projects. Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on these adjustments before February 24, 2025. The changes are scheduled to take effect in the calendar year 2026, and further information on the projects and rates can be sought through BIA's regional offices.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has published a notice about amendments to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's Liquor Ordinance. These changes, effective from March 21, 2025, update the rules for selling alcohol within the community, covering both on-sale and off-sale transactions. The amendments provide regulations on licensing, operation, and management of liquor sales on Tribally-owned property, including compliance with state and federal laws. The Community's Business Council plays a key role in overseeing on-sale and off-sale liquor operations and reporting to the General Council.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking public comments on a proposal to renew an information collection process with revisions. This process concerns collecting data on individuals interested in being nominated for the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children in line with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004. The BIE aims to improve clarity and functionality by incorporating changes such as correcting typographical errors and allowing self-nominations. Individuals wishing to comment have until February 10, 2021, and their feedback will be public record.

The final rule from the United States Department of the Interior updates how the Federal government acknowledges Indian Tribes by allowing previously denied petitioners a chance to re-petition. This change responds to court decisions that found the prior re-petition ban to be arbitrary. Under the new rule, petitioners have five years to show new evidence or changes in regulations that could alter previous denial outcomes, though re-petitioning is still limited by certain conditions to balance fairness and finality interests. The rule aims to enhance fairness in recognizing Tribes while maintaining efficient administrative processes.

The notice publishes an amendment to the Liquor Ordinance of the Chippewa Cree Tribe on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in Montana. The amendment arises from an agreement between the Tribe and the State of Montana to have a consistent tax level for alcoholic beverage sales both inside and outside the reservation. This aims to minimize legal disputes and share tax revenue effectively between the Tribe and the State. The ordinance mandates the Tribe to impose taxes matching Montana's liquor excise and license taxes for alcoholic beverages sold within the reservation's boundaries.