02-636. Notice of Deadline for Submitting Completed Applications To Begin Participation in the Tribal Self-Governance Program in Fiscal Year 2003 or Calendar Year 2003

AGENCY:

Office of Self-Governance, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of application deadline.

SUMMARY:

In this notice, the Office of Self-Governance (OSG) establishes a March 1, 2002, deadline for tribes/consortia to submit completed applications to begin participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2003 or calendar year 2003.

DATES:

Completed application packages must be received by the Director, Office of Self-Governance by March 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Application packages for inclusion in the applicant pool should be sent to the Director, Office of Self-Governance, U.S. Department of the Interior, Mail Stop 2548, 1849 C Street NW., Washington DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Kenneth D. Reinfeld, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Self-Governance, Mail Stop 2548, 1849 C Street NW., Washington DC 20240; Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-413), as amended by the Fiscal Year 1997 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-208) the Director, Office of Self-Governance may select up to 50 additional participating tribes/consortia per year for the tribal self-governance program, and negotiate and enter into a written funding agreement with each participating tribe. The Act mandates that the Secretary submit copies of the funding agreements at least 90 days before the proposed effective date to the appropriate committees of the Congress and to each tribe that is served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agency that is serving the tribe that is a party to the funding agreement. Initial negotiations with a tribe/consortium located in a region and/or agency which has not previously been involved with self-governance negotiations, will take approximately two months from start to finish. Agreements for an October 1 to September 30 fiscal year need to be signed and submitted by July 1. Agreements for a January 1 to December 31 fiscal year need to be signed and submitted by October 1.

Purpose of Notice

25 CFR parts 1000.10 to 1000.31 will be used to govern the application and selection process for tribes/consortia to begin their participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2003 and calendar year 2003. Applicants should be guided by the requirements in these subparts in preparing their applications. Copies of these subparts may be obtained from the information contact person identified in this notice.

Tribes/consortia wishing to be considered for participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2003 or calendar year 2003 must respond to this notice, except for those which are (1) currently involved in negotiations with the Department; (2) one of the 80 tribal entities with signed agreements; or (3) one of the tribal entities already included in the applicant pool as of the date of this notice.

Dated: December 12, 2001.

Neal A. McCaleb,

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.