Laverdure announces BIA to hold tribal consultations on leasing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nedra Darling February 17, 2011 202-219-4152

WASHINGTON – Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Del Laverdure today announced that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will be holding tribal consultation meetings for tribal leaders to review and provide input on draft regulations on leasing in Indian Country. The draft regulations would establish subparts to 25 CFR Part 162 (Leases and Permits) addressing residential leasing, business leasing and wind and solar resource permitting and leasing on Indian trust lands. Laverdure notified tribal leaders of the upcoming consultation in a letter dated February 15, 2011.

“By providing transparent procedures for obtaining Secretarial approval of leasing documents, including specific procedures for wind and solar resource development, we hope to streamline and expedite the leasing process, advance economic development, and spur renewable energy development in Indian Country,” Laverdure wrote in the letter to tribal leaders conveying copies of the draft regulations.

Also announced today is the BIA’s schedule for the consultation meetings (all times are local): Date: Thursday, March 17, 2011 Times: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Location: Reservation Economic Summit (RES) 2011 Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, Nev. 89109 Date: Thursday, March 31, 2011 Times: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Location: Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Bldg., One Federal Dr., Rm. G-110, Ft. Snelling, Minn. 55111

Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Times: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Location: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St., N.W., Albuquerque, N.M. 87104 Comments and recommendations may be submitted during the meetings, by email at consultation@bia.gov, or by U.S. Postal Service, overnight carrier or hand-delivery to: Del Laverdure, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C St., N.W., MS-4141-MIB, Washington, D.C. 20240. To view the February 15, 2011, letter to tribal leaders and the draft regulations, visit the Indian Affairs website at https://www.indianaffairs.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm. -DOI