HEARTH Act Approval of Squaxin Island Tribe Regulations, 51835-51836 [2015-21151]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 165 / Wednesday, August 26, 2015 / Notices
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) as provided by the
Department of the Interior Manual (516
DM 2 Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6
Appendix 1). A low-effect project
involves (1) minor or negligible effects
on federally-listed or candidate species
or their habitats, and (2) minor or
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Further, we specifically solicit
information regarding the adequacy of
the agreement per 50 CFR parts 13 and
17.
10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival
permits would comply with section 7 of
the Act by conducting an intra-Service
section 7 consultation. If we determine
that the requirements are met, we will
issue a permit under section 10(a)(1)(A)
of the Act to the Applicants in
accordance with the applicable
regulatory requirements. We will not
make our final decision until after the
end of the 30-day comment period and
will fully consider all comments
received during the comment period.
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rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Covered Area
The agreement covers approximately
439,792 acres of potentially eligible
lands in the upper Saline River
watershed; 412,556 acres of potentially
eligible lands in the upper Ouachita
River watershed; and 235,010 acres of
potentially eligible lands in the upper
Caddo River watershed. Lands eligible
to enroll in the agreement include any
non-Federal properties within the
watershed of the upper Saline, Caddo,
and Ouachita Rivers.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the enhancement of
survival permit application, including
the agreement and any comments we
receive, to determine whether the
applications meet the requirements of
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act. We will
also evaluate whether the section
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:29 Aug 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
We provide this notice under section
10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: July 29, 2015.
Mike Oetker,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2015–20960 Filed 8–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[156A2100DD/AAKC001030/
A0A501010.999900 253G]
HEARTH Act Approval of Squaxin
Island Tribe Regulations
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
On August 20, 2015, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved
the Squaxin Island Tribe leasing
regulations under the HEARTH Act.
With this approval, the Tribe is
authorized to enter into business leases
without BIA approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cynthia Morales, Office of Trust
Services—Division of Realty, Bureau of
Indian Affairs; Telephone (202) 768–
4166; Email: cynthia.morales@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Summary of the HEARTH Act
The HEARTH (Helping Expedite and
Advance Responsible Tribal
Homeownership) Act of 2012 (the Act)
makes a voluntary, alternative land
leasing process available to tribes, by
amending the Indian Long-Term Leasing
Act of 1955, 25 U.S.C. 415. The Act
authorizes tribes to negotiate and enter
into agricultural and business leases of
tribal trust lands with a primary term of
25 years, and up to two renewal terms
of 25 years each, without the approval
of the Secretary of the Interior. The Act
also authorizes tribes to enter into leases
for residential, recreational, religious or
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
51835
educational purposes for a primary term
of up to 75 years without the approval
of the Secretary. Participating tribes
develop tribal leasing regulations,
including an environmental review
process, and then must obtain the
Secretary’s approval of those regulations
prior to entering into leases. The Act
requires the Secretary to approve tribal
regulations if the tribal regulations are
consistent with the Department’s leasing
regulations at 25 CFR part 162 and
provide for an environmental review
process that meets requirements set
forth in the Act. This notice announces
that the Secretary, through the Assistant
Secretary—Indian Affairs, has approved
the tribal regulations for the Squaxin
Island Tribe.
II. Federal Preemption of State and
Local Taxes
The Department’s regulations
governing the surface leasing of trust
and restricted Indian lands specify that,
subject to applicable Federal law,
permanent improvements on leased
land, leasehold or possessory interests,
and activities under the lease are not
subject to State and local taxation and
may be subject to taxation by the Indian
tribe with jurisdiction. See 25 CFR
162.017. As explained further in the
preamble to the final regulations, the
Federal government has a strong interest
in promoting economic development,
self-determination, and tribal
sovereignty. 77 FR 72440, 72447–48
(December 5, 2012). The principles
supporting the Federal preemption of
State law in the field of Indian leasing
and the taxation of lease-related
interests and activities applies with
equal force to leases entered into under
tribal leasing regulations approved by
the Federal government pursuant to the
HEARTH Act.
Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization
Act, 25 U.S.C. 465, preempts State and
local taxation of permanent
improvements on trust land.
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
Reservation v. Thurston County, 724
F.3d 1153, 1157 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing
Mescalero Apache Tribe v. Jones, 411
U.S. 145 (1973)). In addition, as
explained in the preamble to the revised
leasing regulations at 25 CFR part 162,
Federal courts have applied a balancing
test to determine whether State and
local taxation of non-Indians on the
reservation is preempted. White
Mountain Apache Tribe v. Bracker, 448
U.S. 136, 143 (1980). The Bracker
balancing test, which is conducted
against a backdrop of ‘‘traditional
notions of Indian self-government,’’
requires a particularized examination of
the relevant State, Federal, and tribal
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
51836
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 165 / Wednesday, August 26, 2015 / Notices
interests. We hereby adopt the Bracker
analysis from the preamble to the
surface leasing regulations, 77 FR at
72447–48, as supplemented by the
analysis below.
The strong Federal and tribal interests
against State and local taxation of
improvements, leaseholds, and
activities on land leased under the
Department’s leasing regulations apply
equally to improvements, leaseholds,
and activities on land leased pursuant to
tribal leasing regulations approved
under the HEARTH Act. Congress’s
overarching intent was to ‘‘allow tribes
to exercise greater control over their
own land, support self-determination,
and eliminate bureaucratic delays that
stand in the way of homeownership and
economic development in tribal
communities.’’ 158 Cong. Rec. H. 2682
(May 15, 2012). The HEARTH Act was
intended to afford tribes ‘‘flexibility to
adapt lease terms to suit [their] business
and cultural needs’’ and to ‘‘enable
[tribes] to approve leases quickly and
efficiently.’’ Id. at 5–6.
Assessment of State and local taxes
would obstruct these express Federal
policies supporting tribal economic
development and self-determination,
and also threaten substantial tribal
interests in effective tribal government,
economic self-sufficiency, and territorial
autonomy. See Michigan v. Bay Mills
Indian Community, 134 S. Ct. 2024,
2043 (2014) (Sotomayor, J., concurring)
(determining that ‘‘[a] key goal of the
Federal Government is to render Tribes
more self-sufficient, and better
positioned to fund their own sovereign
functions, rather than relying on Federal
funding’’). The additional costs of State
and local taxation have a chilling effect
on potential lessees, as well as on a tribe
that, as a result, might refrain from
exercising its own sovereign right to
impose a tribal tax to support its
infrastructure needs. See id. at 2043–44
(finding that State and local taxes
greatly discourage tribes from raising tax
revenue from the same sources because
the imposition of double taxation would
impede tribal economic growth).
Just like BIA’s surface leasing
regulations, tribal regulations under the
HEARTH Act pervasively cover all
aspects of leasing. See Guidance for the
Approval of Tribal Leasing Regulations
under the HEARTH Act, NPM–TRUS–
29 (effective Jan. 16, 2013) (providing
guidance on Federal review process to
ensure consistency of proposed tribal
regulations with Part 162 regulations
and listing required tribal regulatory
provisions). Furthermore, the Federal
government remains involved in the
tribal land leasing process by approving
the tribal leasing regulations in the first
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:29 Aug 25, 2015
Jkt 235001
instance and providing technical
assistance, upon request by a tribe, for
the development of an environmental
review process. The Secretary also
retains authority to take any necessary
actions to remedy violations of a lease
or of the tribal regulations, including
terminating the lease or rescinding
approval of the tribal regulations and
reassuming lease approval
responsibilities. Moreover, the Secretary
continues to review, approve, and
monitor individual Indian land leases
and other types of leases not covered
under the tribal regulations according to
the Part 162 regulations.
Accordingly, the Federal and tribal
interests weigh heavily in favor of
preemption of State and local taxes on
lease-related activities and interests,
regardless of whether the lease is
governed by tribal leasing regulations or
Part 162. Improvements, activities, and
leasehold or possessory interests may be
subject to taxation by the Squaxin Island
Tribe.
Through the Congressionallyauthorized Land Buy Back Program for
Tribal Nations, the Squaxin Island Tribe
has recovered the equivalent of more
than 155 acres of land in trust. This
initiative reflects the Federal policy of
reducing the problem of fractionated
interests in land and restoring tribal
homelands. The approval of tribal
leasing regulations has the potential to
expand tribal sovereignty and increase
tribal economic development on some
of these newly consolidated lands.
Dated: August 20, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015–21151 Filed 8–24–15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[156A2100DD/AAKC001030/
A0A501010.999900 253G]
HEARTH Act Approval of Makah Indian
Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation
Regulations
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
On August 18, 2015, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved
the Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah
Indian Reservation leasing regulations
under the HEARTH Act. With this
approval, the Tribe is authorized to
enter into the following type of leases
without BIA approval: Residential,
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
business, wind and solar development,
and other authorized purposes.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cynthia Morales, Office of Trust
Services—Division of Realty, Bureau of
Indian Affairs; Telephone (202) 768–
4166; Email cynthia.morales@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Summary of the HEARTH Act
The HEARTH (Helping Expedite and
Advance Responsible Tribal
Homeownership) Act of 2012 (the Act)
makes a voluntary, alternative land
leasing process available to tribes, by
amending the Indian Long-Term Leasing
Act of 1955, 25 U.S.C. 415. The Act
authorizes tribes to negotiate and enter
into agricultural and business leases of
tribal trust lands with a primary term of
25 years, and up to two renewal terms
of 25 years each, without the approval
of the Secretary of the Interior. The Act
also authorizes tribes to enter into leases
for residential, recreational, religious or
educational purposes for a primary term
of up to 75 years without the approval
of the Secretary. Participating tribes
develop tribal leasing regulations,
including an environmental review
process, and then must obtain the
Secretary’s approval of those regulations
prior to entering into leases. The Act
requires the Secretary to approve tribal
regulations if the tribal regulations are
consistent with the Department’s leasing
regulations at 25 CFR part 162 and
provide for an environmental review
process that meets requirements set
forth in the Act. This notice announces
that the Secretary, through the Assistant
Secretary—Indian Affairs, has approved
the tribal regulations for the Makah
Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian
Reservation.
II. Federal Preemption of State and
Local Taxes
The Department’s regulations
governing the surface leasing of trust
and restricted Indian lands specify that,
subject to applicable Federal law,
permanent improvements on leased
land, leasehold or possessory interests,
and activities under the lease are not
subject to State and local taxation and
may be subject to taxation by the Indian
tribe with jurisdiction. See 25 CFR
162.017. As explained further in the
preamble to the final regulations, the
Federal government has a strong interest
in promoting economic development,
self-determination, and tribal
sovereignty. 77 FR 72,440, 72,447–48
(December 5, 2012). The principles
supporting the Federal preemption of
State law in the field of Indian leasing
and the taxation of lease-related
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51835-51836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21151]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[156A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]
HEARTH Act Approval of Squaxin Island Tribe Regulations
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On August 20, 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
approved the Squaxin Island Tribe leasing regulations under the HEARTH
Act. With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into business
leases without BIA approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Morales, Office of Trust
Services--Division of Realty, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Telephone (202)
768-4166; Email: cynthia.morales@bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Summary of the HEARTH Act
The HEARTH (Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal
Homeownership) Act of 2012 (the Act) makes a voluntary, alternative
land leasing process available to tribes, by amending the Indian Long-
Term Leasing Act of 1955, 25 U.S.C. 415. The Act authorizes tribes to
negotiate and enter into agricultural and business leases of tribal
trust lands with a primary term of 25 years, and up to two renewal
terms of 25 years each, without the approval of the Secretary of the
Interior. The Act also authorizes tribes to enter into leases for
residential, recreational, religious or educational purposes for a
primary term of up to 75 years without the approval of the Secretary.
Participating tribes develop tribal leasing regulations, including an
environmental review process, and then must obtain the Secretary's
approval of those regulations prior to entering into leases. The Act
requires the Secretary to approve tribal regulations if the tribal
regulations are consistent with the Department's leasing regulations at
25 CFR part 162 and provide for an environmental review process that
meets requirements set forth in the Act. This notice announces that the
Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, has
approved the tribal regulations for the Squaxin Island Tribe.
II. Federal Preemption of State and Local Taxes
The Department's regulations governing the surface leasing of trust
and restricted Indian lands specify that, subject to applicable Federal
law, permanent improvements on leased land, leasehold or possessory
interests, and activities under the lease are not subject to State and
local taxation and may be subject to taxation by the Indian tribe with
jurisdiction. See 25 CFR 162.017. As explained further in the preamble
to the final regulations, the Federal government has a strong interest
in promoting economic development, self-determination, and tribal
sovereignty. 77 FR 72440, 72447-48 (December 5, 2012). The principles
supporting the Federal preemption of State law in the field of Indian
leasing and the taxation of lease-related interests and activities
applies with equal force to leases entered into under tribal leasing
regulations approved by the Federal government pursuant to the HEARTH
Act.
Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. 465, preempts
State and local taxation of permanent improvements on trust land.
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation v. Thurston County, 724
F.3d 1153, 1157 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Mescalero Apache Tribe v.
Jones, 411 U.S. 145 (1973)). In addition, as explained in the preamble
to the revised leasing regulations at 25 CFR part 162, Federal courts
have applied a balancing test to determine whether State and local
taxation of non-Indians on the reservation is preempted. White Mountain
Apache Tribe v. Bracker, 448 U.S. 136, 143 (1980). The Bracker
balancing test, which is conducted against a backdrop of ``traditional
notions of Indian self-government,'' requires a particularized
examination of the relevant State, Federal, and tribal
[[Page 51836]]
interests. We hereby adopt the Bracker analysis from the preamble to
the surface leasing regulations, 77 FR at 72447-48, as supplemented by
the analysis below.
The strong Federal and tribal interests against State and local
taxation of improvements, leaseholds, and activities on land leased
under the Department's leasing regulations apply equally to
improvements, leaseholds, and activities on land leased pursuant to
tribal leasing regulations approved under the HEARTH Act. Congress's
overarching intent was to ``allow tribes to exercise greater control
over their own land, support self-determination, and eliminate
bureaucratic delays that stand in the way of homeownership and economic
development in tribal communities.'' 158 Cong. Rec. H. 2682 (May 15,
2012). The HEARTH Act was intended to afford tribes ``flexibility to
adapt lease terms to suit [their] business and cultural needs'' and to
``enable [tribes] to approve leases quickly and efficiently.'' Id. at
5-6.
Assessment of State and local taxes would obstruct these express
Federal policies supporting tribal economic development and self-
determination, and also threaten substantial tribal interests in
effective tribal government, economic self-sufficiency, and territorial
autonomy. See Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community, 134 S. Ct. 2024,
2043 (2014) (Sotomayor, J., concurring) (determining that ``[a] key
goal of the Federal Government is to render Tribes more self-
sufficient, and better positioned to fund their own sovereign
functions, rather than relying on Federal funding''). The additional
costs of State and local taxation have a chilling effect on potential
lessees, as well as on a tribe that, as a result, might refrain from
exercising its own sovereign right to impose a tribal tax to support
its infrastructure needs. See id. at 2043-44 (finding that State and
local taxes greatly discourage tribes from raising tax revenue from the
same sources because the imposition of double taxation would impede
tribal economic growth).
Just like BIA's surface leasing regulations, tribal regulations
under the HEARTH Act pervasively cover all aspects of leasing. See
Guidance for the Approval of Tribal Leasing Regulations under the
HEARTH Act, NPM-TRUS-29 (effective Jan. 16, 2013) (providing guidance
on Federal review process to ensure consistency of proposed tribal
regulations with Part 162 regulations and listing required tribal
regulatory provisions). Furthermore, the Federal government remains
involved in the tribal land leasing process by approving the tribal
leasing regulations in the first instance and providing technical
assistance, upon request by a tribe, for the development of an
environmental review process. The Secretary also retains authority to
take any necessary actions to remedy violations of a lease or of the
tribal regulations, including terminating the lease or rescinding
approval of the tribal regulations and reassuming lease approval
responsibilities. Moreover, the Secretary continues to review, approve,
and monitor individual Indian land leases and other types of leases not
covered under the tribal regulations according to the Part 162
regulations.
Accordingly, the Federal and tribal interests weigh heavily in
favor of preemption of State and local taxes on lease-related
activities and interests, regardless of whether the lease is governed
by tribal leasing regulations or Part 162. Improvements, activities,
and leasehold or possessory interests may be subject to taxation by the
Squaxin Island Tribe.
Through the Congressionally-authorized Land Buy Back Program for
Tribal Nations, the Squaxin Island Tribe has recovered the equivalent
of more than 155 acres of land in trust. This initiative reflects the
Federal policy of reducing the problem of fractionated interests in
land and restoring tribal homelands. The approval of tribal leasing
regulations has the potential to expand tribal sovereignty and increase
tribal economic development on some of these newly consolidated lands.
Dated: August 20, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-21151 Filed 8-24-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
