Indian Affairs Bureau October 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are renewing the information collection found in the general grazing regulations. The purpose of this data collection is to ensure that grazing regulations are administered for the benefit of Indian tribes and individual Indians. We invite your comments on this renewal of OMB Control No. 1076-0157.

This notice announces that the Information Collection Request for Documented Petitions for Federal Acknowledgment as an Indian Tribe will expire December 31, 2006. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are seeking comments on this information collection before we request extension from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

This notice informs the public of the Secretary's approval of the Tribal-State Compact between the State of Oklahoma and Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) instead of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed operations and maintenance of the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project upon transfer. This notice also announces a public comment period. The purpose of this notice and public comment period is to obtain additional suggestions and information from other agencies and the public regarding BIA's intention to prepare an EA instead of an EIS. Because the BIA has already held public meetings to satisfy scoping requirements for preparation of an EIS, and the subject matter of the EA is identical, at this time, the BIA does not intend to hold additional public meetings. However, if the need for additional public meetings becomes evident through public comment or otherwise, the BIA will hold additional public meetings.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs proposes to establish procedures that an Indian tribe must follow in seeking to conduct gaming on lands acquired after October 17, 1988. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows Indian tribes to conduct class II and class III gaming activities on land acquired after October 17, 1988, only if the land meets certain exceptions. This proposed rule establishes a process for submitting and considering applications from Indian tribes seeking to conduct class II or class III gaming activities on lands acquired in trust after October 17, 1988.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), with the cooperation of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), intends to collect information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed 61 acre fee-to- trust land transfer in Jackson County, Mississippi, and for the proposed use of that land, together with an adjacent 40 acre tract of Choctaw Reservation land in the same county, for a casino project. The purpose of the proposed action is to help meet land base and economic needs of the MBCI. This notice also announces a public scoping meeting to identify potential issues, alternatives and content for inclusion in the EIS.