National Indian Gaming Commission 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 18, 2010, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) published a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation, 75 FR 70680. The Commission announced to the public a comprehensive review of all its regulations, sought responses to many general and specific questions about its regulations, and announced a schedule of consultations. This notice adds two consultations to the schedule for January 2012. Should any further changes to the consultation schedule be necessary, the Commission will announce them in the Federal Register and on its Web site, www.nigc.gov.

This action proposes to amend NIGC regulations to include a graduated pre-enforcement process through which a tribe may come into compliance before an enforcement action is taken by the Chair. Voluntary compliance is the goal of the Commission. This amendment sets forth how Commission staff and tribes may address potential or existing compliance issues. The amendment retains the Chair's authority to issue an enforcement action at the Chair's discretion. The amendment also modifies this Part to allow a temporary closure order when there is clear and convincing evidence that a gaming operation defrauds a tribe. The current regulation provides for the issuance of a temporary closure order when there is clear and convincing evidence that a gaming operation defrauds a tribe or a customer. The Commission believes this issue has been adequately addressed by ordinance requirements of the IGRA and NIGC regulations, because tribes must include in their ordinances a dispute resolution procedure to address issues where a customer believes she or he has been defrauded. If the tribe fails to follow their ordinance, enforcement action may be taken. Finally, current regulations do not provide specificity for when an enforcement action becomes final, such as when a notice of violation is issued and there is no appeal filed or settlement agreement reached. The proposed amendment clarifies that an enforcement action becomes final agency action and a final order of the Commission if no appeal is filed or a settlement agreement reached.

This action proposes to amend NIGC regulations to include tribes, wholly owned tribal entities, and national banks that are already federally regulated or required to undergo a background investigation and licensure by a state or tribe pursuant to a tribal- state compact as entities that the Chair may exercise discretion regarding the submission of information and background investigations. This process may provide for a streamlined review for such entities in the background investigation process required for management contracts. The proposed revision may reduce duplication of efforts while maintaining the integrity of NIGC review. The proposal maintains the Chair's discretion in determining which entities should be allowed to proceed through an expedited background investigation. This amendment has been included in this proposed rule. The Commission also considered revising its regulations to clarify that a management contractor should be required to submit background information when the contract is for management of both Class II and Class III gaming activities. Many public comments noted that it was not a necessary revision. The Commission agrees with those public comments and does not propose that clarification.

This action proposes to amend our regulations to provide for an investigation completion letter to be issued to a Tribe if the Agency's authorized staff will not recommend the commencement of an enforcement proceeding against a respondent.

The purpose of this document is to change the date and location for the Tribal consultation scheduled for November 14-15, 2011 at the Spa Resort Casino, Palms Springs, California to November 14, 2011 in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The National Indian Gaming Commission (``NIGC'') announces the delay of the effective date on the final rule for Minimum Internal Control Standards for Class II Gaming. The final rule was first published in the Federal Register on October 10, 2008. The Commission delayed the effective date for portions of the final rule on October 9, 2009, and September 10, 2010. With this document, the Commission further delays the effective date in order to allow the Commission time to convene a Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC), to receive and review input from the TAC, and to thoroughly review comments from the public on any potential amendments to the regulations.

On November 18, 2010, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation advising the public that the NIGC was conducting a comprehensive review of its regulations and requesting public comment on the process for conducting the regulatory review. On April 4, 2011, after holding eight consultations and reviewing all comments, NIGC published a Notice of Regulatory Review Schedule setting out a consultation schedule and process for review. The purpose of this document is to cancel four scheduled tribal consultations.

On November 18, 2010, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation advising the public that the NIGC was conducting a comprehensive review of all its regulations and requesting public comment on the process for conducting the regulatory review. On April 4, 2011, after holding eight consultation meetings and reviewing all comments, NIGC published a Notice of Regulatory Review Schedule setting out detailed consultation schedules and review processes. NIGC divided the regulations to be reviewed into five groups, and each group will be reviewed in three phases, the Drafting Phase, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking phase, and the Notice of Final Rule Phase. The purpose of this document is to add regulatory groups to five scheduled tribal consultations.

On November 18, 2010, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation advising the public that the NIGC was conducting a comprehensive review of all regulations promulgated to implement the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The review identified in the Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation was also prepared in order to submit the NIGC's Semi- Annual Regulatory Review to the Federal Register in April 2011 as set forth in Executive Order 12866 entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq. The NIGC held eight consultations during January and February 2011 and invited written comments to be submitted by February 12, 2011. Comments received and transcripts of the consultations are available on the NIGC Web site. The NIGC reviewed all comments received and created this comprehensive regulatory review agenda schedule based on the input received.