Proposed revisions to regulations dealing with the tribal purchase of certain property interests of decedents under special laws applicable to the Yakima Tribes of Washington, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho are being published in the Federal Register, the Department of the Interior's Office of Hearings and Appeals announced today.
The proposed revisions, which incorporate suggestions offered by the tribes concerned, are intended to improve procedures for administration of the tribal purchase statutes and to simplify language in the regulations.
The two major changes are: (1) blood quantum and enrollment in a tribe will not be contested before an Administrative Law Judge but instead will be determined by the official tribal roll which will be binding on the Judge;
(2) valuation of the property taken for purposes of just compensation under the tribal purchase statutes will no longer be determined as of the date of inspection but instead will be made as of the date of taking by a tribe.
The date of taking occurs when a tribe files a written notice of election with the Superintendent along with payment of at least 10 percent of the appraised value.
Written comments, suggestions or objections should be submitted within
60 days after publication of the proposed revisions in the Federal Register.
Such comments should be addressed to the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 4015 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22203.
