OPA

Leon V. Langan, assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, was today designated by Commissioner Glenn L, Emmons to act as his representative in putting into effect the recommendations for reorganization recently made by the survey team which studied the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Mr. Langan will begin this assignment immediately.

Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay today said the Department has submitted for congressional consideration a series of bills providing for orderly termination of Federal administration of Indian Affairs in eight tribal jurisdictions.

The bills, prepared in compliance with House Concurrent Resolution No. 108 adopted at the last session, affect all Indians in California, Florida, and New York, also the Flatheads of Montana, the Klamath and Grand Ronde-Siletz groups of Oregon, the Turtle Mountain Chippewas of North Dakota, and four tribes under jurisdiction of the Indian Bureau’s Potawatomi Area field Office at Horton, Kansas. Two other groups designated in the Concurrent Resolution, the Menominees of Wisconsin and the Alabama-Coushattas of Texas, are covered by bills now pending from the preceding congressional session. The termination bills now before Congress cover more than 66,000 Indians in ten States, roughly one-seventh of the Indian population of the country as estimated by the Indian Bureau.

While the bills vary greatly in detail, they all provide for eventual termination of Federal trusteeship over Indian property, and would make the Indians subject to the some Federal and State laws as other citizens. Federal responsibilities for special services to these Indians, such as roads, health and education, would also be terminated. Ample time is allowed, however, for the completion of arrangements under which the Indians would receive customary services from State and local agencies on the same basis as other citizens.

The bills were developed in consultation with the tribal groups affected and many contain provisions suggested by the groups or by individual tribal members. All contain provisions designed to protect the interests of minors, incompetents and other individual Indians who will need such protection after termination of Federal trusteeship.

Whenever tribal property is involved, the bills provide the Indians with a range of choices concerning its management or disposition. One alternative is transfer of unrestricted title to a corporation or other legal entity organized by the Indians under State law. Another is liquidation of the property and distribution of the proceeds among enrolled tribal members. A third is transfer of the property to a private management trustee, chosen by the tribes. If the tribe fails to decide on one of these alternatives within the specified time limit, each of the bills authorizes the Secretary to turn the property over to a private trustee for liquidation and distribution of the proceeds., One exception to this pattern is the bill involving, the Alabama-Coushatta Indians of Texas which provides for transfer of the tribal property to the State of Texas to be held in trust for the tribe.

The bills also provide, that the Secretary will help individual Indians owning an undivided interest in trust land to partition or sell the land - a service the Indians would otherwise have to pay the courts to perform.

Distinctive features of the individual bills are summarized as follows:

The California bill, affecting an estimated 31,000 Indians of the State, provides for termination of Federal responsibilities within five years of the date of enactment. It also provides tax exemption for a limited time on land owned by minors and lifetime tax exemptions on the lands of elderly Indians. Other provisions restrict the alienation of land owned by elderly Indians without the consent of a State agency to be designated by the Governor and authorize the transfer of any irrigation facilities on Indian lands either to an irrigation district or to the landowners who use the facilities.

The western Oregon bill, covering approximately 2,000 Indians formerly under jurisdiction of the Indian Bureau's Grand Ronde-Siletz Agency, provides for termination within two years. It follows the general pattern outlined above and has no especially important distinctive features.

The Klamath bill involves roughly 2,000 Indians and provides for a three-year termination date. It makes Indian lands within the irrigation projects assessable for construction and operation costs and authorizes the Secretary to transfer operation and maintenance responsibilities for these works to an irrigation district by agreement. Pending the completion of such an agreement, Federal operation of the irrigation facilities would continue.

The Flathead bill affects about 4,200 members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and provides for a three-year termination. It makes Indian lands within the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project assessable for construction and operation and maintenance costs, and authorizes the Secretary to cancel operation and maintenance assessments that he deems to be inequitable. Additional legislation will be required to transfer operation and maintenance responsibilities on the irrigation project from the Federal Government to a local organization.

The Kansas bill covers approximately 2,400 Indians in four tribal groups – the Potawatomi and Kickapoo groups located in Kansas and the Sac and Fox and Iowa groups located partly in Kansas and partly in Nebraska. It has a two-year termination period and provides that any tribal member occupying land under an assignment from the tribe may have the privilege of buying it. It also stipulates that any land occupied by an Indian as a home site may be sold only subject to lifetime use of the site by the occupant.

The Turtle Mountain bill, involving about 8,900 Indians, is centered around a proposed program to assist the tribal members in finding employment and resettling away from the reservation. It provides for termination of the Federal trusteeship in five years out permits continuation of Federal services until the relocation program is completed.

The Florida bill affects approximately 870 Seminoles and provides for a three-year termination. It HJ.so conveys to the tribe the equitable title to sub marginal lands acquired by the Federal Government during the depression years and assigned to the tribe for use by executive order. These lands would be managed or disposed of as prescribed in the other bills.

The legislation for New York State has no specified time limit and involves more than 11 000 Indians of the Iroquois Confederation of the Six Nations including about 3,600 members of the Oneida Tribe residing in Wisconsin. These Indians have no land in Federal trusteeship and are not receiving any Federal services in such fields as health or education. The principal obligations of the Federal Government are to distribute among the Six Nations a perpetual annuity of $4,500 (partially distributed in the form of cloth) established by a treaty of 1794 and to distribute among the Seneca Indians an annuity of $6,000 established by a statute of 1831.

At the request of the Indians, the legislation was divided into two separate bills. One provides for capitalization of the $4,500 treaty annuity at three percent interest, a total of $150,000 and for payment of proper shares of this fund to each of the Six Nations. Such payment would be made, however, only with the consent of' the tribe concerned. This bill also makes inapplicable to the Indians in New York all laws of the United States, with a few exceptions, that apply uniquely to Indians and not to other citizens. The exceptions relate to special Federal statutes defining criminal and civil jurisdiction of the State over Indians and their property, regulating the leasing of Indian lands, and making State fish and game laws applicable to some of the reservations. The second New York bill provides for capitalization of the $6,000 statutory annuity at 3 percent, a total of $200,000, and for distribution of the capitalized fund, together with some miscellaneous accounts in the United States Treasury, among the Seneca Indians.

The Texas bill is H. R. 6282 which was introduced in the 1953 session of Congress. It affects about 420 members of the associated Alabama and Coushatta Tribes and has no specified time limit. In addition to transferring the tribal land to the State of Texas, it also cancels a tribal debt to the United States of approximately $39,000 which could be collected only by selling the tribal land.

The Menominee bill is H. R. 2828 now pending from the preceding congressional session. It affects approximately 3,000 Indians and provides for termination of Federal responsibilities by December 31, 1956. In the meantime the tribe would be authorized by the bill to employ specialists to plan for future management or disposition of the tribal assets. The bill also provides for immediate payment of $1,500 to each tribal member from tribal funds on deposit in the United States Treasury.

Appointment of William H. Olsen, Anchorage, Alaska, as director of the Juneau Area Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, sometimes known as the Alaska Native Service, was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay. Mr. Olsen succeeds Hugh J. Wade who was relieved of responsibilities as Area Director last November.

“The job of Area Director for the Indian Bureau in Alaska," Secretary McKay said, “is one of the most difficult and challenging assignments in the field service of the Department of the Interior, It covers a tremendous geographic area and involves many complicated problems in the fields of health, education and resources. Each of these is of deep and continuing interest to the Department. In selecting William H. Olsen for this assignment, the decision was made to have the post filled by an Alaskan fully qualified by his background of knowledge of the Territory to fulfill the duties of the office. Under Mr. Olsen’s direction I am confident that the Alaska Native Service will develop among the native peoples an outstanding citizenry prepared to make its contribution to the future growth and progress of Alaska."

The new appointee, who is 33, is a former municipal judge at Anchorage and has been practicing law in that community since 1945. During World War II, he served in the Army for five and a half years. He holds a law degree from LaSalle Extension University and was admitted to the Alaska Bar in December 1944.

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Olsen has been active in many types of civic affairs in Alaska. He served for two years as chairman of the Anchorage Chapter of the American Red Cross and was appointed chairman of Alaska World War II Veterans Board by Territorial Governor Frank Heintzelman. He was formerly national director from Alaska of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce and is now vice president of the Junior Chamber of Alaska.

Mr. Olsen is married and has six children, one of whom is now serving a minority enlistment in the United States Navy.

Transfer of 603.2 acres of land in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, together with the buildings, from jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Wisconsin Department of Public Welfare was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay.

The transferred property is part of the former Hayward Boarding School and Hospital for Indians which originally embraced a tract of 640 acres. In May 1953, the hospital and 36.8 acres of the land were transferred to the Hayward Area Memorial Hospital Association, Inc. The remainder of the property has now been turned over to the State Department of Public Welfare for public purposes.

The transfer was made subject to the Federal reservation of mineral rights and is essentially a land transaction since most of the buildings are old and dilapidated.

The proposed increase of $4.8 million in welfare assistance funds reflects the continuous rise in caseload and a small increase in unit cost. An additional 500 employable assistance recipients be enrolled in the Tribal Work Experience program during fiscal year 1973.

The Bureau’s budget calls for a total of $9.7 million for Indian housing assistance. While the bulk of new home construction on reservations is handled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development under a separate appropriation, Bureau of Indian Affairs funded programs will account for 530 new homes and 5,100 renovations.

The adult education and community development budget of $2.6 million will provide adult education and community development programs to help inadequately prepared adults obtain the educational skills necessary to improve both their employment opportunities and their abilities to contribute to the self-government of their communities. The funds will also help tribes to assume management over and responsibilities for programs) services and municipal functions which in the part have been provided for them.

To combat the problem of the chronically high unemployment rate-­ now about 40 percent with an additional 20 percent underemployed-- this budget proposes $17.3 million in funding for direct employment which would provide direct job placement efforts to over 4,080 placements in fiscal year 1973. This program is being redirected to provide training, and job opportunities on or near reservations as emphasis is placed on reservation development - assisting tribes to develop their own businesses and to bring industry to the reservations. Expansion of job development near the reservations to establish work commuting situations is also being given emphasis. To become employable many Indians need job training either school training or on-the-Job training. The 1973 budget would continue funds for these programs at $24.8 million resulting in over 6,000 job placements in that year.

Working hand-in-hand with the training and job placement programs is the new concept involving Indians called the Indian Action Team program. The general structure of the Indian Action Team program is designed to accommodate tribally developed solutions to local tribal problems in. construction and manpower training areas. Each tribe, acting through its various standing committees, may decide upon construction and training programs that meet the need of its community.

Included in the budget request is approximately $1.6 million operating costs for the preparation and coordination of the Alaska Native rolls and the increased workload for real estate services resulting from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act., (The Alaska Native Claims Act, enacted December 18, 1971, authorizes the appropriation of $12.5 million in fiscal year 1972 and $50.0 million in fiscal year'1973.)

The natural resources

The natural resources, timber, land and water are the Indians most prized possession and must be adequately protected while at the same time providing the maximum benefit to the Indian landowners.

To achieve this goal the Bureau has sought to provide progressive management services to the Indian people. In 1973, professional and sub professional services in the fields of forest and range management and soil conservation will be provided. The establishment of the water inventory and water rights protection office will fill a much needed function to insure that loss of this valuable natural resource natural their will not continue.

Interior Secretary Rogers C. B: Morton said today that he has asked Harrison Loesch, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Public Land Management, to go to Alaska and discuss with Governor William A. Egan, members of the State's Congressional Delegation, other State Officials, and representatives of the. Native Associations Interior's plans to implement the transfer of public land under the Alaska Native Claims Act.
"The Alaska Natives Claims Settlement Act is going to have a profound effect on Alaska and its people, both native and non-native, for the foreseeable future," Secretary Morton said.

"I believe that it provides us with an, opportunity to bring about far-reaching social changes to improve the lot of the individual natives, and to show the world that the American people are concerned with the issues of justice and fairplay. Now that the bill has passed, it, is highly important that Interior makes every effort to implement selections and to transfer titles to selected lands to the native associations in an, orderly and timely manner. To do this, we need the opinions and advice of the Governor and State Officials, the Alaska Congressional Delegation, and officials of the Alaska Federation of Natives and the Native Regional Associations."

"I am sending Harrison Loesch to Alaska to listen to what these people have to say, to explain our present thinking, and to assure them of our deep interest in the welfare of the State and its peoples."

Secretary Loesch said that he plans to hold two days of meetings in Anchorage. He will meet with Interior Officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management on Monday morning, February 7.

On Monday afternoon Secretary Loesch will meet with Governor Egan, Attorney General Havelock, Members of the Alaska Congressional Delegation, and officials of the Native Associations.

If sufficient public interest develops Secretary Loesch will explain Interior's plans for implementing provisions of the Native Claims Bill at a public meeting in the Sidney Laurence Auditorium on Monday evening. He will also receive public comments at this time.

On Tuesday, February 8, Secretary Loesch will meet with various interest groups in individual meetings.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Louis R. Bruce, today announced that Flore Lekanof, 45, an Aleut and Acting Director of Community Services of the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be Director of Alaska Native Affairs and assume the duties of that post immediately. In that capacity he will coordinate Bureau efforts that will result from enactment of Alaska Native land claims legislation.

In making the announcement Commissioner Bruce said: "This is just the beginning of an immensely complex involvement of the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Land Management in service to the Native people of Alaska. Other Bureaus of the department are also involved, but to a lesser extent. Among these are the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife service, Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines.

"Lekanof will coordinate Alaska Native activities throughout the Bureau and with other Bureaus."

Before coming to BIA’ s Washington Office, Lekanof was Executive Director of Alaska State Community Action Programs (ASCAP) and Chairman of the Alaska Federation of Natives. He was twice elected President of the Aleut League, was a consultant to the Alaska Federation of Natives, and taught in Bureau and Alaskan public schools.

He is active now in the Alaska Federation of Natives and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAl).

Lekanof has a B.A. from Whitworth College, Spokane, Washington, and an M.S. degree from the University of Washington.

Selection of Hans Mork Jensen, a fish biologist with 13 years' experience in the Washington State Department of Fisheries, to fill the newly established position of fisheries management specialist in the Portland area office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs was announced today by the Department of the Interior.

The new position was set up by the Bureau to provide Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest with specialized technical assistance in developing and conserving their fishery resources and making the most effective use of them commercially, Fisheries are a major undeveloped resource of Indians in the area.

Jensen, who will move into the new position on February 1, 1962, was born at Gig Harbor, Washington, in 1915 and graduated from the University of Washington in 1942, He came with the Washington State Department of Fisheries in 1948 as a biologist and served as a senior project leader working with commercial fishery management, Indian fisheries and the international aspects of the State's salmon fishery problems. His present post is assistant supervisor of the reimbursable contracts division of the Department of Fisheries. Before joining the Department he worked as a biologist with the International Fisheries Commission and held a number of other similar positions.

He is the author of several professional papers on fishery matters and has appeared as an expert on the subject in two documentary motion pictures.

In moving to take over the management of Alaska Native Industries Cooperative Association, Seattle, Wash., during recent weeks, the Department of the Interior has acted to protect the financial interests of the United States and the operating interests of stores of the native villages of Alaska, Secretary Douglas McKay said today.

The Department's action, which was approved by a substantial majority of the 33 native village corporations making up the membership of ANICA, is intended purely as a temporary measure. After the Department has gained possession of ANICA, it will operate the Association only for a short period until audits of the former management can be completed and a new management, satisfactory both to the members and the Government, is selected.

Efforts to take over the management of ANICA, a purchasing organization owned by the 33 native village stores in partnership and financed in part by Federal loans to these stores, were initiated several weeks ago after prolonged negotiations with the former manager whose contract with the Association expired December 31, 1952.

Throughout 1953 the former management was continued on a month-to-month basis until it became clear that no new contract could be consummated with the former manager which would adequately protect the financial interests of the United States and that continuation of the uncertain status of ANICA management would be seriously detrimental to the operations of the member corporations. When the former manager refused, after notification, to surrender the assets and premises of ANICA, the matter was referred to the Department of Justice for appropriate action.

ANICA was organized in 1947 to purchase commodities for stores operated by some of the more remote Eskimo and Indian villages of Alaska and to market products such as furs for them. Prior to that time purchases for the village stores were handled by the Federal Government. Organization of ANICA was part of the Government's program to improve the economic conditions of the Alaska natives and to give them increased authority and responsibility for the management of their own affairs.

The Federal Government has a direct financial interest in the operations of ANICA since it made loans to the native villages which were used in part to finance the Association. As security for these loans, the Government took an assignment of the interests of the respective members in ANICA. In acting to take over the ANICA management, the Department is exercising its prerogatives under the terms of these assignments. The native villages are currently indebted to the United States for about $500,000.

Secretary of the Interior Douglas McKay today announced organizational changes in the New Mexico offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs based on recommendations by the survey team which recently completed a study of the Bureau as well as information and advice received from the Indians, individuals and organizations of the communities affected.

Two New Mexico communities, Albuquerque and Gallup, are primarily concerned. The changes were planned to avoid disrupting the economy of these communities while achieving the broad purpose of improved field organization and economies in accordance with the survey team recommendations. While the changes will result in economies and less employees to accomplish the same work, the number of employees to be moved from Washington will result in each city continuing with the same number as are now stationed there.

In Albuquerque, the Bureau will establish a national headquarters for its buildings and utilities working serving the entire United States and Alaska. This will be in addition to the United Pueblos Agency which will remain in Albuquerque and continue to serve the 19 Indian Pueblos of New Mexico.

In Gallup the area office now operating in Window Rock and Gallup will be continued, and in addition to serving the Navajo Reservation and the Intermountain School, as at present, will serve the Indian agencies in New Mexico and Colorado. The Navajo Agency which is now operating in Window Rock and Gallup will continue in Window Rock with several subagencies established for the Navajo Reservation.

Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton today announced a fiscal year 1973 spending program $2.6 billion. Over $2.3 of this is included in the annual appropriation request to Congress, with the remainder coming from various permanent appropriations and trust funds.

Morton said: “We have revamped priorities for the coming fiscal year to enable us to use funds for those new missions and requirements that these times have bequeathed to the Department of the Interior.

“Ours is truly a department of natural resources...with a necessary concern for the human aspects of resources development,” he continued. “New program thrusts will improve environmental quality controls in resources development. They will also help provide us with the capacity to meet our increasing responsibilities in mine health and safety, recreation development, and education and economic development for Indians and people of the Territories.”

He further pointed out thatrevenue8 from sales and leasing of public lands are estimated to exceed Interior's budget requests by about a billion dollars in the fiscal year 1973. “The major increase is due to a recent court decision (involving the State of Louisiana and the U. S.) Releasing funds in escrow. Moreover, about $68 million will go to the Federal Treasury from sales of the Federal hunting stamps and collections for exercise taxes on ammunition, sports firearms and small handguns--all of which will used fish and wildlife programs.

Largest Increases for Indians and Reclamation

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, with a request of $521.8 million, presents the largest of the Interior bureau budgets. Fifty million dollars of this total is for the 1973 payment authorized under the Alaska Native Claims Act (signed by the President in December 1971). The budget also proposes a $12. 5 million supplemental appropriation in 1972 to comply with the requirement in the Act which authorizes this amount to be appropriated the year in which the Act becomes effective.

The funds for Native Claims would represent the first of a series of payments authorized, in landmark legislation that settles land claims of Alaska Natives dating back to the purchase of Alaska in 1867.

Major BIA program directions call for $174. 8 million for elementary, secondary and higher education; more than$42 million for adult employment training and placement services; and $45 million for the first phase of a new push for reservation road construction. (A list of school construction and other projects is available on request.) The overall program emphasizes BlA’s newly announced policy of reservation-by-reservation development.

The Navajo Irrigation Project, funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and constructed by the Reclamation Bureau, will receive $10.5 million for this vitally needed development--$1.5 million more than in 1972.

The largest increase in program development funds requests is for the Bureau of Reclamation, which seeking $115 million more than its current is funding. The thrust is upon a construction program that will help stimulate economies by speeding up construction of several major ongoing projects, as well as starting new ones.

A portion of the Reclamation increase is earmarked for the Colorado River Basin Project and tile Upper Colorado River Basin Fund. The added funds would also permit Reclamation to accelerate work on the Central Valley Project, California; the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado; the Palmetto Bend Project, Texas; the Mountain Park Project, Oklahoma; the Garrison Diversion Unit, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, in North, and South Dakota; the Central Utah Project, Bonneville Unit, in Utah; and the Central Arizona Project.

New water project starts are also built into the 1973 Reclamation budget request. They include the Oahe Unit in South Dakota, the Riverton Extension Unit in Wyoming, segments of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program" as well as four new loan program projects. The loan programs are: Graham-Curtis Project, Arizona; Kanawha Water District, California; Roy Water Conservancy Sub district, Utah and, San Luis Water District, California.

In the field of water resources research, the Department of the Interior is continuing its present level of activities in saline water conversion experiments and, in aid to research institutions for work in the-field of critical water problems. A Federal-State cooperative program is at present supporting more than 800 separate research projects and is providing training for 2, 000 scholars in water resources planning and protection studies. Fiscal Year '1973 requests for the Office of Saline Water are '$26. 8 million; and the Office of Water Resources Research $14. 2 million.

New Clean Energy Studies

"Clean energy" research receives' major emphasis under activities of the Bureau of Mines and the Office of Coal Research.

Mine health and safety programs, including $13 million for construction of a training academy for mine inspectors (to be located at Beckley, West Va.) account for most of the increases requested in fiscal 1973 for the Bureau of Mines. Additionally, funds are earmarked for training to establish a complement of 1,350 inspectors.

The Mines Bureau is also asking for about $1.5 million for research into removal of sulfur dioxide from smelter gases. Another $4.5 million additional over current appropriations is earmarked for construction of a pilot plant for production of pipeline quality gas from coal.

Coal gasification research will be boosted by increases requested for the Office of Coal Research (OCR). In keeping with the President's Clean Energy Message of June 1971, OCR will proceed with research in which high sulfur coals will be converted to low BTU fuel gas for gas-turbine/steam turbine electric generation. The requested fund increases will also intensify research into conversion of coal into clean liquid fuels, as well as hydrogasification development. OCR is seeking $45 million, up nearly 50% from present levels.

Earth Studies to Preserve Environment

Natural environmental frailties, and methods to counteract them, are the focus of much of Geological Survey's planned activities for the Fiscal Year 1973. Survey is requesting nearly $15 million more than its 1972 adjusted appropriations, for a total of $145. 6 million.

Earthquake hazards reduction for which $8.6 million, an increase of $7 million, is sought--will focus on identification and mapping of high risk regions and earthquake prediction and control. It is expected that zoning criteria, building codes and structural designs will be increasingly influenced by data derived from the earthquake hazards reduction program.

Offshore geologic investigations, particularly of areas with high oil and gas production potential, would be augmented by nearly $2 million additional funding, doubling the present level for this activity. The program would include marine engineering studies and studies of trace element movements in estuary areas, as well as analysis and mapping of offshore conditions.

Geothermal areas would be classified, evaluated, environmental effects of geothermal developments under a greatly expanded geothermal resources program planned by Geological Survey. The program for fiscal year 1973 calls for $2.5 million, an increase of $1.8 million over the fiscal year be classified, evaluated, and monitored for environmental effects of geothermal developments under a greatly expanded geothermal resources program planned by Geological Survey. The program for fiscal year 1973 calls for $2.5 million, an increase of $1.8 million over the fiscal 1972 appropriation.

Nearly $5 million more, for a total of $10.6 million, is being sought for support of satellite monitoring and mapping, and critical research in the field of remote sensing. This is the EROS program--Earth Resources Observation Systems.

Water pollution abatement and intensified investigations into environmental impacts of water resource programs upon fish and wildlife appear as major thrusts for fiscal 1973 in the budget requested by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Expansion of fish hatcheries (including those on Indian reservations), fish culture research and development, wildlife research, and improved visitor information centers are planned under a program that calls for '$4 million above the 1972 appropriation of $84 million.

In cooperation with the Electric Research Council, the Department of the Interior is endeavoring to improve technology and reduce/costs of placing high-voltage electrical lines underground. A budget of $1 million is proposed for fiscal year 1973.

American Heritage Focus for Parks and Recreation

Gearing up for the Bicentennial Era, the National Park Service is asking for an increase of more than $30 million for improved operations, and upkeep of national parks. NPS is also planning a construction program that includes air and water pollution control projects, the start of activities related to the Bicentennial celebration, and expansion of urban park capacities.

This massive new building and "improvement effort is designed to meet the requirements of growing millions of visitors to our national parks and historic areas. (A listing of park areas scheduled for significant design and construction activity appears in the narrative analysis for the National Park Service budget material available upon request.)

Although the bureau of Outdoor Recreation request for, Fiscal Year 1973 indicates a reduction of $61 million below funds appropriated for current fiscal year operations, the decrease does not reflect declining effort under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In 1971 the authorization for the fund was increased from $200 to $300 million. However, it was not until 1972 that appropriations were requested for the additional amount authorized; Therefore, 1972 was a "catch-up" appropriation. The request of $300 million in 1973 is for the full annual authorization. It will provide for Federal and State acquisition of lands for recreational use, particularly in areas with large population concentrations.

Leasing -- Controls and Revenues

Fund increases requested by the Bureau of Land Management--$13.7 million over the current fiscal year's appropriations-- are primarily for the following activities: stepped-up inventorying and environmental analyses; upgrading fire protection; environmental safeguards in concert with outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing schedules; surface resources protection of lands under mineral exploration; a new program of cataloging land office records for the Eastern States; and a new program to implement land, minerals and survey work in support of the Alaska Native Claims Act of 1971.

Expenditures by the Bureau of Land Management are invariably offset by substantial revenues to the U. S. Treasury and to State and county governments from mineral leasing, timber sales, grazing fees and land sales. Against a total requested appropriation of approximately $92.3 million, BLM estimates receipts of $3. 3 billion. About $98 million of these receipts will go to States and counties, and nearly $17 million will be credited to the Oregon and California Grant Land Fund.

NOTE:

Attached is a bureau- by-bureau summary of amounts requested for Fiscal Year 1973, commencing July 1, 1972.

Also attached is a list of individuals available to answer detailed inquiries relating to each bureau or office budget request.

Key people to 'call for additional information regarding Department of the Interior's 1973 FY Budget Requests.

Budget Synopsis

Fiscal Year 1973

(In thousand of dollars)

Fiscal Year 1973

A budget of $521, 853,000 is proposed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for fiscal year 1973. The amount is a net increase $102,322,000 over funding for the current fiscal year.

The increases' indicated in the new budget are designed to boost the momentum of the major goals set forth by the Administration of providing the American Indian with the opportunity and assistance to live in prosperity, dignity, and honor; and opening the way to total Indian involvement. A new thrust in fiscal year 1973 to Indian involvement is to assist those tribes which have or are developing comprehensive development plans.

Approximately $10 million of' the increase would go for, education of Indian children. The total education program will provide for the enrollment of additional Indian children in Federal schools and a more adequate level of funding for these schools. They will permit scholarship assistance for additional Indian college students and allow funding for -these students at a higher level. The program will encourage increased parental support for school programs, improved school attend­ance, tutoring of students, etc. These funds will also provide for increased Indian enrollment and increased operating costs in public school districts educating reservation Indian children.

The construction program in fiscal year 19173 includes funds for new classrooms, new buildings, project design drawings for future school projects, and the purchase of equipment for schools now under construction.

Resources management programs would be used to improve the production of natural resources, which, together with commercial and industrial development, will create many Indian employment opportunities on or near reservations. At the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, an office of Indian Water Rights has been established with the responsibility to direct all aspects of the Department's effort to protect the water rights of the American Indians; the budget request includes $1. 7 million for the water rights activities.

Indian Education

In fiscal year 1973, $174.8 million is requested.

Among other efforts it would provide program assistance for an additional 2,700 Indian students who will be attending public schools. Monies are needed to offset advances in the cost of living as well as to provide for special educational projects such as special English language teachers, bicultural classes, kindergartens, and school home coordinators. Approximately 81,000 elementary and secondary children attending public schools will benefit from this program.

Indian students are enrolling in colleges and universities in greater number each year. During fiscal year 1973, scholarship grants will be provided for 10,500 Indian men and women. The majority of students receiving assistance through the Bureau's higher education program come from homes with income below today's poverty level.

In keeping with the new thrusts, tribal Organizations are encouraged and assisted to assume the operational control of the educational programs which affect them. It is estimated that tribal groups will assume operation of three dormitories and all or part of the education program at twenty-one schools. Enrollment in Federal schools is expected to increase approximately 4,000 students for an anticipated, enrollment of 59,300. Funds being requested for Federal schools are to provide for maintenance of the current program and not for program expansion.

A new program relating to early childhood education is being initiated. This program, operating on a pilot basis, will provide parent-child centers for preschool children. The basic strategy of the program will be to capitalize on the cultural heritage of the child and it as a base for the development of a comprehensive early childhood education program. The program would focus on the entire family and would provide a continuance of education, health, and nutrition and social services.

Indian Community Services

There are about 300,000 Indian people on 82 reservations in 15 States where the local authorities have not assumed civil and/or criminal jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide for the safety and protection of these communities. An increase of $0.4 million is required to keep the program operating at the fiscal year 1972 level. An additional $0.5 million will be utilized to operate and staff with trained community members, two “community treatment centers scheduled to open during fiscal year 1973.

Emphasis at these centers will be directed at development of programs designed to prevent adult and juvenile delinquent behavior as well as to provide rehabilitative services to offenders.

The proposed increase of $4.8 million in welfare assistance funds reflects the continuous rise in caseload and a small increase in unit cost. An additional 500 employable assistance recipients be enrolled in the Tribal Work Experience program during fiscal year 1973.

The Bureau’s budget calls for a total of $9.7 million for Indian housing assistance. While the bulk of new home construction on reservations is handled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development under a separate appropriation, Bureau of Indian Affairs funded programs will account for 530 new homes and 5,100 renovations.

The adult education and community development budget of $2.6 million will provide adult education and community development programs to help inadequately prepared adults obtain the educational skills necessary to improve both their employment opportunities and their abilities to contribute to the self-government of their communities. The funds will also help tribes to assume management over and responsibilities for programs) services and municipal functions which in the part have been provided for them.

To combat the problem of the chronically high unemployment rate-­ now about 40 percent with an additional 20 percent underemployed-- this budget proposes $17.3 million in funding for direct employment which would provide direct job placement efforts to over 4,080 placements in fiscal year 1973. This program is being redirected to provide training, and job opportunities on or near reservations as emphasis is placed on reservation development - assisting tribes to develop their own businesses and to bring industry to the reservations. Expansion of job development near the reservations to establish work commuting situations is also being given emphasis. To become employable many Indians need job training either school training or on-the-Job training. The 1973 budget would continue funds for these programs at $24.8 million resulting in over 6,000 job placements in that year.

Working hand-in-hand with the training and job placement programs is the new concept involving Indians called the Indian Action Team program. The general structure of the Indian Action Team program is designed to accommodate tribally developed solutions to local tribal problems in. construction and manpower training areas. Each tribe, acting through its various standing committees, may decide upon construction and training programs that meet the need of its community.

Included in the budget request is approximately $1.6 million operating costs for the preparation and coordination of the Alaska Native rolls and the increased workload for real estate services resulting from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act., (The Alaska Native Claims Act, enacted December 18, 1971, authorizes the appropriation of $12.5 million in fiscal year 1972 and $50.0 million in fiscal year'1973.)

The Natural Resources

The natural resources, timber, land and water are the Indians most prized possession and must be adequately protected while at the same time providing the maximum benefit to the Indian landowners.

To achieve this goal the Bureau has sought to provide progressive management services to the Indian people. In 1973, professional and sub professional services in the fields of forest and range management and soil conservation will be provided. The establishment of the water inventory and water rights protection office will fill a much needed function to insure that loss of this valuable natural resource natural their will not continue.

Plans are that all efforts, will be directed to conserve the resources through proper management, to receive maximum benefits for the landowners, and to assist the, Indian people to increase use of own natural resources.

Road Construction on Indian Reservations

In fiscal year 1973, Bureau of Indian Affairs will emphasize the needs of developing adequately road systems on Indian reservations. The Bureau is requesting appropriations of $45 million in fiscal year 1973 and increase of $19.4 million. The development of Indian reservations is dependent on adequate road systems. Economic and social development, improved Indian education and health are all dependent upon roads and without them, Indians are destined for continual dependency.

Buildings and Utilities Construction Program Fiscal Year 1973

Summary of Projects

Irrigation Construction Summary Projects