OPA

"My meeting with the Governors today was a positive one, and I greatly appreciate their input. The Governors were clear in stating their positions, and I was equally clear in stating that I need to hear from other interests before deciding what, if any, policy changes are needed. I also made clear my belief that most ot these issues are best resolved by bilateral negotiations between states and tribes, as intended under the Indian Gaming Regulation Act, and that there is room for compromise. Our discussion was very helpful, but no commitments were made."

"I will continue to seek input from all sides in this debate, and will continue the search for a consensus position to which all parties can agree."

"I look forward to my meeting tomorrow with tribal leaders."

"I appreciated the opportunity to hear from tribal leaders from across the country. Their input provided an important picture of the economic benefits reservations have gained from Indian Gaming."

"I want to continue to gather information from parties interested in this issue, and I continue to believe these issues are best resolved by bilateral negotiations between states and tribes as intended under the Indian Gaming Regulation Act, and that the Act provides room for compromise."

"Today's meeting was a step forward as was yesterday's discussion with the governors. From this point forward, I will continue to seek out a consensus position to which all parties can agree."

The Interior Department's Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, John Fritz, ruled today that the attempted removal June 2 of eight members of the business committee of the Wisconsin Winnebago Indian Tribe would not be recognized because procedures required by the tribe's constitution had not been followed.

"We decline to recognize the attempted June 2 removal," Fritz said, "but will recognize the results of a special general council removal hearing conducted in accordance with Wisconsin Winnebago law."

Fritz added that he was sending Fred Ragsdale, a Chemehuevi Indian from the law school faculty at the University of New Mexico, as a special representative from the Department to work with responsible members of the tribe for the conduct of a special general council meeting. Ragsdale has successfully helped other tribal groups resolve internal governmental problems.

In a letter to the attorney of the Winnebago factional leaders, Fritz said that Ragsdale's efforts would be aimed at helping them achieve mutually agreeable solutions to tribal problems.

Fritz identified three problems to be resolved:

1. Correctly conducting a general council to consider the removal charges in accordance with the tribal constitution;
2. Establishing a suitable body for the management of the tribe's bingo operation, including appropriate accounting and oversight controls; and
3. Revising and clarifying the tribal constitution.

Fritz concluded his letter to the tribal representatives by saying that he expected the general council hearing to be called quickly. He said the Department, if necessary, would call the hearing under Section 3 of Article VII of the tribal constitution.

Interior Secretary William Clark today formally transferred the 44-acre site of the former Albuquerque Indian School to the 19· Indian Pueblos of New Mexico.

In ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol, the Secretary witnessed acceptance of the deed to the property by representatives of the 19 Pueblos. Ken Smith Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, earlier this month executed the quitclaim deed which stipulated that acceptance of the property by the Pueblos must be completed no later than August 15.

"This is a giant acquisition for the Indian Pueblos of New Mexico and provides these tribal governments with the basis for additional revenue generation through possible economic development projects," Secretary Clark said.

"I am proud to be a part of these actions that mean so much to the Indians of New Mexico. Additional development on this property should provide employment for members of the Pueblos and other local citizens, lessen tribal dependence on Federal funds and programs and reduce the Federal presence, all of which are objectives of this Administration's Indian policy," he added.

Initial use of the property will be for the continued operation and administration of programs under contract by the Pueblos for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Labor and Commerce. In addition, the new owners will develop the property for commercial uses.

Secretary Clark met in December with representatives of the New Mexico Pueblos. As a result of that meeting, the Pueblos submitted a revised version of their 1981 application for the property, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs began an intensive study of the application. After appraisal of the property, an environmental assessment of the effects of the proposed transfer and development of covenants for the protection of historical resources, the final paperwork was presented for Assistant Secretary Smith's decision in early July.

The three original remaining buildings on the former Albuquerque Indian School property are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The BIA operated a school for Indian students on the property before transferring the students to Santa Fe in 1980.

The BIA operated a school for Indian students on the property before transferring the students to Santa Fe in 1980.

President Clinton's fiscal year 1994 budget for the Department of the Interior calls for significant new investments in National Parks and natural resource protection, as well as scientific efforts to help the nation protect endangered species without hurting local economies.

$7.6 billion is requested for programs funded through the annual appropriations process, an eight percent increase over the 1993 enacted level. The budget calls for total spending of $9.5 billion, an increase of more than $500 million over Interior's 1993 funding. Included are significant investments in education, self-determination and safety on Indian reservations and substantial administrative savings throughout the Department.

The Department's shift in priorities from development to a greater balance between conservation and development is reflected in the 18% increase in operations funding-for the Fish and Wildlife Service and the 19% increase for operations of the National Park Service.

"This budget, more than anything else, is an investment budget and it is a sound investment for the American taxpayers," said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. "This will give us the kind of return that will not only be evident in the next year or two, but will pay off for the next generation as well."

"We're finding the right balance," Secretary Babbitt said. "In the past decade, Interior's leaders assumed this was a development agency, forgetting the responsibility to protect our public lands. This shift in budget priorities helps us fulfill the role of responsible stewards."

The budget request was developed by starting with the current year's appropriations, reflecting the Administration's commitment to work cooperatively with Congress. In the previous two Administrations, Interior's budget requests were continually scaled back to far below the previous year's appropriated amounts. Congress then labored to reinstate funds to reflect long established national priorities.

"This budget uses as its starting point the level of funding Congress provided for us during this current fiscal year," said Secretary Babbitt. "We've taken ideology and gamesmanship out of the equation, and are focusing our energies on the lands and resources entrusted to our care. The usual gridlock is no more."

The budget includes $107 million in savings. Of this, $65 million is saved by reducing the number of positions by 2. 5%, putting the Department on track to meet the President's goal of 4% staff reductions by the end of 1995. Administrative cost reductions of 3% will lead to savings of $42 million; the President has pledged that the Cabinet will reduce administrative costs by 14% over four years.

"We've brought in people with very strong management skills," said Secretary Babbitt. "They will determine where we can cut and where it makes sense to invest. This Department is staffed with high quality career employees, and they can make taxpayer dollars go much further. What has been missing in the past is clear direction and a sense of mission that all employees can share."

Science as an Investment

The budget proposes significant increases for the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), much of it in scientific research and applications which can help the Department work to protect species while at the same time avoid economic disruptions which are sometimes blamed on the Endangered Species Act.

"We've got to use science to help us plan ahead, " said Secretary Babbitt. "Recent leaders in this Department have failed to act, allowing a crisis to develop and letting the courts determine how we protect threatened wildlife. We're refusing to let that continue. These investments in science will help government leaders at all levels to be better at planning ahead. It will give greater certainty to local economies and local investors."

''Quite often people think of government investments only in the sense of roads, bridges and schools," said Secretary Babbitt.

"But some of the greatest returns on spending have come from scientific research. That will be one of the great legacies decades from now when people consider the Clinton Administration's Interior Department."

The FWS' s endangered species program is in line for an increase of $30 million, or 65%. This includes funds for "prelisting" activities which are designed to help protect species before they become officially listed as endangered or threatened. These funds will also be used to draft "recovery plans" for the lengthy backlog of endangered species for which no recovery plans exist.

"These funds may become the building block for a National Biological survey," said Secretary Babbitt, referring to a draft proposal to place much of Interior's research biology functions under one roof. That effort would be done to provide an anticipatory, proactive biological science program to enable land and resource managers to develop comprehensive ecosystem management strategies to minimize conflicts, litigation and economic costs.

A proposed increase of $14.5 million for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) would be used to enhance the National Water Quality Assessment program. Also, a $12.6 million increase in a one-time investment to expand the USGS EROS Data Center will help handle an expected ten-fold increase in the reception, manipulation and distribution of remote-sensing data from NASA satellites.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will also play a much greater role in helping the Department protect at-risk species. The Bureau will receive an increase of $24 million for renewable resources management activities. This includes a $7 million, 58% increase in the Bureau's efforts to improve riparian areas, the green plant corridors along streams.

The Bureau of Reclamation's budget proposes to spend $34 million from the new Central Valley Project Restoration Fund to improve fish and wildlife habitat in California. As authorized by legislation enacted in October 1992, this proposal is financed by additional charges on project beneficiaries.

Investments in Parks and Public Lands

The budget proposes a 19 percent increase for National Park service (NPS) operations, for a total request of $1. 5 billion. The NPS is focusing efforts on restoring existing parks, with funding increases for every existing park.

The budget proposes significant infrastructure maintenance and repair work for the startling number of parks which have fallen into disrepair. It includes increases to help make the workforce more professional, and offers the first request in a dozen years for the Urban Park and Recreational Fund, which is targeted at developing and maintaining programs and facilities in urban areas. Many of these proposed changes come directly from the recommendations of the NPS 75th Anniversary Symposium, held in Vail, CO.

The Department's budget calls for $144 million in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, down from $221 million during the current fiscal year. The budget calls for added staff to increase the Department's capability to conduct land exchanges to benefit all bureaus.

"The President is delivering on his promise of protecting and enhancing our National Parks," said Secretary Babbitt. "In the stimulus package, we chose to invest money to address the huge backlog of repairs that have piled up in our Parks. We've continued that approach with this budget. While we would all wish to have more funds for such programs as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, in 1994 we believe the best use of funds is to take care of, and repair, the Parks we now have."

Investments in Tribal Lands

The Department proposes a 64% increase, for a total of $18 million, for the repair of high risk dams on Indian reservations. Of the top 100 high-hazard dams on the Department's list,. 44 are on Indian reservations.

The budget proposes $200 million for Indian Land and Water Claims Settlements. These settlements, agreed to by congress, resolve long-standing claims to water and lands by Indian Tribes.

"This is another case of breaking the gridlock," said Secretary Babbitt. "Under this new system, we bring consistency and predictability to the process. Now, Indian Tribes and allottees, non-Indian water users, water districts and others will know the annual limits on possible payments for all claims. It helps all parties in negotiations."

The Broader Budget Context

"This budget request should be considered in the context of other objectives the Administration is pursuing," said Secretary Babbitt. "We are pushing aggressively to charge market prices for grazing on federal lands, and I'll hold hearings in the West on that topic later this month. We have committed to eliminating below-cost timber sales and will continue to bring market principles to the distribution of federally subsidized water. We' re pushing to gain royalties on hard rock mining, and I'm confident it will happen in this session of Congress."

"A few weeks back, President Clinton appealed to all Americans to make contributions in the national interest, 11 said Secretary Babbitt.” This Administration has no intention of amending that statement to exclude mining corporations, timber companies, cattle ranchers and farmers irrigating with subsidized water."

Moderate visitor fee increases will be instituted in some of the National Parks and other recreation areas. Fees will not be increased at parks close to urban centers, where many users tend to be from poor families. Increases are most likely at "destination parks," where families have often already spent significant amounts of money just to reach the park boundaries.

Interior Assistant Secretary Ken Smith has denied the request of an Oklahoma tribe to have off-reservation land given U.S. trust status to allow the tribe to operate a bingo game free of state regulation.

In rejecting the request of the Kaw Tribe to have five acres of land in Kay County, Oklahoma, taken in trust by the United States, Smith said he considered the legal and political impact on all tribes, not just the tribe making the request.

Smith told M.M. Chouteau, chairman of the Kaw tribal business committee, in an August 17, letter, that he did "not believe that the Department should necessarily extend trust status to parcels of land located off-reservation solely for the purpose of accommodating these (bingo) activities."

Smith explained in his letter that the Secretary of the Interior has discretionary authority to take lands in trust for Indian tribes, but Departmental regulations set forth a requirement that off-reservation acquisitions should be "made only under exceptional circumstances" and "to further certain essential tribal programs."

Generally, when lands are taken in trust for a tribe, they are within the boundaries of a reservation or contiguous to it.

In recent months, since high stakes bingo games have become an important source of revenue for some tribes, there has been publicity about the possibility of establishing new reservation areas for bingo purposes in a number of communities. A town in Ohio, for example, has offered land to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and two cities in Minnesota have offered land to tribes in that state.

The Assistant Secretary said that each request for off-reservation lands to be put into trust will be evaluated on its own merits. He added that in the Kaw request, particular attention was given to the use intended for the land and potential jurisdictional conflicts.

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will brief the news media Thursday, April 8 at 1 p.m. on the President's FY 1994 budget request for the Department of the Interior. The briefing will be held in the auditorium of the South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Ave. NW.

At 3 p.m., Interior's Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Eddie Brown will brief constituent groups, Indian tribal representatives, and the Indian media on the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget request. The meeting will be held in the Secretary's Conference Room, Room 5160, Main Interior Building, 1849 C st. NW.

A reminder that a picture identification card is required for entrance at both locations. If you need further information, please call me at 202 208-7315.

Carl Shaw Director of Public Affairs

The Department of the Interior will conduct a series of hearings in late November and early December on the status of Alaska Natives and the implementation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971.

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kenneth L. Smith will preside over hearings at Fairbanks, November 27; Bethel, November 28; and Juneau, November 30.

Deputy under Secretary William P. Horn will conduct hearings in Alaska at Nome, December 3, and Anchorage, December 4.

The purpose of the hearings is to gather views, opinions, information and recommendations to consider in the preparation of a report to Congress, required by the Settlement Act.

A 600-page draft report was sent in August to more than 250 representatives of Native organizations and other interested persons for review and comment.

Assistant Secretary Smith said the "report is of major importance to the Alaska Natives and the State because of its impact on future Congressional actions, including possible modifications of the ANCSA provisions."

Under ANCSA the Alaska Natives received about 44 million acres of land and about $1 billion in exchange for their aboriginal land rights. The act created 13 regional corporations and about 200 village corporations to receive and administer the Native property.

Information about the hearings, including time and place, will be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers throughout Alaska.

Persons wishing to testify and those seeking further information should contact Glen Robertson or Liz Rummell in the Bureau of Indian Affairs area office, Federal Building, Juneau, Alaska 99802 (907/586-7177) or any BIA agency office in Alaska.

Interior Secretary William Clark announced today that Kenneth L. Smith, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior, has submitted his resignation to President Reagan, effective December 7.

A Wasco Indian from the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, Smith was the first Indian from a reservation background to direct the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Before coming to Washington in 1981 he served for ten years as the general manager of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation.

Secretary Clark _said, "This Administration has been well served by Ken Smith, and he will be remembered for his many accomplishments and by all who had the opportunity to work with him.

In his resignation letter, Smith noted that he had fulfilled his commitment to serve a full term and it is time for me to take on new challenges and opportunities.

Smith praised President Reagan for his Indian policy which "returned decision making authority to the tribal governments" and for his support of “innovative efforts in developing the economies on reservations."

In October of this year, Smith was honored by the United Indian Development Association as the 1984 Jay Silverheels Achievement Award winner for his significant contributions to the Indian community.

Smith, 49, grew up on the Warm Springs Reservation. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 1959, he went to work for the Confederated Tribes as an accountant and subsequently became controller and then general manager.

At Senate confirmation hearings in 1981, Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield testified that Smith had "utilized his managerial and organizational skills to make the (Warm Springs) reservation a model of economic success with more than 1,000 persons employed and an annual payroll of more than $10 million."

Throughout his term of office, Smith constantly stressed the need for tribes to establish sound, stable tribal governments to provide leadership for tribal programs and to create the environment for economic development on the reservation.

In a June 1984 talk to the National Tribal Chairmen's Association, he "There are breakdowns and insufficiencies and other problems in the BIA and on reservations -- and I am terribly concerned about them, just as you are determined to do whatever I can to eliminate them -- except that I won't go back to the old paternalistic band aid approach that covers up the symptom and does nothing to address the real problems. We are still convinced that Indian self-determination is the most effective policy for producing real change and real improvement in Indian reservation life."

Smith expects to serve as a consultant at Interior for the next month or two. He has announced no other future plans, but indicated he expects to return to Oregon.

President Bill Clinton's fiscal year 1994 budget for the Bureau of Indian Affairs proposes to spend $2.4 billion, an increase of $261.3 million over the current year, according to documents released today by the Department of the Interior. This is a significant change from budget requests of the last decade, which often proposed substantial funding reductions for the Bureau.

"With this budget, the Clinton Administration is making sound investments to improve both safety and education on reservations," said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. "We've also taken major steps toward the settlement of Indian tribal water rights claims."

The major increase in current appropriations is the establishment of a $200 million fund to cover Indian land and water rights claims settlements. The FY 1994 request is the first of five $200 million payments to be made into the fund. For 1994, the funds will be used for those settlements already enacted by Congress. For 1995-98, subject to appropriation, $200 million per year would be available for funding the out-year costs of enacted settlements and for future land and water settlements negotiated by the Administration and enacted by Congress.

Another major proposed increase is the repair of high risk dams on Indian reservations. The 1994 budget proposes a total program of $18 million, 64 percent more than the 1993 appropriation. Of the top 100 high-hazard dams on the Department's list, 44 are on Indian reservations; more than half of these are in poor or unsatisfactory condition. During the past two years BIA has made significant progress in accomplishing deficiency verification analyses and design for corrective actions. "The increased funds put the BIA in a position to move forward with design and construction contracts for dam modifications," Babbitt said.

Corrective action will be completed on Ganado Dam in Arizona and Pablo Dam in Montana. Final design will be completed on six other dams: Equalizer Dam in Idaho; He Dog Dam, Kyle Dam, and Parmelee Dam in South Dakota; Weber Dam in Nevada; and Acomita Dam in New Mexico. Conceptual design will be undertaken on an additional three dams: Dulce Dam in New Mexico, East Fork Dam in Montana, and Indian Scout Dam in South Dakota. The Administration is committed to providing a total of $138 million for this effort during the next five years.

The request for Operation of Indian Programs (OIP) which encompasses the BIA's day-to-day operating programs is $1.47 billion, an increase of $130.9 million. The program areas with major increases are education, self-determination, management improvements, and human services.

Funds for education of Indian children in BIA's 184 funded schools, is increased by $51.4 million over FY 1993. Program increases include $33.8 million for the Indian school equalization formula, $3 million for student transportation, $2 million for early childhood development, $8.5 million for administrative cost grants, and $4.2 million for school operations and maintenance. The requested funding level will support the significant increase in enrollment expected to continue in BIA schools. Enrollment in FY 1993 increased by five percent to 43,700 students. Tribally controlled community colleges will also receive an increase of $2.4 million which will provide for additional curricula and a higher per student funding level.

Tribal Priority Allocations increased by $33 million. Funding priorities for these programs are determined by the tribes. The program gives tribes the flexibility to prioritize their budgets according to their unique situations. Program increases include a general increase of $10 million, an inflation adjustment of $2 million, $5 million for Indian Child Welfare Act implementation, and $1.4 million for operation of six new juvenile detention centers. To provide sufficient contract support for expansion of contracted programs, contract support funds are increased by $25 million in OIP.

An increase of $22 million is requested to improve BIA management and accountability, including $7 million for trust funds reconciliation and management, $1 million for Indian gaming management, $3.3 million for financial management improvements, $2.5 million for automatic data processing decentralization, and $1. 7 million for land records automation. An increase of $1 million will support additional Area office procurement staff primarily associated with additional road construction projects funded from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and P.L. 93-638 tribal contracts. A $1 million increase is also requested in construction program management to begin addressing replacement of an automated system for the facilities programs. Further increases of $5.5 million will be dedicated to strengthening management in areas such as property management, bureau directives, and Chief Financial Officer Act requirements.

Human services increases focus on Indian child welfare and welfare reform. An additional. $6.5 million is requested to start up the tribal grant program and Joint BIA-Indian Health service regional assistance cente7s authorized by the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act of 1990. The Department will also provide an increase of $5 million for welfare reform. last year, Congress provided the tribes with increased flexibility and financial incentives to achieve long-term welfare reform goals, but most tribes lack the resources and expertise to develop the required tribal plans.

Most natural resources programs are funded in the budget at the previous year's enacted level. Increases include $0.35 million for rights protection implementation and $0.4 million for endangered species resources to manage Indian forests with marbled murrelet habitat. An additional $1 million is requested in environmental quality services for the Midnite Mine in Washington state. The requested increase of $4.3 million in irrigation operations and maintenance includes $2 million to prevent further deterioration of existing systems; $2 million for safety of dams operation and maintenance; and $0.3 million for the administration of the Uintah Irrigation Project in Utah.

The requested budget for construction projects in BIA is $114 million, a decrease largely due to reductions for one-time irrigation project work and the transfer of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project to the Indian land and water rights claims settlements appropriation.

Increases in the construction program include $3 million for construction contract support, $5.4 million for school improvement and repair, $2 million for jails, and $2 million for other non-education facilities. In education construction, the budget proposes $4 million for planning and design and $13 million for new school construction. With these funds, BIA anticipates completing renovation of Haskell dormitories and completing the construction of the first six schools on the new school priority list.

The Department of Transportation is proposing legislation to increase the authority for Indian road construction for FY 1994 to $199.4 million, an increase of $8.4 million in the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Trust Fund. Up to 15 percent of these funds can be used for road sealing on Indian roads.