The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians

Welcome

Fee-To-Trust ProcessPursuant to an act of Congress, the Indian Reorganization Act, authorizes acquiring land for a Tribe or individual Indian.

Secretary of the Department of Interior may take lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe generally to facilitate tribal self-determination, economic development and Indian housing.

Fee-To-Trust Process

Four General Steps for the Transfer of Land Held In Fee Title to Trust Status for the Benefit of the Tribe

Fee-To-Trust ProcessStep One – Tribe submits application to Regional

office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Land Identification and DescriptionAuthority for Acquisition (Legislation)Tribal Government AuthorizationPurpose and Need for LandTax ImplicationsTitle Report and Solicitor’s OpinionEnvironmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Protection Action (federal action requested)

Fee-To-Trust ProcessStep Two – BIA Provides Initial Notice of the Proposed Application

Governor the StateState ClearinghouseBoard of Supervisors (County)County Tax AssessorCity Council

Requesting Comment on 1) impacts to tax rolls, 2) jurisdictional problems, 3) potential for conflicts in land use. 30-day Comment Period Begins.

Fee-To-Trust Process

Step Three – BIA Reviews the Application, Comments and Documentation

BIA determines whether the application is complete and all issues addressedInformal Administrative Decision making process (consider all types of information)This information leads to the preparation of a Statement of Reasons for a final decision.

Fee-To-Trust ProcessStep Four – 30 Day Notice of Decision Period

BIA (Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs) issues a decision toapprove/disapprove application 30 days to appeal decisionAdministrative Appeal Rights to State and Local GovernmentsIf application approved and no administrative appeal is filed, notice of decision published in Federal Register and/or local newspaper for 30 day NoticeIf appeal filed, notice of decision not published until appeal process exhausted

Notice of Intent (NOI)

NOI and EIS Scoping meeting

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Notice of Intent (NOI)

The Department of Interior (DOI) & the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will be publishing the NOI in the Federal Register.

Notice of Intent (NOI)

Purpose – The scoping meeting will be conducted by the BIA Pacific Regional Office as the first step in notifying the public that the BIA has issued a Notice of Intent to proceed with the EIS process regarding the Tribes proposed project.

Notice of Intent (NOI)

The scoping meeting will cover:

The size of the proposed projectThe scope and description of the proposed project

Notice of Intent (NOI)

This scoping meeting will serve simply as a notice of the project and ask the public for their input to the environmental concerns.

Notice of Intent (NOI)

The comments will be collectedA draft EIS will be developed and once issued another public hearing will commence asking for public input as to the findings, alternatives and or analysis of impacts.

The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians

We Look Forward To Your Comments!