[Federal Register: November 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 221)]
[Notices]
[Page 64917]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17no03-119]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians
Tribal Consultation on Participation by the Office of the Special
Trustee for American Indians in the Department of the Interior
Consolidation of Agency Appraisal Functions: Reopening of Comment
Period
AGENCY: Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the period during which the Office
of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) will accept written
comments concerning potential issues related to participation by OST in
the Department of the Interior plan to consolidate agency appraisal
functions, has been reopened to be effective from the date of this
publication in the Federal Register until December 1, 2003. Pursuant to
the September 17, 2003 notice published in the Federal Register, the
period for written comments on this matter closed on November 7, 2003.
In response to tribal requests, however, OST is reopening the comment
period and extending it to December 1, 2003, to allow tribes and other
interested parties an extended opportunity to provide written comments
on this matter.
On June 19, 2003, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton announced
that real estate appraisal functions currently performed by various
agencies within the Department would be consolidated into a single
office. This action is taken in response to concerns about the
objectivity and management of appraisal functions carried out by
several agencies within the Department, and documented in reports
issued by the Department's Inspector General, the General Accounting
Office and other groups.
The goals of a consolidated appraisal organization include: To
restore public and consumer confidence in land valuations; to ensure
greater appraiser independence for unbiased valuation services that
meet the highest professional standards; and a sharing of skills and
resources throughout the Department. In addition, the consolidation is
expected to provide better coordination and consistency of appraisal
guidance, enhanced professional development of appraisers, and greater
efficiencies in contract monitoring and development.
Since July 2003, OST has participated in the Departmental action
team composed of appraisal and realty specialists from affected offices
within the Department. The action team has been meeting to determine
the best way to accomplish the consolidation, with as minimal
disruption to appraisal services as possible. Participation on this
action team, and additional discussions with the Department, indicate
that it would be in the best interest of the OST appraisal program to
join this consolidation. Specific issues unique to the appraisal of
Indian trust assets as conducted by the OST Office of Appraisal
Services, and by self-governance and self-determination tribes,
however, require special consideration. OST held four tribal
consultation sessions to discuss these issues. Two meetings were held
on September 24, 2003 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and two meetings were held on
October 28, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In response to requests for
additional time to submit written comments on the proposal to OST, the
comment period has been reopened from the date of publication to
December 1, 2003.
DATES: All comments are due by December 1, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Send or hand-deliver written comments to: Carrie Moore,
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, 1849 C Street, NW.,
Suite 5140, Washington, DC 20240. Submissions by facsimile should be
sent to (202) 208-7545.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Moore at (202) 208-4866 or Pat
Gerard at (505) 816-1313.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the consultation is to
provide Indian tribes and other interested parties with the opportunity
to comment on issues relevant to OST participation in the Department of
the Interior consolidation of agency appraisal programs.
Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish us
to withhold your name, street address, and other contact information
(such as fax or phone number) from public review or from disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently
at the beginning of your comment. We will honor your request to the
extent allowable by law. We will make available for public inspection
in their entirety all submissions from organizations or businesses, and
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials
of organizations or businesses.
This notice is published in accordance with the authority delegated
by the Secretary of the Interior to the Special Trustee for American
Indians by 209 DM 11.
Ross Swimmer,
Special Trustee for American Indians, Office of the Special Trustee for
American Indians.
[FR Doc. 03-28478 Filed 11-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P