T

Department of the Interior • Of

RUST 

fi ce of Special Trustee for American Indians 

MATTERS

Volume 13/Issue 3 Summer 2013

Th e U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary - Indian Aff airs 

Kevin Washburn and former Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes provided 

an update via teleconference on June 18 to tribal leaders regarding 

steps underway for implementation of the Land Buy-Back Program 

for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program). Th e program was created to 

implement the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement, 

which provided a $1.9 billion fund to purchase fractionated interests in 

trust or restricted land from willing sellers, at fair market value, within 

a ten year period. 

Following its government-to-government consultations, the 

Department has identifi ed key criteria that will determine the timing 

and process for acquiring fractionated interests from individuals 

for tribes. Th ese criteria include severity of fractionation, degree of 

ownership overlap between tracts, geographic location to maximize 

effi ciency and resources, appraisal complexity, and readiness or 

availability of resources. Th e Buy-Back Program is designed so that all 

tribal communities — including small tribes and tribes that do not 

have large numbers of fractionated land — have the opportunity to 

participate. 

Based on these factors, the Department will launch pilot eff orts with as 

many as ten reservations this year. Land research, valuation work, and 

outreach eff orts are underway at several locations, including the Pine 

Ridge, Crow, Makah, and Sisseton-Wahpeton reservations. 

Th e Department also has established purchase ceilings based on degree 

of fractionation to ensure that all qualifying tribes have the opportunity 

to participate in the Buy-Back Program. In addition, the Department 

announced a base payment of $75 per off er for landowners, regardless 

of the value of the fractionated interest. 

Look for more updates and resources this summer at www.doi.gov/

buybackprogram.

Buy-Back Program Key Criteria Set

Calls Surge to TBCC and Field Operations  People always have questions about their Indian trust accounts. 

But calls surged when the Garden City Group, claims administrator for the Cobell Settlement, sent out Trust 

Administration Class member eligibility letters for Stage II payments on May 1, 2013. The Offi ce of the Special 

Trust for American Indians (OST) Trust Benefi ciary Call Center (TBCC) and Field Operation locations were besieged 

with requests for documentation by individuals whom Garden City determined were not eligible due to 

inadequate documentation.

Stage I payments to Historical Accounting Class members, sent in December 2012, had previously precipitated 

a large number of calls to OST. In response to that demand, and anticipating increased future demand, OST 

expanded its infrastructure and staffi ng levels over the winter. 

If you need to reach OST, you may either call TBCC or contact an OST fi eld offi ce. TBCC is open Monday to 

Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon, Mountain time. The toll-free number is 1-888-678-6836. 

OST fi eld offi ce contact information is available on the OST website at www.doi.gov/ost/fto/ftoRegions.cfm.

...criteria include severity of 

fractionation, degree of 

ownership overlap between 

tracts, geographic location 

to maximize effi ciency and 

resources, appraisal complexity, 

and readiness or availability 

of resources...

Table of Contents

Buy-Back Program Criteria

Calls Surge

Saving Space

Helpful Products?

Founding FBCC

Buy-Back Valuations

Mineral Evaluations

www.doi.gov/ost

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2 TRUST MATTERS

Saving Space = Saving Money

You’ve heard “time is money,” but there is also a situation where space is 

money! And the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) 

is saving money by downsizing offi ce space that houses its operational 

functions in Albuquerque. Th e location is usually referred to as Masthead

because the offi ce building’s address is on Masthead Street in Albuquerque, 

New Mexico.

Th e recently negotiated lease will reduce the OST footprint at Masthead to 

67,500 square feet from about 160,000 square feet. Currently, OST is the 

sole offi ce tenant of the three-story building. Aft er the move, OST offi ces 

will reside on half of the fi rst fl oor and all the second fl oor of the building. 

OST will relinquish its space on the third fl oor, as well as some space on 

the fi rst fl oor. Less space means lowered leasing costs.

Th e space that OST is vacating will be leased by private sector tenants. 

When they move in, the building will be a mix of public and private 

offi ces, a pattern that is being realized in more offi ce buildings around the 

country.

Th e move to lessen space is due to several factors. Th e Department of 

the Interior has established new guidelines for smaller workspaces. Also, 

improved technology support is allowing OST employees to embrace 

telework and achieve the same (some say increased) productivity. Th e 

Department’s reduced space requirements, a workforce that has downsized over the last several years (due to reduced funding), and the focus on 

teleworking mean less space is required. 

As evidenced by this move, OST is continually seeking 

administrative and operational savings to benefi t both 

Indian trust benefi ciaries and America’s taxpayers. 

Learn more about OST’s eff orts to save money and 

operate effi ciently. View OST’s Fiscal Year 2012 

Annual Report to Congress at www.doi.gov/ost/

press_room/Annual-Reports.cfm. 

Masthead Building

Staff members with the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for 

American Indians (OST) provide informational products 

at many outreach events and meetings throughout the 

year. At a minimum, each item always provides OST 

contact information.

Do you recall receiving a product that was especially 

helpful to you? Did a magnetic calendar come in handy 

when you wanted to call the Trust Benefi ciary Call 

Center and the number was right there on your 

refrigerator? Was the easily folded welcome publication 

readily available because it fi t into your pocket? Which 

products made the best impression by giving you what 

you needed when you needed it? 

OST is asking that you provide your opinion about the 

product or products that have been most helpful. Please 

give your personal evaluation of OST products(s) by 

contacting Debby Pafel by email (ost_communications@ost.doi.gov) or by phone (202-208-4289). Please 

include subject line of “product feedback” in the email. 

Your frank comments are eagerly awaited!

Helpful Products? 

Where were you in 1974? Fiduciary 

Trust Offi cer Austin Gillette (pictured) was attending the University 

of North Dakota. At that time, 

Gillette became part of a committee 

that wrote a grant 

that helped found 

the Fort Berthold 

Community 

College (FBCC).

Th e school 

honored the 

actions of 

Gillette and 

other members 

of the committee on Founder’s Day, 

May 3, 2013. In addition to Gillette, 

FBCC recognized the 

contributions of Vance Gillette, 

Leonard Bear King, Melvin Walker, 

and Carl Whitman as grant writers 

and contributors.

Founding Fort Berthold 

Community College

nt 

nd

ld 

).

F d ’ D
VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3 3

Iris Crisman has been selected as the Deputy Director 

for the Land Buy-Back Valuation Program, which 

supports the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations 

(Buy-Back Program). Th e Secretary of the Interior 

established the Buy-Back Program to implement land 

consolidation provisions of the Cobell Settlement. Th e 

settlement provides a $1.9 billion Trust Land Consolidation Fund to consolidate fractional land interests 

across Indian Country.

Land valuation, a technial 

process that provides a baseline or benchmark, enables 

decisions to be made about 

fair market values. Th e 

requirement for fair market 

value prescribes the process 

for the Offi ce of the Special 

Trustee for American 

Indians (OST) to ensure 

that impartial opinions of 

value are consistent with 

requirements identifi ed in 

national appraisal standards. 

Mass appraisals that meet 

the fair market value requirement will be a critical aspect 

of land valuation for the BuyBack Program. While individual appraisals are usually 

applied for timber, mineral, 

and commercial lands, mass 

appraisals can be used for lands with dry crops, pasture 

and/or grazing, which are typically homogenous in 

nature.

OST’s Offi ce of Appraisal Services (OAS) has developed 

and implemented a Mass Appraisal Program System 

(MAPS) as an effi cient and eff ective system of land 

valuation. MAPS conforms to nationally recognized 

appraisal standards, such as Uniform Standards for 

Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and Uniform 

Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions 

(UASFLA). MAPS provides an automated process with 

a quick turnaround of appraisal requests once upfront 

research, market data collection, and data analysis have 

been completed.

Within MAPS is the mass appraisal methodology, 

which allows for a large number of subject properties 

to be valued together or mass appraised. Mass appraisal 

techniques increase production levels because the 

process involves valuing large numbers of homogenous 

real estate properties using standard valuation methodologies and common data. Crisman has expertise 

with mass appraisal work, including over ten years’ 

experience working with large land 

acquisition projects.

Considered a technical expert in the 

appraisal fi eld, Crisman previously 

served as Deputy Director of OAS. 

Prime functions in that position, 

which are directly transferrable to 

her new position, include managing 

local and fi eld appraisal staff , preparing 

and implementing budgets, assisting in 

the development of automated systems 

for appraisal work, leading risk analysis 

and project management, identifying 

staff technical training needs, and 

developing policies. 

Crisman’s knowledge of current 

OAS appraisal staff will support her 

eff orts to deploy and oversee teams 

of appraisers who will collaborate 

and partner with current OAS 

regional appraisers. She noted, 

“When teams are profi cient and 

well-matched, the work is exciting, challenging, and 

fun. But this program is also an historical eff ort undertaken for all Native Americans.”

Upon refl ection and discussions with her family, 

Crisman decided she wanted to be part of the work of 

the historical Cobell Settlement. She feels privileged 

that her skills will be used to help assure success of the 

program. 

Content about the Buy-Back Program is available 

online at www.doi.gov/buybackprogram/index.cfm.

Buy-Back Valuation Program’s New Deputy Director

Pictured top to bottom: Pasture, Dry Crop, Timber
4 TRUST MATTERS

Did you know? More than 800,000 

benefi ciary statements of performance 

are distributed each year.

Picture this: cattle are grazing in a fi eld. But what lies, way 

down, under the surface of that fi eld? And does whatever 

lies there add value to the land? 

Questions like these are answered by the Department of 

the Interior’s (DOI) Offi ce of Minerals Evaluation (OME), 

which is part of the Offi ce of Valuation Services. 

OME personnel perform mineral assessments on federal 

and Indian lands for DOI bureaus and agencies. OME 

serves DOI’s Bureau of Land Management, the National 

Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Indian Aff airs, and the 

Offi ce of Hearings and Appeals. It also provides mineral 

assessments on leases for the Five Civilized Tribes. Most 

recently, OME has added mineral assessment market 

analyses (MAMAs) for DOI’s Land Buy-Back Program for 

Tribal Nations to the list of those it serves.

For the work with the Buy-Back Program, OME teams 

with the Offi ce of the Special Trustee for American 

Indians (OST) Offi ce of Appraisal Services (OAS) to 

consider three types of property estates. If a landowner 

holds rights only to a surface estate, OAS determines its 

highest and best use to determine the fair market value. 

If a landowner has both surface and mineral estates

(combined), OME’s analysis is used by OAS to determine 

how the mineral estate impacts the highest and best use 

value of the appraisal.

Mineral Evaluations: Part of the Bigger Picture

While there is a large amount of geologic data for 

every reservation, the presence of minerals in the 

ground is only part of OME’s analysis. A MAMA 

also takes into consideration market demand in 

the current ecological and economic environment, 

and the viability of current technology. Advances in 

technology and shift s in economic demand impact 

results. With Indian lands, cultural perspectives 

also come into consideration. However, everything 

is current for only a point in time, which is why the 

validity of a MAMA can be limited in duration.

Th ere are a lot of pieces to every evaluation picture. 

It is important to OME staff that they obtain and 

review as much data as they can in order to prepare 

legally defensible evaluations. Th ey pride themselves 

on getting all data that are available, ensuring each 

evaluation picture is accurate. To learn more about 

the work of OME, call 

303-969-5949.