### To: 202-482-4420 

### From: NWIFC Pg 3/ 

## 5 10/01/12 5:30 pm 

# Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission**~730** Martin

### Way £.. Qlympla, Wt1$hlngton 98516-5540 Phon$ (360) 438·1 tOO www.nwifc.QrS FAX**#7S~·86S9** October 1, 2012 Dee Alexander Senior Advisor on Na.tive AmericanAffairs Office of

### Legislation and hltergovemmcntal Affairs U.S. Department 

### OfCOnl1nOrCe Room 5422 1401 Constitution Ave. t NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Ms. Alexander: Thank you

### for allowing

### us the opportunity to COlnment On 

### the Proposed Tribal Consultation 

### IlIld Coordination Policy (Policy) for the U.S. 

### Departnlent ofCommerce. We appreciate the need 

## tor administrative t1exibility and**di~cl'etion** while cra.fting a policythat must be implemented nationwideto cover u wide 

### spectrum of

### circumstances.

General 

### Comments



### .**~** • The C1JlTent 

### brevity ofthe 

### POlicy does not guarantee 

### that "un accountableprocess to ensure meaningful Elnd timely input by tribal officials"

### will be established. • Additional explanation ofpolicy

### mtcilt is required withinthe consultation process section to ensure that intormed 

### and substantive discussion betweenthe Federal Government andTribal 

### governments occurs before 

### final action is taken. • The requirements ofExecutive Order 13175 and this policy should be**constnu~d** in favor of consultation on 

### any given policy that may have tribal implicfltions. • I"orma! consultation 

### ne.eds to be 

### a.t locations convenientto each party and not be limited to 

### Washington, DC. Effort should be madeto solicit 

### Input thl'Ough region.al 

### meetings. • Consultation should happen: 

### o Before the Department begills 

### to draft proposed regulations; o Before the Department publishes proposed regUlations in the Federal Register;To: 202-482-4420 

### from: NWlfC Pg 41 

### 5 10/01/12 

### 5:30 

### pm

(J Betbre 

### the Department implements policies having 

### \J'ibal implications; and Cl Before prol;losed legislation is introduced at the request ofthe Department, 

### SRecifie Comments 

### SeJ.'!tion 1 • Sub-section 02. should also include reference to Executive Orders and Secretarial Orders. • Add 

### anew sub-section (05.) 

### at end ofthls section to read: o The Department recognizes alld respects the diversity ofIndicul tribes and understands that they are culturally. truditionally and administratively different. This diversity makes 

### it impossible for fllly federal agency to make the sole decision regarding whether or in what

### manner itis Il:ppropriate to consult withtribes. The only 

### entities that know 

### enough about indivIdual 

### tribes to 

### make that detennmation 

### are the**tribl~s** themselves. Therefore, consultation can be**initi~lted** 

### by either the tribes or the Department. 

### Section 7 ,4**~,~.It**•. n**A'h~** • Coordination ....tith the tribes should notbe limited to fonnEd consultation. The Department should be encouraged to engage 

### in other forms ofcommunioation withthe tribes beyondthe formal 

### cOllsuJtatiun process. " The variety ofconsultation should be fUrther defined in sub-section 

### O'l. It can include, but

### not be limited to, informal 

### discussions with tribal leaders, 

### meeting with individual tribes, listening sessions, and fonnal consultation. . • Add 

### as the last sentence of

### ,\lbftseotion 01. 

### o Ultimately, 

### the consultation process is 

### to entail 

### an 

### informed discussion afthe proposed federal policy and assodatedtribal concerns between the designatedTribal Consultation Officinl and tribal officials. • Add to the end ofthe last sentence in sub-sectioll 02.b. 

### o .....priorto 

### S11bstantive decision points and/or fmal action." 1/1 Add to the end of**sub~section** 02.d.To: 202-482-4420 

### From: NWIFC P9 

### 51 5 10/01/12 5:30 

### pm

o The timing ofconsllltation is to aHow for the. substantive consideration oftribal1npul and concerns**b~fore** 

### fmalizing Ii 

### decision on federal policios, regulations or 

### legislation. Thank you again 

### tor the opportunity to provide comments on this important Policy. Should you· have any 

### questions regarding our conttnents! please contact me at (360) 438·1180. Sincerely"