United States Department of Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Directive APHIS 1040.3 1/19/12

CONSULTATION WITH ELECTED LEADERS OF FEDERALLY 

RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES

1. PURPOSE

This Directive: 

a. States the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) policy 

concerning consultation with Native American Tribal Governments. This 

Directive implements Executive Order (EO) 13175 regarding consultation, 

collaboration, and coordination with Tribes. This EO directs agencies to provide 

federally recognized Tribes the opportunity for government-to-government 

consultation and coordination in policy development and program activities that 

may have direct and substantial effects on their Tribe. Its purpose is to ensure that 

tribal perspectives on the social, cultural, economic, and ecological aspects of 

agriculture, as well as tribal food and natural-resource priorities and goals, are 

heard and fully considered in the decision-making processes of all parts of the 

Federal Government.

b. Sets forth the duties and responsibilities for APHIS personnel administering this 

Directive.

c. Includes definitions for terms associated with Native Americans and governmentto-government consultations.

d. Sets forth criteria that all APHIS programs will use to identify actions that require 

an invitation be extended to federally recognized Tribes to engage in consultation.

2. AUTHORITIES 

a. Presidential Memorandum of November 5, 2009, Tribal Consultation and 

Collaboration.

c. Presidential Memorandum of April 29, 1994, Government-to-Government 

Relations with Native American Tribal Governments.

d. EO 12875, Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership.

Distribution: APHIS Originating Office: OA
Page 2

e. EO 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review.

f. EO 12898, Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income 

Populations.

g. EO 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments.

h. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Nondiscrimination in 

Federally Assisted Programs 

i. Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 15d, Nondiscrimination in Programs or 

Activities Conducted by USDA.

3. DEFINITIONS 

a. Accountable Process. A process by which an agency is able to track and report 

on the efforts on any given consultation, from initial outreach and consultation 

activities to how the results of consultation were used by the agency.

b. Agreements. Documents approved by two or more parties that identify their 

respective roles and responsibilities in achieving mutual objectives, e.g., 

Memoranda of Understanding, Cooperative Agreements, Grants, and Contracts. 

c. Alaska Native Corporation. Any Alaska Native village or regional corporation 

established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), 

Public Law (P.L.) 92-203. 

d. Alaska Native. As defined by section 3(b) of ANCSA, a citizen of the United 

States, who is a person of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including 

Tsimshian Indians not enrolled in the Metlaka Indian Community), Eskimo 

(Inuit), or Aleut blood, or a combination thereof. The term includes any Native, as 

so defined, either or both of whose adoptive parents are not Native. It also 

includes, in the absence of proof of a minimum of blood quantum, any citizen of 

the United States who is regarded as an Alaska Native by the Native village or 

Native group of which he/she claims to be a member of whose father or mother is 

(or, if deceased, was) regarded as native by any village or group. 

e. American Indian. An individual who is a member of a Native American 

(American Indian) Tribe, band, or community.

f. APHIS Native American Working Group (ANAWG). A group of line- and 

support-program personnel who volunteer to represent their Deputy Administrator 

in dealing with policy and programmatic issues around APHIS' even-handed 

delivery of goods and services to the federally recognized Tribes.
Page 3

g. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). An agency of the U.S. Department of the 

Interior. BIA is the principal agent of the United States in carrying on the 

government-to-government relationship that exists between the United States and 

federally recognized Native American Tribes and carrying out the responsibilities 

of the United States as trustee for property it holds in trust for federally 

recognized tribes and individual Native Americans. Since its inception in the 

1820s, BIA's role has evolved from removal of eastern tribes to the West, to 

reservation confinement, to land allotment and assimilation, through a period of 

termination, and finally to its present role of supporting tribal self-government 

and self-determination. 

h. Consultation. Timely, meaningful, and substantive dialogue between USDA 

officials who have delegated authority to consult, and the official leadership of 

federally recognized Indian Tribes, or their designated representative(s), 

pertaining to USDA policies that may have tribal implications.

i. Coordination. The orchestration of the activities of different entities. 

j. Collaboration. When two or more people or organizations work together in an 

intersection of common goals by sharing knowledge, learning, and building 

consensus. Collaboration is the mutual development of perspectives or actions 

that are of mutual interest, as in a Tribe and a USDA agency, working together on 

a USDA policy that benefits both the agency and the Tribe.

k. Consulting Official. Consultation conducted only by employees who have 

delegated authority for consultation. The Secretary of Agriculture delegates the 

authority to his/her Under Secretaries, and they in turn delegate it to the leader of 

each agency. Whether the consulting official is the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, 

Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, agency head, or another agency official 

depends on the nature of the regulation, policy, program or planning decision and 

how it may affect the consulting Tribe(s). For the Tribes, consultation is 

conducted by elected Tribal leaders or Tribal employees or their representatives 

who have delegated authority from their Tribal leader for consultation. This 

delegation is determined by the Tribes themselves as sovereign governments. The 

consulting official is usually the Tribal Chief/Chairman/Governor/President, 

though he/she could delegate the responsibility to a member of the Tribal Council 

or even a Tribal employee with specialized knowledge of the topic of the 

consultation.

l. Consultation Record. Created and maintained written records on every tribal 

consultation conducted by any Federal agency. For reporting and oversight 

purposes, APHIS is responsible for entering select components of the consultation 

record into the USDA Tribal Consultation Database maintained by the 

Department's Office of Tribal Relations. The entry of reporting data into that 

database does not affect the agency’s obligation to maintain the full consultation 
Page 4

record in accordance with this Directive and any other applicable statutory or 

regulatory requirements, such as the Federal Records Act. 

m. Federally Recognized. A relationship that is traceable to the U.S. Constitution, 

specifically to the Indian Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) and 

the Treaty Clause (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2). The U.S. Government 

acknowledges that a Tribe and its members exist as a unique political entity that 

has a formal relationship with the U.S. Government. "Recognition establishes that 

a ‘federally recognized’ Tribe, an independent sovereign, has certain inherent 

rights and powers of self-government and, as such, is entitled to specific benefits 

and services enumerated in various Federal laws and rights reserved/granted to

Tribes by treaties, executive orders, or special acts of Congress, or other judicial 

processes. For example, health and education benefits flowing from the trust 

relationship or off-reservation hunting and fishing rights as they relate to treaties 

with special Tribal Governments. The process, regulations, and criteria for 

attaining Federal recognition are located in 25 Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR) 83." 

n. Government-to-Government. In Federal Indian law, the term used to 

characterize the unique legal relationship that exists between federally recognized 

Tribes and the Federal Government. This relationship evolved from the 

recognition of tribal sovereignty expressed in treaties between Tribes and the 

Federal Government and in the U.S. Constitution. This relationship is the basis of 

the government-to-government consultation requirement and has been expressed 

through numerous statutes, executive directives, and court decisions.

o. Indian Country. All the land under supervision of the U.S. Government that has 

been set aside for the use of Native Americans. This includes Native American 

reservations, as well as other areas under Federal jurisdiction and designated for 

Native Americans' use. As a general rule, State jurisdiction does not extend to 

Indian country; rather, tribal and Federal law govern (exception P.L. 280). The 

Indian country designation is the benchmark for approaching the allocation of 

Federal, tribal, and State authority with respect to Native Americans and their 

lands. 

p. Lands. All uplands, wetlands, and open waters, such as streams, lakes, estuaries, 

and bays. 

q. Native American. A person who is a member of any Native American Tribe, 

band, group, or nation in the "lower" or conterminous 48 States of the United

States and peoples indigenous to the United States, including Alaska, i.e., Alaska 

Indians, Eskimos (Inuits), Aleuts, and Alaska Natives. 

r. Native American Tribe (or Tribe). Any Native American Tribe, band, nation, 

pueblo, or other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible 
Page 5

for the special programs and services provided by the U.S. Government to Native 

Americans because of their status as Native Americans. With regard to 

consultation, a Tribe is a group of Native Americans that has been "federally 

recognized" as constituting a distinct and historically continuous political entity 

for at least some governmental purposes. Legally, no universal definition exists. 

The term "Tribe" may apply to a distinct group within a Native American village 

or community, the entire community, or a large number of communities or may 

refer to several different groups or villages speaking different languages but 

sharing a common government, or a widely scattered number of villages with a 

common language but no common government. Tribe is shorthand for “Indian 

tribe" as used in EO 13175, which means an Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, 

nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior 

acknowledges to exist as an Indian Tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized 

Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a.

s. Negotiated Rulemaking. A technique used to bring interested parties into the 

rule-drafting process at an early stage. Rules are developed by reaching 

consensus among interested parties. If consensus is achieved, the agency 

ordinarily publishes the draft rule based on that consensus in a notice of proposed 

rulemaking. Negotiated rulemaking is endorsed in EO 12866 and in the 

Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (5 U.S.C. 561-570). 

t. Office of Tribal Relations (OTR). The USDA office that serves as the primary 

point of contact for tribal issues, including those dealing directly with tribal 

governments and ANCSA corporations, as well as those impacting tribal 

members as individuals. OTR is responsible for serving as the single point of 

contact within the Department on tribal affairs, advising the Secretary concerning 

tribal issues and concerns, and working cooperatively and collaboratively across 

all agencies of the Department to build an integrated approach to issues, 

programs, and services addressing the needs of American Indians and Alaskan 

Natives, including the conduct of tribal consultation. 

u. Principle of Agency Executive Authority. The requirement for agencies to take 

the Tribes’ views, information, rights, and interests into serious, deliberative 

consideration during consultation - it does not require agencies to do everything a 

tribal representative requests. Consultation should be part of an effort to 

cooperate and collaborate in good faith with tribal partners. Consultation and 

collaboration with Tribes helps APHIS better serve tribal communities. 

v. Principle of Mutual Concurrence. Within APHIS, consultation that occurs only 

when the agency and tribal officials mutually agree that consultation is taking 

place. Agency consulting officials and their staffs should be clear in identifying, 

in collaboration with the relevant tribal official(s), when an action or set of actions 

constitutes government-to-government consultation. 
Page 6

w. Policies with Tribal Implications. Policies that have tribal implications which 

include regulations, legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other 

policy statements or actions. Actions, in turn, include deliberations, decisions, 

and implementation of APHIS programs and services. 

x. Reservation. "Trust assets" including areas of land "reserved" or "held in trust" 

and protected by the U.S. Government for a Native American tribe(s), band, or 

village to live on and use pursuant to treaties, statutes, and executive orders. The 

term "reservation" refers to the early practice whereby Native American tribes 

were coerced, enticed, or otherwise persuaded to relinquish or "cede" the majority 

of their homelands by treaty to the Federal Government, while "reserving" a 

portion of their original lands or natural resources for their use. There are about 

300 Federal Native American reservations, also known as Indian pueblos, 

rancherias, communities, or colonies, located in 33 States. Properties located 

outside the contiguous boundaries of reservations, as well as lands conveyed 

under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that are held in fee title by Native 

Americans, as private property, generally are not considered to be reservations. 

y. Sovereign. A body of persons or a State having independent and self-governing 

power, status, or authority. An 1831 Supreme Court decision confirmed that 

Native American nations were distinct, self-governing political entities, dependent 

upon the United States as their trustee. Tribes are described as "domestic 

dependent nations," coining the term "Nations within a Nation."

z. Substantial Direct Effect. An uninterrupted causal connection between the 

action and the group or individual being affected. Effects may be positive, 

neutral, or negative. These elements should be considered: If there is definitely 

potential for an effect that is substantial and direct, APHIS must offer 

consultation. If there is any potential for an effect, the offer of consultation may 

be required, depending on the extent (significance) of the effect. If APHIS does 

not know the significance of the effect, or even whether there will be an effect, 

the agency should inquire of potentially affected Tribes whether the Tribe thinks 

there would be an effect, how significant such an effect may be, and whether they 

would like to consult. If there is no potential for an effect, the offer of 

consultation is not required (but may still be valuable).

aa. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Non-Discrimination in 

Federally Assisted Programs. An Act prohibiting discrimination in federally 

assisted programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin. 

bb. Title 7, CFR, Part 15d, Non-Discrimination in Programs and Activities 

Conducted by USDA. The regulation prohibiting any USDA agency, officer, or 

employee from discriminating against any individual on the basis of race, color, 

religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, familial status, sexual 

orientation, or disability; or because all or part of an individual’s income is 

derived from any public assistance program, in conducted programs or activities. 
Page 7

cc. Treaty. Any agreement, compact, alliance, convention, act, or contract between 

two or more independent (sovereign) nations with a view to the public welfare, 

including terms of peace, alliance, boundary establishment, trade, or other issues 

of mutual interest. Under the U.S. Constitution (Article II, Sec. 2, Clause 2) the 

term "treaty" refers to international agreements concluded by the President with 

the advice and consent of the Senate, provided that "two thirds of the Senators 

present..." ratify the treaty. Treaties are binding on the States and others as "the 

supreme law of the land" (Article VI, Clause 2). 

dd. Tribal Government. The governing body of a Native American Tribe that has 

been officially recognized as such by the Federal Government. Native American 

Tribes are sovereigns, i.e., governments, and State law does not apply to trust 

lands within reservation boundaries without Congressional consent.

ee. Trust Relationship. A trust relationship or partnership resembling that of a 

"beneficiary to a trustee." Native American Tribes are not foreign nations but 

constitute "distinct political" communities "that may, more correctly, perhaps be 

denominated domestic, dependent nations" whose "relationship to the United 

States resembles that of a ward to his guardian." This language, in Cherokee 

Nation v. Georgia (1831), reaffirmed the doctrine of Federal trusteeship in Native 

American affairs. 

ff. Trust Responsibilities. Treaties and agreements entered into by Native American 

tribal governments with the U.S. Government to "hold in trust," protect, and 

support Native American lands, sovereign rights, resources, and traditional-use 

areas. The U.S. Government acknowledges a unique legal relationship with 

Native American tribal governments that is traceable to the Indian Commerce 

Clause and the Treaty Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8, 

Clause 3 and Article II, Section 2, Clause 2), treaties, statutes, and court 

decisions.

4. BACKGROUND 

The United States has recognized Tribes as sovereign governments since the first decades 

of America's existence. A unique legal relationship exists between federally recognized 

Tribes and the Federal Government which evolved from this recognition of tribal 

sovereignty. This relationship is the basis of the "government-to-government" 

consultation requirement. The treaties in which many Tribes ceded lands to the United 

States in exchange for protection and provisions for their tribal citizens were based on the 

premise of two sovereign governments interacting on an equal basis, just as foreign 

governments negotiate and sign treaties with the Unites States today. This relationship is 

incorporated in the Constitution, and has been expressed through numerous treaties, 

statutes, executive directives, and court decisions as well as political, legal, moral, and 

ethical principles. Explicit rights and privileges, including livestock grazing, hunting, 

subsistence fishing, and gathering of plant resources, are associated with treaties and 
Page 8

agreements between specific Tribes and the Federal Government. In addition, land and 

resources hold a special and unique meaning in the spiritual and everyday lives of many 

Native Americans. 

American Indians, Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts, herein referred to as Native 

Americans, are people with distinct cultures and traditions. Most reside in rural areas 

west of the Mississippi River, but there are Native Americans living in every State of the 

Union. Approximately 28 percent live on reservations. Presently, 53 million acres of 

land in the United States are “Indian” lands. After the Alaska Native land selections are 

completed, almost 5 percent of all land in the United States will be in Native American 

ownership. 

On April 29, 1994, a Presidential Memorandum was issued reaffirming the Federal 

Government's commitment to operate within a government-to-government relationship 

with federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, and to respect selfgovernance for such Tribes. This Presidential Memorandum directs each executive 

department and agency to consult with tribal governments prior to taking actions that 

would affect them. It states that, in order to ensure that the rights of sovereign tribal 

governments are fully respected, all such consultations are to be open and candid so that 

Tribal governments can evaluate for themselves the potential impact of relevant 

proposals. 

On May 14, 1998, EO 13084, "Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 

Governments," was issued. This EO was revoked and superseded on November 6, 2000, 

by the identically titled EO 13175, which sets forth guidelines for all Federal agencies to 

(1) establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in 

the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications; (2) strengthen the 

United States’ government-to-government relationships with Tribes; and (3) reduce the 

imposition of unfunded mandates upon Tribes. EO 13175 directs each executive 

department and agency to consult with tribal governments prior to taking actions that 

could have substantial direct effects on Tribes.

To achieve this goal, it is essential that APHIS engage with Tribes in timely and 

meaningful consultation on policies that have substantial direct effects on one or more 

Tribes. Consultation, coordination, and collaboration are different but not mutually 

exclusive; rather, they are mutually supportive. Together, they lead to information 

exchange, mutual understanding, and informed decision-making. 

5. POLICY 

a. APHIS will respect the rights of sovereign tribal governments and provide an 

opportunity for Tribes to participate in policy and program development. Each 

Tribe will be provided the opportunity for timely and meaningful government-togovernment consultation regarding policy actions that may have tribal 

implications. Tribal implications are defined as substantial direct effects on one 

or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
Page 9

Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the 

Federal Government and Indian Tribes. Pursuant to EO 13175, policies that have 

tribal implications may include regulations, legislative comments or proposed 

legislation, and other policy statements or actions. This Directive does not 

preclude APHIS from consulting with a Tribe when the Tribe and the agency 

agree that consultation may be desirable, even if consultation is not specifically 

required. To enhance the evolution of working relationships and mutual 

partnerships between APHIS programs and Native American governments, the 

Agency will be flexible. 

b. APHIS will maintain accountable processes to ensure regular and meaningful 

consultation with tribal officials in the development of policies that may have 

tribal implications. In order to ensure accountability, APHIS will maintain an 

administrative record of all relevant decision-making, information, and 

communications associated with each consultation. This includes initial scoping 

and assessment, any outreach, consultative meetings and dialogue, and how the 

results of consultation were considered by the Agency in the decision-making 

processes. These administrative records will be retained by APHIS and entered 

into the USDA Tribal Consultation Database once it is established. 

c. The process of evaluating whether or not government-to-government consultation 

is required, or the actual tribal-consultation process itself, can be initiated by 

APHIS, by any federally recognized Tribe, or by another party (e.g., the National 

Congress of American Indians). APHIS should accept all requests for 

consultation: the emphasis must be on accepting opportunities rather than 

declining. 

d. The process defines critical triggers that cause an evaluation or offer of formal 

tribal consultation or government-to-government discussions. This needs 

assessment or initial scoping is the first phase of the consultation process. The 

second phase involves communicating with the appropriate Tribes to determine 

their interest in pursuing government-to-government consultation. APHIS may 

make an offer; tribal leaders may or may not accept it. The third phase involves 

planning and conducting government-to-government consultation. APHIS will 

employ the same methods in these phases across all its program areas to ensure a 

process that is trackable and transparent. 

e. Executive Authority. Consultation does not require APHIS to do everything a 

tribal representative requests, but rather requires the agency to take the Tribes’ 

views, information, rights, and interests into serious, deliberative consideration. 

Consultation should be part of an effort to cooperate and collaborate in good faith 
Page 10

with tribal partners. Consultation and collaboration with Tribes helps APHIS 

better serve tribal communities.

f. Emergency Actions. To facilitate rapid response to animal and plant health 

emergencies on reservations, APHIS programs should consider establishing 

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Tribes before emergencies occur. 

These MOUs would not replace government-to-government consultation, but 

having them in place might reduce the chances that a Tribe would require it.

g. APHIS policy and philosophy does not suggest recognition of tribal authority that 

does not currently exist. Neither the Native American philosophy, nor this

Directive, will be used to arbitrate differences in opinion between Government 

agencies or to interpret any authorities, laws, or judicial findings. Unless specific 

judicial rulings or Acts of Congress indicate otherwise, APHIS’ policy and 

philosophy will not be construed as validating the authority of any Native 

American government over lands or other natural resources or non-tribal 

members. 

6. RESPONSIBILITES 

Within APHIS in regard to tribal consultation,

a. The Administrator will: 

(1) Ensure that APHIS operates within government-to-government 

relationships with federally recognized tribal governments.

(2) Ensure that APHIS’ programs and activities are operated in a manner 

consistent with the authorities listed in Section 2 of this Directive.

(3) Ensure that APHIS maintains accountable processes for tribal consultation 

and Native American Programs.

(4) Name a single National Coordinator for Tribal Consultation (NCTC). 

b. Deputy Administrators of the line programs, with the exception of 

International Services, will:

(1) Ensure that there is one designated tribal consultation point of contact

(TCPOC) from their respective program areas, and

(2) Ensure that they and their staffs receive training and support to serve as 

Consulting Officials, when appropriate, and to coordinate with others as 

Consulting Officials, as required. 
Page 11

c. The APHIS NCTC will:

(1) Coordinate the implementation of the USDA Action Plan for Tribal 

Consultation and Collaboration,

(2) Establish communications networks and reporting protocols for tribal 

consultation among all agency TCPOCs (which may be the tribal liaisons

in programs that have established those positions), 

(3) Serve as the primary APHIS coordinator to expand and develop 

opportunities for APHIS employees to be trained and prepared to 

participate in various levels of tribal consultation, as appropriate,

(4) Ensure that APHIS’ tribal consultation work is appropriately documented 

in a permanent database and summarized for APHIS management, as 

requested,

(5) Provide any necessary reporting or other information to the USDA Office 

of Tribal Relations regarding the Agency’s tribal consultation activities 

and outcomes, and

(6) Be the owner of the APHIS Tribal Consultation SharePoint Site and work 

cooperatively with all relevant personnel to populate and maintain the site.

d. The TCPOCs/tribal liaisons will:

(1) Be appointed by a Deputy Administrator to serve as the single point of 

contact for coordination of tribal consultation efforts and reporting, 

(2) Work with the National Coordinator to ensure data are maintained and 

reported as appropriate to provide an Agency-level picture of tribal 

consultation work in APHIS,

(3) Work with the program managers and the National Coordinator to 

maintain and update the APHIS Tribal Consultation SharePoint Site,

(4) Provide advice, support, and other assistance to the Administrator and the 

APHIS Management Team to promote/facilitate all APHIS policies and 

programs affecting consultation with Native American Tribes,

(5) Work cooperatively with APHIS field personnel to coordinate initial 

scoping and formal assessments of APHIS activities’ impacts on Tribes 

and follow-up, as appropriate,

(6) Assist APHIS managers and program personnel in establishing and 

maintaining tribal contacts, and
Page 12 

(7) Assist in providing guidance and training to APHIS consulting officials as

needed.

e. State-level Managers in APHIS, working within their authority, will:

(1) Establish and maintain relationships with Indian Tribes and tribal

organizations within their areas, including tribal advisory councils, as

appropriate,

(2) Maintain complete files on tribal contacts in their States and keep relevant

information posted and current on the APHIS Tribal Consultation

SharePoint Site, and

(3) Ensure they and their staffs receive appropriate training and stay informed

about the APHIS processes for tribal consultation.

f. APHIS Managers and Program Personnel, working within their authority, will:

(1) Establish regular communication systems with tribal leaders to ensure that

tribal government rights and concerns are considered before the Agency

takes an action,

(2) Assess the impact of appropriate APHIS projects, programs, and activities

on Tribes and tribal members and recommend offering government-togovernment consultation consistent with the APHIS tribal consultation

processes, and

(3) Maintain appropriate records and report on work with Native American

Tribes.

7. INQUIRIES

a. Direct inquiries concerning APHIS consultation work with Native Americans and

Tribal Governments, to the APHIS National Coordinator for Tribal Consultation

at 301-734-6336.

b. Direct inquiries concerning civil rights to APHIS Civil Rights Enforcement and

Compliance at 202-720-6312.

c. This Directive can be accessed on the APHIS Administrative Issuances homepage.

/s/ Kevin Shea for

Gregory L. Parham 

Administrator