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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103863-103864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30289]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[256A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A51010.999900]

Notice of Deadline for Submitting Completed Applications To Begin 
Participation in the Tribal Self-Governance Program in Fiscal Year 2026 
or Calendar Year 2026

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of application deadline.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Self-Governance (OSG) establishes a March 1, 
2025, deadline for Indian tribes/consortia to submit completed 
applications to begin participation in the tribal self-governance 
program in fiscal year 2026 or calendar year 2026.

DATES: Completed application packages must be received by the Director, 
Office of Self-Governance, by March 1, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications to Sharee M. Freeman, Director, Office 
of Self-Governance, Department of the Interior, Mail Stop 3259- MIB, 
1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vickie Hanvey, Office of Self 
Governance, (mail to: [email protected]); Telephone (918) 931-0745. 
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 25 U.S.C. 5362(b) of the Practical 
Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-
Governance and Self-Determination (PROGRESS Act), the Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Self-Governance, may select not 
more than

[[Page 103864]]

50 new Indian Tribes per year from those eligible tribes. The 
application deadline listed in the DATES section is predicated upon 
providing the parties enough time to complete funding agreement 
negotiations in advance of the fiscal year or calendar year start date 
of the 2026 funding agreement. The PROGRESS Act mandates that copies of 
the funding agreements be sent at least 90 days before the proposed 
effective date to each Tribe that is served by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and wants to participate in a funding agreement. Initial 
negotiations with a Tribe/consortium located in a region and/or agency 
which has not previously been involved with self-governance 
negotiations will take approximately 2 months from start to finish. 
Agreements for an October 1 to September 30 funding year need to be 
signed and submitted by July 1. Agreements for a January 1 to December 
31 need to be signed and submitted by October 1.

Purpose of Notice

    Under 25 U.S.C. 5362(c), which supersedes the eligibility criteria 
in 25 CFR part 1000, subpart B, to be eligible to participate in self-
governance, an Indian Tribe must:
    (1) successfully complete the planning phase outlined below;
    (2) request participation in self-governance by resolution or other 
official
    action by the Tribal governing body; and
    (3) demonstrate for the 3 fiscal years preceding the date on which 
the Tribe requests participation, fiscal stability and financial 
management capability as evidenced by the Indian Tribe having no 
uncorrected significant and internal audit exceptions in the required 
annual audit of its self-determination or self-governance agreements 
with any Federal agency.
    An Indian Tribe seeking to begin participation in self-governance 
must complete the planning phase. The planning phase must:
    (1) be conducted to the satisfaction of the Indian Tribe; and
    (2) include:
    (i) legal and budgetary research; and
    (ii) internal Tribal governing planning, training, and 
organizational preparation.
    Applicants should be guided by the referenced requirements in 
preparing their applications to begin participation in the tribal self-
governance program in fiscal year 2026 and calendar year 2026. Copies 
of these requirements may be obtained from the information contact 
person identified in this notice.
    Tribes/consortia wishing to be considered for participation in the 
tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2026 or calendar year 
2026 must respond to this notice, except for those tribes/consortia 
which are one of the 142 tribal entities with signed self-governance 
agreements.

Information Collection

    This information collection is authorized by OMB Control Number 
1076-0143, Tribal Self-Governance Program, which expires February 28, 
2026.

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-30289 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
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