49050 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices 

subject to review and approval by the 

Secretary. The Amendment authorizes 

the Tribe to engage in sports wagering 

at the Tribe’s class III gaming facility, 

updates the Compact to reflect this 

change in various sections, and 

incorporates Appendix S, Sports 

Wagering. The Amendment is approved. 

Bryan Newland, 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18819 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/ 

A0A501010.999900] 

HEARTH Act Approval of Pascua Yaqui 

Tribe of Arizona Business Site Leasing 

Ordinance 

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs 

(BIA) approved the Pascua Yaqui Tribe 

of Arizona Business Site Leasing 

Ordinance under the Helping Expedite 

and Advance Responsible Tribal 

Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH 

Act). With this approval, the Tribe is 

authorized to enter into Business leases 

without further BIA approval. 

DATES: BIA issued the approval on 

August 25, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Sharlene Round Face, Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, Division of Real Estate Services, 

1001 Indian School Road NW, 

Albuquerque, NM 87104, 

sharlene.roundface@bia.gov, (505) 563– 

3132. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Summary of the HEARTH Act 

The HEARTH Act makes a voluntary, 

alternative land leasing process 

available to Tribes, by amending the 

Indian Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955, 

25 U.S.C. 415. The HEARTH Act 

authorizes Tribes to negotiate and enter 

into business leases of Tribal trust lands 

with a primary term of 25 years, and up 

to two renewal terms of 25 years each, 

without the approval of the Secretary of 

the Interior (Secretary). The HEARTH 

Act also authorizes Tribes to enter into 

leases for residential, recreational, 

religious or educational purposes for a 

primary term of up to 75 years without 

the approval of the Secretary. 

Participating Tribes develop Tribal 

leasing regulations, including an 

environmental review process, and then 

must obtain the Secretary’s approval of 

those regulations prior to entering into 

leases. The HEARTH Act requires the 

Secretary to approve Tribal regulations 

if the Tribal regulations are consistent 

with the Department of the Interior’s 

(Department) leasing regulations at 25 

CFR part 162 and provide for an 

environmental review process that 

meets requirements set forth in the 

HEARTH Act. This notice announces 

that the Secretary, through the Assistant 

Secretary—Indian Affairs, has approved 

the Tribal regulations for the Pascua 

Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. 

II. Federal Preemption of State and 

Local Taxes 

The Department’s regulations 

governing the surface leasing of trust 

and restricted Indian lands specify that, 

subject to applicable Federal law, 

permanent improvements on leased 

land, leasehold or possessory interests, 

and activities under the lease are not 

subject to State and local taxation and 

may be subject to taxation by the Indian 

Tribe with jurisdiction. See 25 CFR 

162.017. As explained further in the 

preamble to the final regulations, the 

Federal government has a strong interest 

in promoting economic development, 

self-determination, and Tribal 

sovereignty. 77 FR 72440, 72447–48 

(December 5, 2012). The principles 

supporting the Federal preemption of 

State law in the field of Indian leasing 

and the taxation of lease-related 

interests and activities applies with 

equal force to leases entered into under 

Tribal leasing regulations approved by 

the Federal government pursuant to the 

HEARTH Act. 

Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization 

Act, 25 U.S.C. 5108, preempts State and 

local taxation of permanent 

improvements on trust land. 

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 

Reservation v. Thurston County, 724 

F.3d 1153, 1157 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing 

Mescalero Apache Tribe v. Jones, 411 

U.S. 145 (1973)). Similarly, section 5108 

preempts State taxation of rent 

payments by a lessee for leased trust 

lands, because ‘‘tax on the payment of 

rent is indistinguishable from an 

impermissible tax on the land.’’ See 

Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Stranburg, 

799 F.3d 1324, 1331, n.8 (11th Cir. 

2015). In addition, as explained in the 

preamble to the revised leasing 

regulations at 25 CFR part 162, Federal 

courts have applied a balancing test to 

determine whether State and local 

taxation of non-Indians on the 

reservation is preempted. White 

Mountain Apache Tribe v. Bracker, 448 

U.S. 136, 143 (1980). The Bracker 

balancing test, which is conducted 

against a backdrop of ‘‘traditional 

notions of Indian self- government,’’ 

requires a particularized examination of 

the relevant State, Federal, and Tribal 

interests. We hereby adopt the Bracker 

analysis from the preamble to the 

surface leasing regulations, 77 FR at 

72447–48, as supplemented by the 

analysis below. 

The strong Federal and Tribal 

interests against State and local taxation 

of improvements, leaseholds, and 

activities on land leased under the 

Department’s leasing regulations apply 

equally to improvements, leaseholds, 

and activities on land leased pursuant to 

Tribal leasing regulations approved 

under the HEARTH Act. Congress’s 

overarching intent was to ‘‘allow Tribes 

to exercise greater control over their 

own land, support self-determination, 

and eliminate bureaucratic delays that 

stand in the way of homeownership and 

economic development in Tribal 

communities.’’ 158 Cong. Rec. H. 2682 

(May 15, 2012). The HEARTH Act was 

intended to afford Tribes ‘‘flexibility to 

adapt lease terms to suit [their] business 

and cultural needs’’ and to ‘‘enable 

[Tribes] to approve leases quickly and 

efficiently.’’ H. Rep. 112–427 at 6 

(2012). 

Assessment of State and local taxes 

would obstruct these express Federal 

policies supporting Tribal economic 

development and self-determination, 

and also threaten substantial Tribal 

interests in effective Tribal government, 

economic self-sufficiency, and territorial 

autonomy. See Michigan v. Bay Mills 

Indian Community, 572 U.S. 782, 810 

(2014) (Sotomayor, J., concurring) 

(determining that ‘‘[a] key goal of the 

Federal Government is to render Tribes 

more self-sufficient, and better 

positioned to fund their own sovereign 

functions, rather than relying on Federal 

funding’’). The additional costs of State 

and local taxation have a chilling effect 

on potential lessees, as well as on a 

Tribe that, as a result, might refrain from 

exercising its own sovereign right to 

impose a Tribal tax to support its 

infrastructure needs. See id. at 810–11 

(finding that State and local taxes 

greatly discourage Tribes from raising 

tax revenue from the same sources 

because the imposition of double 

taxation would impede Tribal economic 

growth). 

Similar to BIA’s surface leasing 

regulations, Tribal regulations under the 

HEARTH Act pervasively cover all 

aspects of leasing. See 25 U.S.C. 415 

(h)(3)(B)(i) (requiring Tribal regulations 

be consistent with BIA surface leasing 

regulations). Furthermore, the Federal 

government remains involved in the 

Tribal land leasing process by approving 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices 49051 

the Tribal leasing regulations in the first 

instance and providing technical 

assistance, upon request by a Tribe, for 

the development of an environmental 

review process. The Secretary also 

retains authority to take any necessary 

actions to remedy violations of a lease 

or of the Tribal regulations, including 

terminating the lease or rescinding 

approval of the Tribal regulations and 

reassuming lease approval 

responsibilities. Moreover, the Secretary 

continues to review, approve, and 

monitor individual Indian land leases 

and other types of leases not covered 

under the Tribal regulations according 

to the Part 162 regulations. 

Accordingly, the Federal and Tribal 

interests weigh heavily in favor of 

preemption of State and local taxes on 

lease-related activities and interests, 

regardless of whether the lease is 

governed by Tribal leasing regulations 

or Part 162. Improvements, activities, 

and leasehold or possessory interests 

may be subject to taxation by the Pascua 

Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. 

Bryan Newland, 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18827 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/ 

A0A501010.999900253G] 

Indian Gaming; Approval of TribalState Class III Gaming Compact 

Amendments in the State of 

Washington 

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice publishes the 

approval of Third Amendment to the 

Tribal-State Compact (Third 

Amendment) for Class III Gaming 

between the Stillaguamish Tribe of 

Indians (Tribe) and the State of 

Washington (State), and the Fourth 

Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact 

(Fourth Amendment) for Class III 

Gaming between the Stillaguamish 

Tribe of Indians and the State of 

Washington. 

DATES: The amendment takes effect on 

September 1, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of Indian 

Gaming, Office of the Deputy Assistant 

Secretary—Policy and Economic 

Development, Washington, DC 20240, 

paula.hart@bia.gov, (202) 219–4066. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 

section 11 of the Indian Gaming 

Regulatory Act (IGRA), Public Law 100– 

497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., the 

Secretary of the Interior must publish in 

the Federal Register notice of approved 

Tribal-State compacts for the purpose of 

engaging in Class III gaming activities 

on Indian lands. As required by 25 CFR 

293.4, all compacts and amendments are 

subject to review and approval by the 

Secretary. The Third Amendment 

amends and restates the Tribe’s 

Compact, adopts Appendix D, Gaming 

Station Transfers, and Appendix E, 

Limitation on Wagers, Credit, Facilities, 

Problem Gambling Resources and 

Contributions. The Fourth Amendment 

authorizes the Tribe to operate sports 

wagering at the Tribe’s class III gaming 

facility, updates the Compact to reflect 

this change in various sections, and 

incorporates Appendix S, Sports 

Wagering. The Amendments are 

approved. 

Bryan Newland, 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18822 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/ 

A0A501010.999900253G] 

Indian Gaming; Approval of TribalState Class III Gaming Compact in the 

State of Washington 

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice publishes the 

approval of Sixth Amendment to the 

Tribal-State Compact (Amendment) for 

Class III Gaming between the Squaxin 

Island Tribe (Tribe) and the State of 

Washington (State). 

DATES: The amendment takes effect on 

September 1, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of Indian 

Gaming, Office of the Deputy Assistant 

Secretary—Policy and Economic 

Development, Washington, DC 20240, 

paula.hart@bia.gov, (202) 219–4066. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 

section 11 of the Indian Gaming 

Regulatory Act (IGRA), Public Law 100– 

497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., the 

Secretary of the Interior shall publish in 

the Federal Register notice of approved 

Tribal-State compacts for the purpose of 

engaging in Class III gaming activities 

on Indian lands. As required by 25 CFR 

293.4, all compacts and amendments are 

subject to review and approval by the 

Secretary. The Amendment authorizes 

the Tribe to engage in sports wagering 

at the Tribe’s class III gaming facility, 

updates the Compact to reflect this 

change in various sections, and 

incorporates Appendix S, Sports 

Wagering. The Amendment is approved. 

Bryan Newland, 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18815 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/ 

A0A501010.999900] 

HEARTH Act Approval of Match-E-BeNash-She-Wish-Band of Pottawatomi 

Indians Business, Agriculture, and 

Residential Lease Regulations 

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs 

(BIA) approved the Match-E-Be-NashShe-Wish-Band of Pottawatomi Indians 

(Tribe) Lease Regulations under the 

Helping Expedite and Advance 

Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act 

of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this 

approval, the Tribe is authorized to 

enter into business, agriculture, and 

residential leases without further BIA 

approval. 

DATES: BIA issued the approval on 

August 25, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Sharlene Round Face, Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, Division of Real Estate Services, 

1001 Indian School Road NW, 

Albuquerque, NM 87104, 

sharlene.roundface@bia.gov, (505) 563– 

3132. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Summary of the HEARTH Act 

The HEARTH Act makes a voluntary, 

alternative land leasing process 

available to Tribes, by amending the 

Indian Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955, 

25 U.S.C. 415. The HEARTH Act 

authorizes Tribes to negotiate and enter 

into business leases of Tribal trust lands 

with a primary term of 25 years, and up 

to two renewal terms of 25 years each, 

without the approval of the Secretary of 

the Interior (Secretary). The HEARTH 

Act also authorizes Tribes to enter into 

leases for residential, recreational, 

religious, or educational purposes for a 

primary term of up to 75 years without 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES