[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52673-52675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20953]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


The Grand Canyon West Alcohol Ordinance for the Hualapai Indian 
Tribe

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice publishes the Grand Canyon West Alcohol Ordinance 
of the Hualapai Indian Tribe of Arizona (Tribe). The Ordinance 
regulates and controls the possession, sale and consumption of liquor 
within the Hualapai Reservation. This Ordinance allows for possession 
and sale of alcoholic beverages within the Hualapai Reservation, and 
increases the ability of the tribal government to control the Tribe's 
liquor distribution and possession. At the same time it will provide an 
important source of revenue for the continued operation and 
strengthening of the tribal government and the delivery of tribal 
services.

DATES: Effective Date: This Ordinance is effective on September 10, 
2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharlot Johnson, Tribal Government 
Services Officer, Western Regional Office, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85001, Telephone (602) 379-6786; Fax (602) 379-4100; or 
Elizabeth Colliflower, Office of Tribal Services, 1849 C Street NW., MS 
4513-MIB, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: (202) 513-7640.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Act of August 15, 1953, 
Public Law 83-277, 67 Stat. 586, 18 U.S.C. 1161, as interpreted by the 
Supreme Court in Rice v. Rehner, 463 U.S. 713 (1983), the Secretary of 
the Interior shall certify and publish in the Federal Register notice 
of adopted liquor ordinances for the purpose of regulating liquor 
transactions in Indian country. The Hualapai Tribal Council of the 
Hualapai Indian Tribe (Tribe) adopted its Liquor Ordinance by 
Resolution No. 38-2006 on May 25, 2006. This is an amendment to prior 
Liquor Ordinances passed by the Tribe. The purpose of this Ordinance is 
to govern the sale, possession and distribution of alcohol within 
tribal lands of the Tribe.
    This notice is published in accordance with the authority delegated 
by the Secretary of the Interior to the Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs. I certify that this Liquor Ordinance of the 
Hualapai Indian Tribe was duly adopted by the Hualapai Tribal Council 
on May 25, 2006.

    Dated: August 29, 2008.
George T. Skibine,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development.

    The Hualapai Indian Tribe's Grand Canyon West Alcohol Ordinance 
reads as follows:

Hualapai Tribal Code

Grand Canyon West Alcohol Ordinance

Chapter 23, Section 23.2 Grand Canyon West Alcohol Ordinance.

    (a) General Provisions.
    (1) Title. This section shall be known as the Grand Canyon West 
Alcoholic Beverage Control Ordinance.
    (2) Authority. This section is enacted pursuant to the Act of 
August 15, 1953 (Pub. L. 83-277, 67 Stat. 588, 18 U.S.C. Section 1161), 
as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court in Rice v. Rehner, 
463 U.S. 713 (1983), and Article V of the Hualapai Tribe Constitution.
    (3) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow for, regulate, 
and control the sale, purchase, distribution, possession, and 
consumption of alcoholic beverages within certain portions of the 
Hualapai reservation. Enactment of this section as an ordinance 
governing liquor possession and sale on the reservation will increase 
the ability of the Tribal government to control and regulate 
Reservation alcohol possession and consumption, and at the same time 
provide an important source of revenue for the continued operation and 
strengthening of the Tribe and the delivery of Tribal government 
services.
    (4) Scope and Territory. This section applies to all sales, 
purchases, distributions, possession, and consumption of alcoholic 
beverages made within the exterior boundaries of the Hualapai 
reservation and within a 5 mile radius of the Grand Canyon West Airport 
Terminal. This territory is commonly referred to as Grand Canyon West, 
Liquor Ordinance No. 23, approved by the Tribal Council on December 7, 
1968, is not applicable to the territory covered by this Ordinance. 
Signs describing this Ordinance will be posted at each site where 
Alcohol will be sold and consumed.
    (5) Application of 18 U.S.C. Section 1161. All acts and 
transactions under this section shall be in conformity with this 
section and in conformity with the laws of the State of Arizona 
regarding alcohol to the extent required by Section 1161.
    (6) Effective date. This section shall take effect on the date it 
is approved by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary's 
designate.
    (b) Definitions.

In this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
    ``Alcohol'' and ``Alcoholic Beverage'' means beer, wine, or any 
other spirituous liquor, including alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, 
tequila, mescal, gin, porter, ale, vodka, any malt liquor or malt 
beverage, absinthe, a compound or mixture of any of them or of any of 
them with any vegetable or other substance, alcohol bitters, bitters 
containing alcohol, any liquid mixture or preparation, fruits preserved 
in ardent spirits, whether patented or otherwise, that produces 
intoxication.
    ``Beer'' means any beverage, obtained by the alcoholic 
fermentation, infusion or decoction of barley malt, hops, or other 
ingredients not drinkable, or any combination of them.
    ``Grand Canyon West'' means the real property that is within the 
exterior boundaries of the Hualapai reservation and is within a 5-mile 
radius of the Grand Canyon West Airport terminal. This real property is 
commonly referred to as Grand Canyon West. Grand Canyon West is by this 
Ordinance excluded from the territory covered by Liquor Ordinance No. 
23, approved by the Tribal Council on December 7, 1968.
    ``Indian'' means a person who is either enrolled in a federally 
recognized Indian tribe, or who possesses one-fourth (1/4) or more 
degree Indian blood in a federally recognized tribe(s) and is 
identified in the community as being Indian.
    ``Reservation'' means all Indian Lands under the control and 
authority of the Hualapai Tribe.
    ``Sale of Alcohol for On-Site Consumption'' means the sale of

[[Page 52674]]

alcoholic beverages to be consumed only on the seller's premises and 
does not include package liquor.
    ``Sell,'' ``Sold,'' ``Buy'' means and shall include furnish, 
dispose of, give, receive or acquire.
    ``State'' means the State of Arizona.
    ``Tribe'' or ``Hualapai Tribe'' means the Hualapai Indian Tribe of 
the Hualapai Indian Reservation, a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    ``Wine'' includes champagne and similar sparkling wine beverages 
and means the product obtained by the fermentation of grapes or other 
agricultural products containing natural or added sugar or any such 
alcoholic beverage fortified with grape brandy.
    (c) Unlawful Acts. Unless specifically provided for in subsection 
(d) below, this section does not invalidate or alter the limitations on 
the use, sale, purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol set 
forth in Sections 6.276, 6.277, 6.278, 6.279 or elsewhere in the 
Hualapai Tribal Code nor shall any provision of this section be read to 
invalidate the application of the laws of the State of Arizona 
regarding the use, sale, purchase, possession, or consumption of 
alcohol.
    (d) Limited Sale and Consumption of Alcohol within Grand Canyon 
West Permitted. Notwithstanding limitations on the use, sale, purchase, 
possession, or consumption of alcohol set forth elsewhere in the 
Hualapai Tribal Code, the limited sale and consumption of alcohol 
within the entire area of Grand Canyon West is allowed, consistent with 
the following provisions:
    (1) Only entities licensed pursuant to subsection (e) of this 
Ordinance may sell and/or serve alcohol within Grand Canyon West. This 
includes entities selling or serving alcohol at special events.
    (2) No package liquor may be sold and/or served. Only the sale and/
or service of alcohol for on-site consumption is authorized.
    (3) Alcohol purchased within Grand Canyon West may only be consumed 
within the premises of the establishment at which it was purchased.
    (4) The Hualapai Tribal Council, in its discretion, may further 
limit the extent to which alcohol may be sold, served, purchased, 
distributed, possessed, and consumed within Grand Canyon West, and may 
do so by resolution. Accordingly, the Hualapai Tribal Council may, by 
resolution:
    (A) further limit the areas within Grand Canyon West in which 
alcohol may be sold and/or served;
    (B) further limit the types of businesses within Grand Canyon West 
that may sell and/or serve alcohol;
    (C) further limit the types of alcohol (liquor, beer, wine, etc.) 
sold and/or served within any portion or portions of Grand Canyon West 
or by any entity or groups of entities within Grand Canyon West;
    (D) further limit the manner in which alcohol is sold and/or served 
within any portion or portions of Grand Canyon West or by any entity or 
groups of entities within Grand Canyon West;
    (E) limit the hours in which alcohol may be sold and/or served 
within any portion or portions of Grand Canyon West or by any entity or 
groups of entities within Grand Canyon West;
    (F) notwithstanding the license suspension and revocation 
procedures below, place a partial or full emergency moratorium on 
alcohol sales and/or service within any portion or portions of Grand 
Canyon West or by any entity or groups of entities within Grand Canyon 
West when such moratorium is in the best interests of the Tribe; and/or
    (G) provide any other limitations on the sale and/or service of 
alcohol within Grand Canyon West allowed by law.
    (e) Licenses.
    (1) Licenses for the sale of alcohol beverages may be issued to 
entertainment, recreation, and tourism facilities, gaming facilities, 
bars, restaurant-bar operations, and entities selling or serving 
alcohol at special indoor or outdoor events.
    (2) Any restaurant-bar operation must produce more than the 
specified percentage set forth in their license of its gross sales from 
food service in order to be licensed after the first year of operation.
    (3) Licenses shall be issued by the Hualapai Tribal Council, upon 
the receipt by the Hualapai Tribal Council of a proper application 
containing the following information:
    (A) The name of the entity that regulates the business at which the 
sale of alcohol will take place. Such entity shall be the license 
applicant.
    (B) A copy of the organizational documents under which the 
applicant entity is organized.
    (C) A description of the land or building regulated by the 
applicant entity at which the applicant entity wishes to sell alcohol 
beverages.
    (D) A statement that the applicant entity will conform to all 
requirements of applicable Tribal, State, and federal law, as they 
relate to the purchase and sale of alcohol beverages.
    (4) Upon receipt of a proper application under this Ordinance, 
licenses for the sale of alcohol beverages may be issued by the 
Hualapai Tribal Council if the Hualapai Tribal Council finds, in its 
sole discretion, on the basis of the facts disclosed by the application 
and by such additional information as the Hualapai Tribal Council may 
deem relevant, that such issuance is in the interest of the Tribe.
    (5) Licenses for the sale of alcohol beverages issued by the 
Hualapai Tribal Council shall contain the following requirements:
    (A) Each license shall require its holder to conform its operations 
to the laws of the Tribe, the State of Arizona and the United States of 
America as they relate to the purchase and sale of alcohol beverages.
    (B) No license shall be effective for a term of more than one year 
from the date of its issuance, and each renewal thereof.
    (C) Each license shall explicitly state that its continued validity 
is dependent upon the compliance of its holder with all the provisions 
of this Ordinance and other applicable law.
    (D) No licensee may give away or sell alcohol beverages at a loss.
    (6) The Hualapai Tribal Council shall have the authority to suspend 
or revoke any license issued under this Ordinance, under the following 
procedures:
    (A) Upon receiving information suggesting that the holder of a 
license under this Ordinance may have violated the terms of the license 
or applicable law, the Hualapai Tribal Council shall give the license 
holder written notice that the Hualapai Tribal Council intends to 
suspend or revoke the holder's license. Such notice shall be sent by 
certified mail, return receipt requested, to the agent of the license 
holder and shall specify the grounds for the proposed suspension or 
revocation.
    (B) Any license holder who receives a notice of a proposed 
suspension or revocation may request a hearing by the Hualapai Tribal 
Council, by sending a written request, certified mail, return receipt 
requested, to the Chairman of the Hualapai Tribe, at the Tribal 
Chairman's administrative offices, within seven (7) days of the license 
holder's receipt of the notice.
    (C) Upon receipt of a request for a hearing under this Ordinance, 
the Hualapai Tribal Council shall set a date for a hearing, which shall 
be not later than thirty days from the date of the receipt of the 
hearing request.
    (D) At a hearing held under this Ordinance, the holder of a license 
under this Ordinance shall be permitted to present evidence with 
respect to the holder's compliance with the terms of its license and 
applicable law. In

[[Page 52675]]

reaching its decision, the Hualapai Tribal Council may consider such 
evidence, together with all other evidence it deems relevant. Following 
a hearing, if in the judgment of the Hualapai Tribal Council the 
license holder has not complied with the terms of its license and 
applicable law, the Hualapai Tribal Council shall suspend or revoke its 
license; and if in the judgment of the Hualapai Tribal Council the 
terms of the license and applicable law have been complied with, the 
proceedings shall be dismissed. In either case, the decision of the 
Hualapai Tribal Council shall be final.
    (7) The Hualapai Tribal Council may reject any application for a 
license, or for a renewal of a license, under this Ordinance, if the 
applicant previously has committed acts which have resulted in the 
suspension or revocation of a license under this Ordinance.
    (8) Any entity licensed under this Ordinance shall appoint a 
statutory agent and notify the Hualapai Tribal Council of such 
appointment.
    (9) The Hualapai Tribal Council, or any individual member thereof 
or any person acting with prior written authorization of the Hualapai 
Tribal Council may enter any premises licensed under this ordinance at 
any time to observe the activities taking place.
    (10) Each entity licensed under this Ordinance shall be required to 
file a separate application and hold a separate license for each 
facility it operates.
    (11) No license issued under this Ordinance may be transferred to 
any other entity or person.
    (f) Violation of Section. The procedures governing the adjudication 
of infractions under this Ordinance shall be those set forth in the 
rules of the Tribal Court.
    (1) Criminal Penalties.
    A. Application to Indians. Any Indian who
    (i) uses or purchases alcohol from an unlicensed entity or person,
    (ii) possesses or consumes alcohol in any location other than 
within a facility licensed in accordance with this ordinance, or
    (iii) sells, serves or distributes alcohol without a license or in 
violation of the terms and conditions of their license, shall be 
subject to the criminal penalties set forth in the Hualapai Tribal 
Code, including, but not limited to, Sections 6.276, 6.277, 6.278, 
6.279 of the Hualapai Tribal Code.
    B. Application to Non-Indians. Tribal Officials may notify federal, 
State, or county officials of any activity conducted by non-Indians 
within Grand Canyon West that violates federal, State, or county law. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or require the 
criminal trial and punishment of non-Indians within the Tribal court 
system.
    (2) Civil Fines.
    A. Any customer of a licensed entity, whether Indian or non-Indian, 
who possesses or consumes alcohol beyond the premises of such entity or 
any person, whether Indian or non-Indian, who purchases alcohol, wine 
or beer from an unlicensed entity or person shall be subject to a civil 
fine not to exceed $1,000.00, plus costs, for each separate violation.
    B. A Tribal employee, vendor, vendor employee, or contractor, 
whether Indian or non-Indian, who sells, serves, or distributes or 
possesses alcohol without a valid license, who fails to abide by the 
terms and conditions of their license or who violates any licensing 
requirement shall be subject to a civil fine not to exceed $4,000.00, 
plus costs, for each separate violation.
    (3) Tribal Court.
Imposition of all criminal penalties against Indians under this 
section, and all civil fines against Indians and non-Indians under this 
section, shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tribal Court. 
The Tribal Court may impose a penalty or fine under this section upon a 
complaint or petition filed by the Tribe, represented by the Tribal 
prosecutor or another Hualapai Tribal Council designee. The complaint 
or petition must set forth specific allegations amounting to a 
violation of this section. Notice and hearing on such complaint or 
petition, as well as appellate procedures, shall be provided in 
accordance with the rules of the Tribal Court.
    (4) Exclusion From Reservation.
In addition to other sanctions contained in this section, Tribal law 
enforcement officers shall be authorized to exclude persons who violate 
this section from the Reservation consistent with the Hualapai Tribal 
Code and Constitution.
    (5) Tribal Police.
The Tribal law enforcement officials may enforce all violations of 
Tribal (including this section), State, and/or federal laws to the 
maximum extent allowed under Tribal, State, and federal law.
    (g) Saving and Severability. In the event any section or provision 
of this section or its application to any particular activity is held 
to be invalid, the remaining sections and provisions of this section 
and the remaining applications of such sections and provisions shall 
continue in full force and effect.
    (h) No Waiver of Sovereign Immunity. Nothing in this section shall 
serve to waive the Hualapai Tribe's sovereign immunity, which is hereby 
expressly affirmed.
    (i) Amendments. This section may be amended by official action of 
the Hualapai Tribal Council.
    (j) Repeal of Prior Laws. Except as provided in subsection (c) 
above, this section, upon becoming effective, shall operate to revise 
any inconsistent portion of the Hualapai Tribal Code.

[FR Doc. E8-20953 Filed 9-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P