Trust Management Reform: Leasing/Permitting, Grazing, Probate and Funds Held in Trust

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), revises its regulations in the areas of probate, funds held in trust for Indian tribes and individual Indians, leasing/permitting, and grazing. These revisions are meant to further fulfill the Secretary's fiduciary responsibility to federally-recognized tribes and individual Indians. Particularly, revisions to the probate regulations institute necessary procedures to expedite the probate process for Indian decedents' estates. Revisions to regulations dealing with funds held in trust standardize the process for collecting, distributing, and accounting for individual Indian monies and monies held in trust for tribal governments. Revisions to leasing/permitting regulations implement the Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act and address appropriate procedures for entering into leases and permits on Indian lands and, more importantly, aid in properly determining and accounting for the value of such leases to individual land owners and tribal entities. Revisions in the grazing permit regulations address similar concerns and further standardize the process and forms utilized in granting permits on Indian lands. In the interests of economy of administration, and because all the revisions clarify and standardize Departmental policy, they are illustrated in one rulemaking vehicle.