Leasing of Tribal Lands for Mineral Development and Leasing of Allotted Lands for Mineral Development

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the Department of the Interior (Department) is promulgating regulations revising and updating regulations in 25 CFR Parts 211 and 212 that govern mineral leasing on tribal and allotted Indian lands respectively. The intent of these regulations is to ensure that Indian mineral owners, both tribes and individual owners, desiring to have their resources developed are assured that they will be developed in a manner that maximizes their best economic interests and minimizes any adverse environmental or cultural impact resulting from such development. Further, these regulations recognize Federal government reorganization, enacted legislation, and prevailing administrative practice in the 58 years since these regulations were first promulgated.