IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELOUISE PEPION COBELL, et al., ) Plaintiffs, v. ) ) ) ) ) GALE NORTON, Secretary of the Interior, et al., ) Defendants. ) ) __________________________________________) NOTICE OF FILING Defendants in the above-entitled action give Notice of Filing of correspondence received today from individual Indian land owners addressed to the Solicitor's Office of the Department of the Interior inquiring about the suspension of a pending sale of their land. Identifying information within the letter has been removed from this filing but can be provided to the Court under seal if so requested. Case No. 1:96CV01285 (Judge Lamberth) Respectfully submitted, Dated: September 2, 2004 ROBERT D. McCALLUM, JR. Associate Attorney General PETER D. KEISLER Assistant Attorney General STUART E. SCHIFFER Deputy Assistant Attorney General J. CHRISTOPHER KOHN Director SANDRA P. SPOONER D.C. Bar No. 261495 Deputy Director /s/ Michael J. Quinn JOHN T. STEMPLEWICZ Senior Trial Counsel MICHAEL J. QUINN D.C. Bar. No. 401376 Trial Attorney Commercial Litigation Branch Civil Division P.O. Box 875 Ben Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0875 (202) 514-7194 (phone) (202) 514-9163 (fax) 2 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that, on September 2, 2004 the foregoing Notice of Filing was served by Electronic Case Filing, and on the following who is not registered for Electronic Case Filing, by facsimile: Earl Old Person (Pro se) Blackfeet Tribe P.O. Box 850 Browning, MT 59417 Fax (406) 338-7530 /s/ Kevin P. Kingston Kevin P. Kingston September 2,2004 Ms. Janet Goodwin, Senior Attorney Office ofhe Solicitor Division of Indian Affairs iMail Stop 6456 1849 C Street, N.W. Washingum, D.C. 20240 Re: Land Sale Transactions Pursuant to 25 CFR 252; Temporary Restraining Order Dear Ms. Goodwin: We have been advised of &he temporary restraining order issued by Judge Lamberth in Cobdl v. I Norton, Civ. 1:96CV012585 (D-D.C.1. We have three neaotiated land sales that were submitted to the Southern Plains Regionai Office.(SPRO) on August 1<2004 We have negotiated to sell our surface rights with the We were advised of the appraisd amount by the Tribe’s Realty face-to-face meeting to negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell at a much higher price than the appraised value. Besides the appraisal, we obtained maps of all three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the property we were to sell. We also received individual letters that stated the monetary amount we would receive according to our undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due to our negotiations with the Tribe’s Executive Committee, our settlement for these properties are mure than fair. The postppanbment of t??e approval by the temporary restraining order creates a financial b.ar&p old when these land sales are approved for all the landowners an these tracts. I for one ammears I will get over I-!dolhrs. I need to pay for medications, bills, and repairs to my home. I also need to buy a walker to assist me in getting around. I am experiencing knee problems and I could use this money for health reasons. This is a trust-@-trust conveyance between we, the landowners, and our Tribe. We feel that it is necessary to keep the land in trust and since none of us live on our make use of the properties, we wmc TO sell and 1 do not wzn: this to hke a Ion3 time because i am elderiy 00 a fixed &come. September 2,2004 Ms. Janet Goodwin, Senior Attorney Office of the Solicitor Division of Indan Affairs Mail Stop 6456 1849 C Sneer, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: Land Sale Transactions Pursuant 10 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restraining Order Dear Ms. Goodwin: I We have been advised of the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Iamberth ki Cubell v. Norton, Civ. 1:96CVO12585 (D.D.C.). We have three negotiated Land sales that were submined We have negotiated to sell our surface rights with the We were advised of the face-to-face meeting 10 negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell at a much higher price than the appraised value. Besides the appraisal, we obtained maps of ail three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the property we were to sell. We also received individual letters that stated the monetary amount we would receive according to our undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due to our negotiations with the Tribe’s Executive Committee, our settlement for these properties are more than fair. -~ The postponement of the approval by the temporary restminine order creates a financial hardshiu for ~ I I the landowners on these tracts. I submitted a Gtter dated which informed him of CfJ I am no longer worldng and am undergoing tests for a heart problem. I have submitted copies for surgery and I wished to help pay for medical expenses. After th medical your review bills with and !IF= m catlans. This permissioa is a trust-to-trust I really need conveyance the money between h m we, the the land landowners, sales to pay and for our Tribe. We feel tha it is neceSSary to keep the land in trust and since none of us Live on our make use of the properties, we want to sell. I am askinvp thar these land sales be reviewed and approved immediately. September 2,2004 -MS. Janet Goodwin, Senior Anorney Office of thc Solicitor Division of Indian AfTa.ks 1849 C Streeq N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: h d Sale Transactions Pursuant to 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restraining Order Dear Ms. Goodwin: We have been advised of the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Lamberth CobeZI v. Norton, Civ. 1:96CVO12585 (D.D.C.). We have three negotiated land sales that were submitted t Mail Stop 6456 to the Southern Plains Regional Office (SPRO) on August 10,2004 on - I , We have negotiated to sell our surface rights with the 1 1 - We were advised of the appraisal amount by the Tribe's Realty meeting to negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell -ke-to-fxe at a much higher price than the appraised value. Besides the appraisal, we obtained maps of all three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the property we were to sell. We also received individual letters that s t a ~ d the monetary amount we would receive according to our undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due to OUT negotiations with the Tribe's Executive Committee, our settlement for these properties are more than fair. The postponement ofthe approval by the temporary restraining order creates a hancial fiardship for all the landowners on these tracts. Personally, I need the -that would pay far medications that I cannot afford. I need to get caught up on my bills especially my rent, or I could lose my house I m buying. This is a trust-to-trust conveyance between we, the landowners, and our Tribe. We feel that it is necessary to keep the land in trust and since none of us live on our make use of the properties, we want to sell. I am a s h g that these land sales be reviewed and approved immediately. September 2,2004 Ms. Janet Goodwin, Senior Arcomey Office of the Soliciror Division of Indian Affairs Mail Stop 6456 1849 C Sueet, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: Land Sale Transacdons Pursuanc co 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restraining Ordcr Dear Ms. Goodwin: We have bccn advised of the temporary retsuaining order issued by Judge Lamberth in Cobell V. Norron, Civ. 1 :96CV012585 @.D.C.)- We have three negotiated land sales that were submitted to the Southern Plains Regional Office (PRO) on August 10,2004 on I-! We have negotiated to sell our surface rights with the & We were advised of the appraisal amount by the Tribe’s Realty Department. As a result of our face-to-face meeting to negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell at a much higher price than the appraised value. Besides the appraisal, we obtained maps of all three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the property we were to sell. We also received individual leners that stated the monetary amount we would receive accordmg 10 our undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due 10 our negotiations with the Tribe’s Executive Committee, our settlement for these properties are more than fair. The postponement of rhe approval by the temporary restraining order creates a financial hardship for all the Ian&owners on these ~ L S . This is a trust-to-trut conveyance between we, the landowners, and our Tribe. W e feel thar it is necessary to keep the land in tNsf and since none of us live on our make use of the properties, we want to sell. I am aslcing that these land sales be reviewed and approved immediarely. Sepsmber 2,2009 Ms janet W t v i n , Senior Ao0Jrn.n~~ Office of &e W-amr uail Smp &56 Division ofIndian AfEBirs N.W. 1849 c Washington, D-C 202443 ! I i September 2,2004 14s. Janet Goodwin, Senior Anorney Oflice of the Solicitor Dilision of Indian Affairs Mail Srop 6456 1849 C Street, N.W. Wshington, D.C. 20240 Re: Land Sale Transactions Pursuanc to 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restraining Order I Dear bls. Goodwin: We have bccn advised of che temporary recstraining order issued by Judge Lamberth in Cobeil v. Norion, Civ. 1:96CV012585 (D.D.C.). We have three negotiated land sales that were submitted We have negotiated to sell our surface rights with the We were advised of the appraisal amount by the Tribe’s Realty face-to-face meeting to negotiate with the Tribe, we asreed to sell at a much higher price than the appraised value. Basides the appraisal, we obtained maps of aU three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the properry we were to sell. We also received individual letters that stated the monetary amount we would receive according to our undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due to our negodaions with the Tribe’s Executive Committee, our settlement for these properties are more than fair. The postponement of d.le approval by rhe temporary restraining order creates a financial bardskip for all h e landowners on these mcts. This is a tms-io-trust conveyance between we, the landowners, and our Tribe. We feel that it is necessary to keep the land in hust and since none of us live on our make use of the properties, we want to sell. I am %king that these land sales be reviewed and approved immediately. September 2,2000 ’ . . _. Ms. Janet Goodwin, Senior Atcorney Oflice of &he Solicitor Division of Indian Affairs Mail Srop 6456 k 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: Land Sale Transactions Pursuant to 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restrainkc Order Dear Ms. Goodwin: We have been advised of the cemporq retstraining order issued by Judge Lamberth in Cobeil v. Norton, Civ. 1:96CV012585 (D.D.C.). We have three negotiated land sales that were submitted to the Sourhem Plains Regional Office (SPRO) on August 10,2004 o We were advised of the appraisal amount by the Tribe’s Realty ur surface rights wi& the \\I face-reface meeting to negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell at a much higher price than the appndsed value. Besides the appraid we obtained maps of all three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the property we were to sell. We afso received individual letters that stated the monetary amount we would receive according to our undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due to our negoriarions with the Tribe’s Executive Committee, our settlement for these properties are more than fair. n e postponmmi of the approval by the temporary restraining order creaes a financial hardship for all the landowners on these tracts. This is a msr-to-trust conveyance between we, the landowners, and ow Tribe. We feel thar it is necessary to keep the land in trust and since none of us live on our make use of the propdes, we want to sell. I am a s b g tbat these Iand sales be reviewed and approved immediately. Sincerely, I September 2,2004 Ms. Janer Goodwin, Scnior Attorney Olfice of the Solicitor Division of Indian Affiirs Mail Stop 6456 1849 C Street, N.W. M‘ashingon, D.C. 202W Rc: Land Sale Transactions Pursuant to 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restraininq Order L Dear Ms. Goodwin: We have been advised of the temporary rerswaining order issued byJudge Lamberth in CobeIl v. Norron, Civ. 1:96CVO12585 (D.D.C.). We have three negotiated land sales that were submitted We have negotiated to sell our surfkce rights with the We were advised of the a t . As a result of our face-to-face meetlng to negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell at a much higher price than the appraised value. Besides the appraisal, we obtained maps of all three tracts of Iand and were advised of any leases, and all the other infomarion we needed about the property we were to sell. We also received individual I&ters that stated the monetary amount we would receive according to OUT undivided interests in the properties. I feel that due to our negotiations with the Tribe’s Executive Cornmitree, our settlement for these pperties are more than fair. The p o s ~ ~ ~ e ~ c ~ ~ ofthe approval by the temporary resrrakung arder creates a financial hardship for aU rhe landownas on these mts. This is a mt-to-trust conveyance bemeen we, the landowners, and our Tribe. We’feel that it is neceSSary to keep the land in trust and since none of us Live on our make use of the properties, we want to sell. I am asking that these land sales be reviewed and approved immediately. September 2,2004 Ms. Janet Goodwin, Senior Arcorney Oficc of the SoliciIor Division of Indian Miirs Mail Stop 6456 Wsshington, D.C. 20240 wT surface rights with t h e i l l 1849 C Sneer, N.W. Re: Land Sale Transactions pUrjuan[ 10 25 CFR 152; Temporary Restraining Order Dear Ms. Goodwin: We have been advised of the r e m p o w retsuainhg order issued by Judge Lamberih in Cobelf v. Norzon, Civ. 1 :96CV012585 P.D.C.). We have three negotiated land sales that were submitted fair. want to sell. We were advised of the appraisal amount by the Tribe’s ReaIty face-to-face meeting to negotiate with the Tribe, we agreed to sell at a much higher p i c e than the appraised value. Besides the appraisal, we obtained maps of all three tracts of land and were advised of any leases, and all the other information we needed about the property we were to sell. We also received individual letters that stated the monetary amount we would receive according to our undivided interests in the properties. 1 feel that due to o w negotiations with the Tribe’s Executive Commit&, our settlement for these properties are more than The posrpoaement of t5e approval by the temporary restramkg order creates a hancial hardship for aU. the landowners on these tracts. This is a trust-to-trust conveyance between we, the landowners, and our Tribe. We feel that ir is necessary to keep the land in trust and since none of us live on our make use of the properties, we I am asking that these land sales be reviewed a i d approved immediately.