IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
ELOUISE PEPION COBELL, et al., 
Plaintiffs, 
1 
1 
) 
1 
) 
) 
V. Case No. 1:96CVO1285 
(Judge Lamberth) 
GALE A. NORTON, Secretary of the 
Interior, et al., 
) 
) 
1 
) 
Defendants. 
NOTICE OF FILING BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
OF FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES RELATED TO THE COLLECTION 
OF INDIAN TRUST-RELATED RECORDS FROM THIRD PARTIES 
Interior Defendants hereby give notice of the filing of copies of (1) Notice in the Federal 
Register, dated February 6, 2002, entitled "Office of Historical Trust Accounting; Historical Accounting 
of Individual Indian Money Accounts: Collection of Documents Related to Oil and Gas Production on 
Allotted Lands" ("2/6/02 Notice") (annexed hereto as Attachment A); and (2) Notice in the Federal 
Register, dated May 5,2003, entitled "Policy and Procedures for Collection of Missing Indian Trust- 
Related Records from Third Parties" ("5/5/03 Notice") (annexed hereto as Attachment B). 
In the 2/6/02 Notice, the Department of the Interior requested, inter alia, "that anyone who 
possesses records related to the Individual Indian Money (LLM) trust funds . . . notify the Department, 
and , . . preserve and maintain such records indefinitely until further notice." 67 Fed. Reg. 5607 
(2002). The request was particularly directed at "entities that have or had business with the 
Department or individual Indians involving the payment of money for use of or access to Indian allotted lands, and would include entities in the oil and gas industry, the timber industry, farming and grazing 
operations, financial institutions, public utilities (e.g., gas, electric and telephone companies), Indian 
Tribes, other federal agencies, state and local government archives, and non-governmental depositories 
such as historical societies, and possibly others." The Notice added that, if responding entities 
preferred, "arrangements can be made for the Department to take custody of such records." a. The 
stated purposed of the request was "to ensure that such records are not destroyed so that they may be 
used to support an accounting of IM trust funds." &j. 
The 5/5/03 Notice "establishes policy and procedures that the Department of the Interior (DOI) 
will follow to collect relevant, available Indian trust-related records from third parties to conduct a 
historical accounting of Individual Indian Monies (TIM) or Tribal Trust Accounts." 68 Fed. Reg. 
23,756 (2003). In addition to discussing the procedures for collecting trust information, the Notice also 
describes certain initiatives taken by Interior, including (1) a March 2002 letter ''sent to approximately 
4,200 addresses derived from the Oil and Gas Journal subscription list" asking if the recipients 
"possessed records relating to production on individual-allotted Indian lands and requested an inventory 
of those records from 1887 to the present"; (2) an on-site survey conducted by OHTA staff of certain 
documents held in storage by a responding company "to determine what data may be available from 
third-party sources and to estimate their relevance to the historical accounting effort"; and (3) a 
presentation at an October 2002 conference of the Council of Petroleum Accountants Society at which 
information was presented describing the Office of Historical Trust Accounting and "its role in collecting 
missing information and in completing the historical accounting for IM account holders." Id. at 23, 
757. 
2 Dated: June 13,2003 
Respectfully submitted, 
ROBERT D. McCALLUM 
Acting Associate Attorney General 
STUART E. SCHIFFER 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General 
3. CHRISTOPHER KOHN 
Director 
SANDRA P. SPOONER 
Deputy Director 
DC Bar No. 261495 
JOHN T. STEMPLEWICZ 
Senior Trial Attorney 
GIN0 D. VISSICCHIO 
Trial Attorney 
Commercial Litigation Branch 
Civil Division 
P.O. Box 875 
Ben Franklin Station 
Washington, D.C. 20044-0875 
(202) 5 14-7 194 
3 NO. 25 Feb. 6, 2002 -Val. 67 
~ Pages 5431-5720 
I A 
Wednesday ........................ 
Housing Branch, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th St., NW, New 
Executive Office 
Washington, DC 20503. 
Room 10235J Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental, Health 
Services Administration. 
[FR Doc. 02-2755 Filed 2 4 - 0 2 ; 8:45 am] 
BILLING COO€ 4162-2o-P 
Dated: January30, 2002. 
[FR Doc. 02-2754 Filed 2-5-02; 8.45 am] 
BILLING CODE 4165-154 
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administratian 
~ 
Center for Substance Abuse 
Prevention; Notice of Meeting 
from Carol Watkins, Committee 
. _____. .. . ..... .. ...... .. .- 
- 
Dated January 30,2002. Toian Vaughn, 
Executive Secretory, Committee Management 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Office of Historical Trust Accounting; 
Historical Accounting of IndividuaI 
Indian Money Accounts: Collection of 
Documents Related to Oil and Gas 
Production on Allotted Lands 
AGENCY: Office of Historical Trust 
Accounting, Interior. 
ACTION: Notice-regarding records 
relating to indian allotted land-and 
individual indian money accounts. 
others. Relevant records would include 
. payments, and any other records which 
pertain to IIM trust institutions, public 
utilities (e.g., gas, electric and telephone 
companies), Indian Tribes, other federal 
agencies? state and local government 
archives, and non-governmental 
depositories such as historical societies, 
and possibly others. This request is 
pursuant to the Department's duty to 
account for trust funds held in IIM 
Accounts. 
' 
FOR FURTHER 1NFORMATlON CONTACT: 
Stephen Swanson, Project Coordinator, 
Office of Historical Trust Accounting, 
1951 Constitution Avenue, W., MS 16 
SIB, Washington, DC 20240, telephone 
or by facsimile at 2021 z02/208-3405, 
219-1139. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 
December 21,1999, the United States 
balances in IIM accounts, reports to 
determine whether the trust has been Federal Register f Vol. 67, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2002 /Notices 
collection request, explanatory 
information and related forms, contact 
Rebecca A. Mullin at 7031358-2287. or 
electronically to rmullin@fws.gov. 
each of the four Flyways, three 
representatives from wetlands 
conservation organizations, the 
Secretary of the Board of the National 
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the 
5608 
obligation” to account for IIM trust 
funds. Cobell V. Norton, 240 F.3d 1081, 
1105-06 (D.C. Cir, 2001). 
The-Department is in the process of 
developing written policies and 
procedures for the collection of such 
records. However, the Department 
recognizes that it is important to reach 
out to non-Interior souxes of these 
records to encourage them to preserve 
and maintain them so that they q e 
available to support the accounting of 
IIM funds. The Department will provide 
fufther guidance based upon the 
information obtained from record 
custodians. 
Dated. February 1, 2002. 
J. Steven Gdes, 
DeputySecn?taxy. 
CODE 4310-02-P 
_- 
[FR Doc. 02-2931 Filed 2-1-02: 5:04 pm] 
B(LUIIG ~, 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Fish and Wildlife Service 
such, the purpose of the Council is to 
recommend wetlands conservation 
project proposals to the Migratory Bird 
Conservation Commission (MBCC) for 
funding. 
Subsection (c) of Section 5 (Council 
~ 
Standa 
describe in substantial detail project 
locations and other characteristics, to 
meet the stanJards established by the 
Council and the requirements of 
NAWCA. The Council Coordinator’s 
office publishes and distributes 
’ 
- - 
promote long-term conservation of 
North American wetland ecosystems 
and the waterfowl and other migratory 
birds, fish and wildlife that depend 
upon such habitat through partnerships. 
Principal conservation actions 
supported by NAWCA are acquisition, 
enhancement and restoration of 
wetlands and wetlands-associated 
habitat. 
As well as providing for a continuing 
and stable funding base, NAWCA 
establishes an administrative body, 
made up of a State representative from 
Director of the Service. This 
administrative body is chartered, under 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, by 
the U.S. Department of the Interior as 
the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Council (Council). As 
Procedures) provides that the “* * * 
Council shall establish practices and 
procedures for the can-ying out of its 
functions under subsections (a) and (ti) 
of this section * * *,” which are 
consideration of projects and 
recommendations to the MBCC, 
respectively. The means by which the 
Council decides which project . 
proposals are important to recommend 
to the MBCC is through grants programs 
that are coordinaied through the 
Council Coordinator’s office (NAIWO) 
withm the Service. 
Competing f i r grant funds involves 
applications from partnersbps that . 
- Standard and Small Grants instructional 
booklets that assist the applicants in 
formulating project proposals for 
Council consideration. The instructional 
booklets and other instruments, eg., 
Federal Register notices on request for 
proposals, are the basis for t h i s 
information couection request for OMB 
all 
OMB has up to 60 days to approve 
or disapprove information collection but 
may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to 
ensure maximum consideration, OMB 
should receive public comments by the 
above referenced date. 
ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions 
on the requirement should be sent to 
Rebecca Mullin, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer. U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, ms 222--ARLSQ, 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
The OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 
1320, which implement provisions of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-13), require that interested 
members of the public and affected 
agencies have an opportunity to 
comment on information collection and 
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). On May 26,1999, the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) was 
given regular approval by OMB for 
collection of information in order to 
continue the grants programs currently 
mnducted under the North American 
Wetlands Conservation Act (Pub. L. 
101-233, as amended; December 13, 
1989). The assigned OMB information 
collection control number is 1018-0100, 
and approval expires on May 31,2002. 
The Service is requesting a three year 
term of approval for this information 
collection activity. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. 
Comments are invited on : (I) 
- - 
Wheiiher the collection of information ~. is 
necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have 
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the 
agency’s estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and, 
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on 
respondents. 
Title: Information Collection In 
Support of Grant Programs Authorized 
by the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Act of 1989 (NAWCA). 
Approvd Number: 1018-0100. 
Service Form Numberfs): NIA. 
Description and Use: The North 
American Waterfowl Management Plan 
(NAWMP),first signed in 1986, is a 
tripartite agreement among Canada, 
Mexico and the United States to 
enhance, restore and otherwise protect 
continental wetlands to benefit 
waterfowl and other wetland associated 
wildlife through partnerships between 
and among the private and public 
sectors. Because the 1986 NAWMP did clearance. Information collected under 
not carry with it a mechanism to this program is used to respond to such 
provide for broadly-based and sustained needs as: audits, program planning a d 
financial support for wetland 
conservation activities, Congress passed 
and the President signed into law the 
NAWCA to fill that funding need. The 
purpose of NAWCA, as amended, is to 
information Collections Submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget 
:for Approval Under the Paperwork 
. -Reduction Act Grants Programs 
.Authorized by the North American 
- Wettands Conservation Act (NAWCA) 
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Interior. 
ACTION: Notice of information collection; 
request for comments. 
SUMMARY: The collection of information 
described below will be submitted to 
Oflice of Management and Budget the 
(OMB) for approval under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. Copies of the specific 
information collection requirements, 
related forms and explanatory material 
may be obtained by contacting the 
Service Information Collection 
Clearance Officer at the address 
provided below. 
Cansideration will be given to 
comments received on or before April 8, 
TO 
DATES: 
2002. 
1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20240. 
request a copy of the information 
management, program evaluation, 
Government Performance and Results 
Act reporting, Standard Form 424 
(Application For Federal Assistance), 
grant agreements, budget reports and Monday 
VoL 
5 - 9 3 
68 No. 86 May 5, 2003 
- 
Attachment 
B Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 86 I Monday, May 5, 2003 / Notices 
SSNs provided by POAs to reveal 
duplicate SSNs and potential duplicate. 
housing assistance. 
V. Period of the Match 
Assistance and Contract Verification 
Data (HUn/H-11). Within HUD, this 
system of records includes two 
automated systems known as the 
Multifamily Tenant Characteristics 
System (a system for programs under 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing) and the 
Tenant Rental Assistance Certification 
The SSA will match the HUD/H-11 
of 
(TreadIRS 
* 
- - 
The computer matchmg program 
be conducted according to agreements 
and the SSA, IRS, OPM, 
HUD will disclose matching results 
for SWICAs wage and unemployment 
claim data directly to HAS. The 
comparison of SWICAs wage 
information and the tenant-reported 
data will reveal whether income System (a system for programs under 
verification is necessary. HAS must then the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
obtain wage information directly from Housing-Federal Housing 
the tenants’ employers, including Commissioner). POAs provide HUD 
information from prior 4 years, when with t4e tenant data that is included in 
appropriate. The SWICAs 
unemployment claim data must be 
verified with the tenants. Verification of records to the SSAs Earnings Recording one 12-month period, with the mutual 
wiu 
between HUD 
and SWICA. The computer matching 
agreements for the planned matches will 
terminate either when the purpose of 
the computer matching program is 
accomplished, or 18 months fiom the 
date the agreement is signed, whichever 
comes first. 
The agreements may be extended for 
agreement of all involved parties, if the 
followin conditions are met: 
(1) WiLin 3 months of the expiration 
date, all Data Integrity Boards review 
the agreement, find that the program 
will be conducted without change, and 
find a continued favorable examination 
benefivcost results; and 
(2) All parties c e w that the program 
has been conducted in compliance with 
the agreement. 
The agreement may be terminated, 
prior to accomplishment of the 
computer matching purpose or 18 
months fiom the date the agreement is 
signed (whichever comes first), by the 
mutual agreement of all involved parties 
within 30 days of written notice. 
Dated: April 24, 2003. 
Gloria R. Parker, 
KuT)/H-11. 
and Self-Employment Income System 
(HHS/SSA/OSR, 09-60-0059) (Earnings 
Record); Master Beneficiary Record 
(HHS/SSA/OSR, 0940-0090) (MBR]; 
and Supplemental Security Income 
Record (HHSISSAIOSR, 09-60-0103) 
(SSR). The IRS will match the HUD/H- 
11 records to its Wage and Information 
(RE’] MastecFile Returns 
22.061). The IRS also refers to this file 
as the Information Return Master File 
(W). 
HUD will place matching data into its 
system of records known as the Tenant 
Eligihility Verification Files 
REAC-1). The HUD/REXC4 records are 
specifically exempt from certain 
provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
described in notices published on 
tenants+to: (1) Resolve February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9406) and 
March 30,1994 (59 FR 14869). Chief Technology Officer. 
[FR Doc. 03-11054 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am] 
EILUNG CODE 4210-72-P 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Office of the Secretary 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bert 
23756 
income and special veterans benefits 
data to all POAs. 
(3) Verification of SWICAs Data 
the income data with employers or the 
SWICAs would only be required if 
tenants dispute the SWICAs data. 
(4) Verification of OPM Data 
HUD will disclose matching results 
for OPM personnel data to POAs. The 
OPM data, when compared to the 
tenant-reported data, provides an 
indicator that income verification is 
necessary. The POA’may then obtain 
current or prior wage information 
directly from employers when 
appropriate. 
B. Administrative or L g a l Actions 
Regarding all the matqhing described 
in this notice, HUD anticipates that 
PO& will take appropriate action in 
consultation with 
. income disparities between tenant- 
reported and independent income 
source data, and (2) use correct income 
amounts in determining housing rental 
assistance. 
POAs must compute the rent in full 
compliance with all applicable 
occupancy regulations. PO& must 
ensure that they use the correct income 
and correctly compute the rent. 
IV. Records To Be Matched 
SSA and IRS will conduct the 
matching of tenant SSNs and additional 
identifiers (such as surnames and dates 
of birth) to tenant data that HUD 
supplies from its system of records 
known as the Tenant Housing 
(HUD/ 
HUD may also coordinate SWICAs 
income computer matches for its rental 
assistance programs using tenants’ SSNs 
and surnames. SWICAs will match 
tenant records to machine-readable files 
of quarterly wage data and 
unemployment insurance benefit data. 
Results from this matching will be 
provided to HUD or HAS, which will 
then determine whether tenants have 
between the SWICAs and HUD. 
In addition, tenants SSNs may be 
matched to the OPM’s General 
Personnel Records (OPWGOVT-1) and 
the Civil Service Retirement and 
Insurance Records System (OPM/ 
Central-1). Tenant data may be matched 
to the SSA’s Master Files of Social 
Security Number Holders (HHS/SSA/ 
The POAs may not suspend, 
terminate, reduce, or make a final denial unreported or underreported income. 
of any housing assistance to any tenant The matching will be done in 
as the result of information produced by accordance with a written agreement 
this matching program until: (a) The 
tenant has received notice from the POA 
of it5 findings and informing the tenant 
of the opportunity to contest such 
findings and (b) either the notice period 
provided in applicable regulations of 
the program, or 30 days, whichever is 
later, has expired. In most cases, POAs 
will resolve income discrepancies in 
consultation with tenants. OSR, 09-60-0058) and Death Master 
Files for the purpose of validating SSNs 
contained in tenant records. These 
records will also be used to validate 
SSNs for all applicants, tenants, and 
household members who are six (6) 
years of age and over to identify 
noncompliance with program eligibility 
requirements. KUD will compare tenant 
Policy and Procedures for Collection 
of Missing Indian Trust-Related 
Records From Third Parties 
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. 
ACTION: Notice. 
SUMMARY: This document establishes 
policy and procedures that the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) will 
follow to collect relevant, available 
Indian trust-related records from third 
parties to conduct a historical 
accounting of Individual Indian Monies 
(IIM) or Tribal Trust accounts. 
Collection of these records would 
supplement existing Federal records 
and assist the Department in assembling 
complete records in those instances 
where Federal records are incomplete or 
missing. 
Edwards, Executive Director, Office of Federal Register / Vol. 
Historical Trust Accounting, 1801 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite 400, 
Washington DC 20006, telephone 202- 
327-5300, or by facsimile at 202-327- 
5375. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 
remainder of this notice is divided into 
two parts. Part one contains the policy 
and procedures the Department will 
follow in collecting Indian trust-related 
records from third parties needed to 
comfilete the historical accounting. Part 
. two is an explanation of the 
Department’s policy and how it evolved. 
Part One: Policy and Procedures for 
Collecting Indian Trust-Related 
Records From Third Parties 
1. Policy 
The Department’s Office of Historical 
Trust Accounting (OHTA) will iden*, 
locate, and secure available data, 
including missing trust-related records, 
as necessary, to conduct a historical 
accounting of Individual Indian Monies 
(IIM) or tribal accounts. 
1 U. Objective 
The objective of this policy is to 
supplement existing Federal records by 
collecting relevant, available Indian 
trust-related records from third parties 
for purposes of conducting a historical 
IIM or tribal accounts. accounting of 
i1I. Responsibility 
OHTA is responsible for carrying out 
the procedures identified in this policy 
and for coordinating with other DO1 
bureaus and offices, as appropriate. 
N. Procedures To Be Followed in 
Collecting Trust Information 
OHTA must use the following actions 
to locate and secure missing Indian 
trust-related information from third 
parties. 
1. Alert Potential Third Parties to DOI‘s 
Efforts to Locate and Secure Possible 
Missing Indian Trust-Related Records, 
and Request Retention 
(a) Alert potential third parties to 
DOI’s efforts and the need to retain 
relevant records through Federal In an effort to gauge the potential 
Register notices, letters, newspaper ads, availability of third-party Individual 
Indian Monies-related or Tribal-related presentations at meetings and 
conferences, information bulletins in 
mailings, and other means. 
(b) Potential third parties include: 
(1) Tribes; 
(2) Federal agencies (other than 
Bureaus within DOI); 
(3) State agencies; 
(4) County agencies: 
( 5 ) Municipal agencies; 
(6) Financial Institutions; 
(7) Companies; 
68, No. 86 I Monday, May 5 , 2003 /Notices 
Law firms; (8) 
(9) Colleges and universities; 
(10) Professional organizations and 
societies; and 
(1 1) Individuals. 
2. Identify Information and Records 
Needed 
(a) Identify records necessary, e.g., to 
complete the historical accounting use 
document types described in the 
Accounting Standards Manual issued 
by OHTA. 
(b) Assess known dormation gaps 
and missing Indian trust-related records. 
For example, in preparing the historical 
accounting: 
(I) Use results from a current Office 
of Trust Records project to index 
existing records; 
(2) Survey Interior Bureaus to 
determine the availability of relevant 
records; and 
(3) Complete an evaluation of relevant 
automated systems. 
(c) Identify specific information gaps 
that might be filled by third parties. trust data. The review also led to the 
3. Identify and Locate Indian Trust- conclusion that locating trust data 
Related Records Held by Potential Third within the volume of stored records 
Parties 
(a) Identify potential third parties by 
resource and document type. 
(b) Contact potential third parties. 
(c) Ask potential third parties to 
identify, inventory, and secure 
available, relevant Indian trust-related 
records, providing a copy of the 
inventory to DOI. 
4. Obtain Third-Party Records 
(a) Once a data gap has been 
identified, review available third-party 
inventories and identify records that 
pertain. 
(b) Secure relevant Indian trust- 
related records through an electronic 
image, paper copy, or in some instances, 
assuming custody of original records. 
(c) Store available records in an 
appropriate records storage facility. 
Part Two: Explanation of the 
Department’s Policy 
I. Oil and Gas Industry Pilot Project 
information, DO1 initiated a pilot project 
focused on the oil and gas industry. A 
Federal Register notice was published 
on February 6,2002 (67 FR 5607), 
requesting that, “anyone in possession 
IIM trust funds to of records related to 
notify the Department, and preserve and 
maintain such records indefinitely.” 
The notice also noted that DO1 would be -Companies are concerned about 
willing to take custody of these records, Federal access to records unrelated to 
Indian trust. if the current owner preferred. 
. 
resources. 
acquired company. 
23757 
In March 2002, this notice was 
followed with a 1etter.sent to 
approximately 4,200 addresses derived 
from the Oil and Gas Journal 
subscription list. This letter asked if the 
company addressee possessed records 
relating to production on individual- 
allotted Indian lands and requested an 
inventory of those records from 1887 to 
the present. The letter requested that the 
company preserve and maintain these 
documents. It also asked for a copy of 
the company’s records retention policy. 
would be a labor-intensive exercise, 
particularly where there is no data 
discussion following the presentation 
revealed the follovi-ing. 
- 
In July 2002, staff from OHTA 
conducted an on-site survey of some 
documents held in storage by a 
responding company located in Denver, 
Colorado. The purpose of this review 
was to determine what data may be 
available €mm third-party sources and 
to estimate their relevance to the 
historical accounting effort. The review 
revealed that trust records represent a 
very small percentage of the stored 
materials and are interspersed with non- 
inventory. 
A final component of this pilot project 
involved a presentation at the fall 
conference of the Council of Petroleum 
Accountants Society in October 2002. In 
this case, information was presented to 
the conference describing OHTA, its 
role in collecting missing information 
and in completing the historical 
accounting for Iu? account holders. “he 
-Many of the companies represented at 
the conference are retaining data they 
believe are relevant to Indian trust 
-Industry consolidation could make 
data collection more difficult because 
acquiring companies may not be fully 
aware of the content or completeness 
of records “inherited” from an 
-Companies are concerned that old, 
and potentially unknown, liabilities 
inherited from acquired companies 
could be discovered if they surrender 
records to the Federal Government. 
-Few, if any, companies have 
segregated Indian data from non- 
Indian data, and it could be costly to 
as so, particularly for inactive, 
arclved records. Federal Register /Val. 68, No. 86 /Monday, May 5, 2003 1 Notices 
3 . Identify and Locate Records Held bv performing the historical accounting. At Explanation of the Procedures for II. 
Collecting Trust Information 
This part explains the procedures in 
section W of part one of this notice. The 
numbered paragraphs correspond to the 
paragraph numbers in section IV of part 
one. 
I. Alert Potential Third Parties of DOI’s 
Efforts To Locate and Secure Possible 
Missing Indian Trust-Related i 
4 
present, the Manual focuses on Potential-Third Parties 
documents under Federal control. As Once an information need has been 
the historical accounting progresses, the identified and it has been confirmed 
Manual is expected to be updated as that the necessary trust-related data are 
more is learned about the types of not under Federal control, the next step 
documents available and the types of , is to identify a potential source from an 
documents utilized over time. In those entity other than a Bureau within DOI, 
instances where OHTA is not able to use i.e., a third party. 
or locate federally held records to The number and range of potential 
document a transaction, the manual will third parties is extensive. State and 
identify equivalent third-party data as a 
means to support the accounting. 
-3 
- 
‘ 
Information, and Request Retention 
OHTA expects to write letters, 
publish notices in the Federal Register, 
and take ads in local, regional, and 
national newspapers, Tribal 
publications, and trade and professional 
publications to alert potential third 
parties of the possible need for their 
Third-party data would likely reside 
with entities involved in the revenue 
stream or production activities 
associated with Indian trust resources, 
or with those parties that received the 
revenue. Atlalysis of these activities, as 
well as lines of communication 
associated with them, will help identify 
documents potentially held by third- 
party custodians. For example, data 
county agency records may offer a 
number of data sources. For example, 
State revenue records usually contain 
data on both personal and business tax 
assessments and payments; County 
Clerk offices may have data to identdy 
and confirm property ownership or 
property leases; Oil and Gas 
Commissions can have records on 
production rates, prices, and royalties; 
State and regional Geological Societies 
may possess information to help 
determine oil quality and pmduction 
Indian trust-related records. In the case 
of historical accounting, for example, 
the notices and ads will describe the 
historical accounting effort, and request 
individuals and organizations to 
inventory their records and no* 
OHTA if they believe they possess 
records relevant to income production 
on individual Indian or Tribal lands. 
Additionally, OHTA will make 
presentations to professional 
relevant to judgments are likely to be areas; State Agricultural Departments 
associated with court records. Searching are likely to hold data about crop 
pertinent court records may produce 
documents suitable for use in 
documenting transactions associated 
with judgment accounts. 
harvest, grazing, and dairy production; 
State Forestry Departments could have 
information relevant to timber 
production, timber harvest, and timber 
sales. organizations as a means of making a 
direct request for assistance in locating 
relevant data. In those instances where 
a specific third party is a likely source 
of records, OHTA will approach the 
entity directly. 
Private companies are also likely to 
have data to confirm lease payments, 
rights-of-way payments, and production 
data. Federal agencies other than DOI 
could have data on timber harvest, 
surface mine production, grazing, and 
A number of efforts have been 
initiated to address potential 
information gaps. The Office of Trust 
Records (OTR) has initiated a contract to 
index records in the OTR Albuquerque 
facilities and the Lee’s Summit, 
Missouri, Federal Records Center. This 
effort will provide an assessment of 
Further, another process to locate 
third-party data involves inserting 
informational notices into routine 
mailings administered by DO1 agencies 
and non-DO1 agencies (such as the U.S. 
Forest Service). This process would 
alert third parties directly and ask for 
their assistance in locating appropriate 
data. With- the cooperation of elected 
officials, a similar mailing could be 
directed toward a larger audience by 
inserting informational notes into 
Congressional letters mailed to 
constituents. 
2. Identify Information Needed 
In order to secure relevant data, it is 
important to identify the information 
needs that exist. Searching for third- 
party data before knowing whether 
these data are necessary is neither 
efficient nor effective. The relevance 
and importance of third-party data will 
be determined by information gaps 
identified. Thus, it is important to know 
what information gaps exist and then 
develop an approach to fill those gaps. 
7 
- 
recreational revenues, The U.S. General 
Accounting Office may have 
information relative to previous 
accountings, and the Department of the 
Treasury is likely to have records of 
cashed checks issued to, or on behalf of 
historical societies, professional and 
business associations, and a variety of 
other entities may possess record5 that 
will be relevant to the historical 
accounting process. 
records and record types in Federal 
custody and can be used to identlfy 
those that may have to be searched 
among third parties. In addition, several 
Burears within DOI, including Bureau IIM account holders by the Federal 
of Indian Affairs, Minerals Management Government. Financial institutions, 
Service, U S . Geological Survey, and the colleges and universities, State and local 
Bureau of Land Management will be 
asked to identify the types of records 
they have destroyed as part of an 
approved document retention/ 
disposition plan, or accidentally. This 
survey will also provide information Finally, it is very possible individual 
about records in Federal possession and 
those that could be searched and 
perhaps retrieved from third parties. 
Indians and Tribes may possess records 
that can be used to Supplement Federal 
records. As the accounting effort 
identifies a need to supplement 
available Federal records, the 
appropriate organization(s) will be 
identified and attempts made to secure 
copies of existing records. 
4. Obtain Thnd-Party Data 
Once a potential data need has been 
Identified and a possible records source 
has been recognized, OHTA will 
undertake prudent action to contact the 
source, review available documents, and 
attempt to secure a copy of relevant 
Gaps in available data will also be 
detected as OHTA undertakes the 
accounting effort. Analyses will verify 
account transactions with actual 
records. Transactions that cannot be 
corroborated will usually indicate the 
need to search for additional relevant 
data. Identification of data gaps through 
the reconciIiation process is anticipated 
to result in specific and relevant data 
needs, and may require identifying and 
collecting records held by third Parties. 
For example, after consulting with 
five major accounting firms, OHTA has 
issued an Accounting Standards 
Manual that identifies key document 
types for accounting teams to use in Federal Register / Vol. 68, NO. 86 I Monday, May 5, 2003 I Notices 
data. The availability of inactive records 
held by individual entities will vary 
since experience indicates there is no 
“industry standard” document retention Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. 
policy. 
(BLM) Upper Snake In some instances, entities may 
request that DO1 take custody of 
relevant documents. In appropriate 
cases, DO1 will identify a suitable secure 
storage site (e.g., a Federal Records DATES: The meeting will be heId June 4 
Center) and take possession of the and 5, 2003 at the Best Western 
records. Appropriate security and access Sawtooth Inn, 2653 South Lincoln, in 
strategies will be employed to ensure 
that the documents are available for the 
historical accounting effort. 
Dated April 30, 2003. 
J. Steven Griles, 
Deputy Secretay. 
(FR Doc. 03-11095 Filed 5-1-03; 938 am] 
BILLING CODE 431C-1O-P 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Geological Survey 
Technology Transfer Act at 1986 
~eologica~ Survey, Interior. 
ACTION: Notice of proposed cooperative 
research and development agreement 
AGENCY: 
(CRADA) negotiations. 
SUMMARY: The United States Geological 
Survey (USGS) is contemplating 
entering into a Cooperative Research 
and Development Agreement (CRADA) 
with Swiss Reinsurance Company 
(“SwissRe”) to conduct a.probabilistic 
study of earthquake hazards in the 
greater Tokyo area. 
Inquiries: If any other parties are 
interested in studying other areas with 
the USGS. please contact Dr. Ross Stein, 
tel1-650-3294840, fax 1-650-329- 
4876, e-mail rstein@usgs.gov. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 
notice is to meet the USGS requirement 
stipulated in the Survey Manual. 
Dated: March 6, 2003. 
am] 
P. Patrick Leahy, 
Associate Director for Geology. 
[FR Doc. 03-10937 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 
BILLING CODE 4310-Y7-M 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Bureau of Land Management 
[ID-070-1150-PG] 
Notice of Public Meeting, Upper Snake 
River Resource Advisory Council 
Meeting 
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior. 
ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 
SUMMARY: In accordance with the 
Federal Land policy and Management 
(FLPM) and the Federal Advisory Act 
Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Land Management 
River Resource Advisory Council (RAG), 
will meet as indicated below. 
Jerome, Idaho. The meeting will start 
June 4 at 2 p.m., with the public 
comment period beginning at 
approximately 2:10 p.m. The meeting 
will adjourn on June 5 at about 5 p.m. 
The meeting will also include a field 
trip the afternoon of June 5 to the North 
Rim of the Snake River. 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15- 
member Council advises ‘the Secretary 
of the Interior, through the Bureau of 
Land Management, on a variety of 
planning and management issues 
associated with public land 
management in the BLM Upper Snake 
River District (USRD), which covers 
south-central and southeast Idaho. At 
this meeting, topics we plan to discuss 
include: 
Updates on major planning projects in 
the USRD, including coordination of 
subgroups. 
Review feedback and action items 
from National RAG Chairs‘meeting. 
Review of items from Idaho RAC 
Chairs’ meeting, including review and 
planning of statewide issues. 
Other items of interest raised by the 
Council. 
All meetings are open to the public. 
The public may present written 
comments to the Council. Each formal 
Council meeting wil1 also have time 
allocated for hearing public comments. 
Depending on the number of persons 
wishing to comment and time available, 
the time for individual oral comments 
may be limited. Individuals who plan to 
attend and need special assistance, such 
as sign language interpretation, tour 
transportation or other reasonable 
accommodations, should contact the 
BLM as provided below. 
Other USRD RAC meetings for 2003 
have been planned for July and 
November 2003, and will be announced 
in a future Federal Register Notice and 
through local media. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
David Howell, RAC Coordmator, Upper 
Snake River District, 1405 Hollipark Dr., 
Idaho Falls, ID 83401. Telephone (208) 
524-7559. 
23759 
Dated: April 25, 2003. 
David 0. Howell, 
Public Affairs Specialist. 
[FR Doc. 03-10956 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE -4310-GG-P 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Bureau of Land Management 
[CA-190-03-1610-00] 
Correction to Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Amendment to the Hollister 
Resource Management Plan for the 
Clear Creek Management Area in the 
Southern Portion of San Benito County 
and Western Fresno County, CA 
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior. 
ACTION: Notice of correction. 
On April 29, 2003 the Bureau 
of Land Management published a notice 
in the Federal Register (68 FR 22733) 
concerning a Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an Amendment to the Hollister 
Resource Management Plan for the Clear 
Creek Management Area in the southern 
SUMMARY: 
portion of San Benito County and 
western Fresno County, CA. The notice 
omitted the date for when the public 
comment period ends. The correct date 
is May 28,2003. 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
- 
George E. Hill, Assistant Field Manager, 
Hollister Field Office, (831) 630-5036, 
or e-mail: George-Hill@ca.blm.gov. 
Correction 
In the Federal Register of April 29, 
2003 on page 22733 in the first column 
correct the DATES caption to read: 
“DATES: Comments on issues and 
planning criteria can be submitted in 
writing to the address listed below. 
Comments should be received on or 
before May 28, 2003. All public 
meetings will be announced at least 15 
days prior to the event.” 
Dated: April 29, 2003. 
George E. Hill, 
Assistant Field Manager 
[FR Doc. 03-10982 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am] 
BILLING CODE 4310-344 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Minerals Management Service 
Agency Information Collection 
Activities: Proposed Collection, 
Comment Request 
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service 
(MMS), Interior. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 
1 declare under penalty of perjury that, on June 13,2003 1 served the foregoing Notice of 
Filing by the Department of Interior of Federal Register Notices Related to the Collection of 
Indian Trust-Reluted Records from Third Parties by hand upon: 
Keith Harper, Esq. 
Native American Rights Fund 
1712 N Street, N.W. 
Washington, D.C. 20036-2976 
Per the Court’s Order of April 17,2003, 
by facsimile and by U.S. Mail upon: 
Earl Old Person (Pro se) 
Black feet Tribe 
P.O. Box 850 
Browning, MT 594 17 
(406) 338-7530 
By facsimile and US. Mail: 
Alan L. Balaran, Esq. 
Special Master 
17 17 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. 
13 th Floor 
Washington, D.C. 20006 
(202) 986-8477 
Dennis M Gingold, Esq. 
Mark Kester Brown, Esq. 
607 - 14th Street, NW 
Box 6 
Washington, D.C. 20005 
By U.S. Mail upon: 
Elliott Levitas, Esq 
1100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2800 
Atlanta, GA 30309-4530