WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Tara Katuk Sweeney today announced she has approved leasing regulations for the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians in California. This is the 60th set of tribal leasing regulations approved under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Home Ownership (HEARTH) Act since its passage in 2012 and the fifth under Indian Affairs' new policy expediting the processing of HEARTH applications.
With the Assistant Secretary’s action and pursuant to the act, the Band is now authorized to enter into business leases on its trust lands without further approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
"The San Pasqual Band’s HEARTH regulations marks the 60th application to be approved since the act was passed and the latest under Indian Affairs' new policy for expediting such requests," said Assistant Secretary Sweeney. "I congratulate San Pasqual and all tribes with approved HEARTH regulations that are now enjoying the freedom to control leasing on their lands without having to go through the Bureau of Indian Affairs first. With our ability to more quickly process HEARTH applications, I encourage any tribe wishing to expand its leasing authority to submit a request."
HEARTH establishes the authority of federally recognized tribes to develop and implement their own laws governing the long-term leasing of Indian lands for residential, business, agricultural, renewable energy, and other purposes. Once a tribe’s HEARTH application is approved, it is authorized to negotiate and enter into leases without further approvals by the Secretary of the Interior.
Tribes may submit HEARTH applications for agricultural and business leases of tribal trust lands for a primary term of 25 years and up to two renewal terms of 25 years each. Leases of tribal trust lands for residential, recreational, religious or educational purposes may be executed for a primary term of up to 75 years.
Interested tribes may submit their regulations by mail to:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Office of Trust Services, Deputy Bureau Director–Trust Services
Attention: Division of Real Estate Services
1849 C Street, N.W., MS-4620-MIB
Washington, D.C. 20240
The Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs advises the Secretary of the Interior on Indian Affairs policy issues, communicates policy to and oversees the programs of the BIA and the BIE, provides leadership in consultations with tribes, and serves as the DOI official for intra- and inter-departmental coordination and liaison within the Executive Branch on Indian matters.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs directly administers and funds tribally operated infrastructure, law enforcement and justice, social services (including child welfare), tribal governance, and trust land and natural and energy resources management programs for the nation’s federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes through four offices: Indian Services, Justice Services, Trust Services, and Field Operations. The Office of Trust Services’ Division of Real Estate Services (DRES) administers the HEARTH Act review process for tribal leasing regulations applications.
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