The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has approved land-leasing regulations for seven Tribal nations under the under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Home Ownership (HEARTH) Act of 2012.
Once a tribe's regulations are submitted to and approved by the Secretary of the Interior, the tribes are authorized to negotiate and enter into surface leases under the HEARTH Act regulations without further approval from the Department of the Interior, the agency said in a release.
“The HEARTH Act recognizes that Tribal governments are best suited to determine when and in what ways their lands should be utilized for the benefit of their peoples,” Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said in a statement. “Those with approved regulations are better positioned to act on their decisions without having to wait on the Department to process their leases. For Tribes with approved regulations, the HEARTH Act is a way for them to achieve greater self-determination and sovereignty over their lands.”
A variety of ordinances and acts have been approved as part of this process, including the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon leasing ordinance.
Tribes are allowed to submit HEARTH applications to BIA for agricultural and business leases for an initial term of 25 years, with two renewals of 25 years each allowed.
Tribal trust lands for recreation, residential use, or religious or educational purposes can have an initial term of 75 years, the bureau said.
The Division of Real Estate Services is the agency in charge of providing leases from an American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribe. The group also oversees the BIA development projects on lands held in trust or restricted status by the federal government for Native people.
Currently, 73 Tribal nations have received approval for their leasing regulations and 16 waiting for decisions, the bureau said.
