On August 23, 2012, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced that it will conduct two webinars on its draft tribal consultation and coordination policy to be held on Wednesday, September 12 and Wednesday, September 19 from 3-4 p.m. EDT. Tribes can join the webinars at https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/php?i-PW9996595&p=CENSUS&t-c. Tribes wishing to participate in the webinars must first contact Commerce’s Senior Adviser on Native American Affairs Dee Alexander at dalexander@doc.gov or (202) 482-4883 to obtain the webinar call-in number and passcode.
We reported in our General Memorandum 12-085 (July 13, 2012) on Commerce’s draft tribal consultation policy and attached a copy of it as published in the July 3, 2012 FEDERAL REGISTER. In addition to the FEDERAL REGISTER notice, Commerce also sent a letter to every tribe soliciting comments. The deadline for submitting written comments via fax, regular mail, or email is October 1, 2012. Comments via email should be submitted through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
The FEDERAL REGISTER notice states that the intent of the policy is to reaffirm “the unique government-to-government relationship that exists between Indian tribes and the Department of Commerce to support Tribes in the development of strong and stable economies able to participate in today’s national and global marketplace.”
Please contact us if we may provide further information regarding this consultation effort or assist your tribe in drafting comments on the proposed policy.
