The Commerce Department is soliciting comments on its draft tribal consultation and coordination policy (see attached July 3, 2012, FEDERAL REGISTER notice). Comments are due by October 1, 2012. The final document will update the Department’s existing policy which was promulgated in 1995. The proposed revision is in response to Executive Order 13175 issued by President Clinton and President’s Obama’s White House Memorandum of November 2009 on tribal consultation.
The Commerce Department has been engaged in meetings with tribal representatives since late 2009 on this revision. During that time they have reviewed and combined two tribal consultation policies previously issued by two of its agencies – the Census Bureau and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Commerce Department has a Senior Advisor on Native American Affairs, an office held by Dee Alexander. There are a number of agencies within the Commerce Department that affect tribes and tribal communities including the Minority Business Development Agency; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including the weather service and the National Marine Fisheries Service); Economic Development Administration; Economics and Statistics Administration (including the Census Bureau); and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information or assistance regarding the draft Commerce Department tribal consultation and coordination policy.
