Wednesday, Dec 7 2011 5:51PM
This reform is meant to streamline homeownership approval and encourage economic and energy development on the 56 million acres of surface lands held in trust by the DOI for Native Americans.
Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recently joined Secretary Ken Salazar of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to announce a new rule that will change lease approval processing by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
This reform is meant to streamline homeownership approval and encourage economic and energy development on the 56 million acres of surface lands held in trust by the DOI for Native Americans.
According to Echo Hawk, the change will increase flexibility in terms of land use and improve the transparency, efficiency and workability of the approvals process.
"The proposed changes are the most comprehensive reforms of Indian land leasing regulations in more than 50 years and will have a real impact for individuals and families who want to own a home or build a business," said Salazar.
According to the DOI, the current rules do not define the process or deadlines clearly and are inefficient to the point that a mortgage application may last for years without being either approved or denied. The new rule will provide structure and guidelines to speed approvals and allow community development efforts to proceed much more quickly.
For further reference, check out this source:
U.S. Department of the Interior