§1.2 Applicability of regulations and reserved authority of the Secretary of the Interior.

The regulations in chapter I of title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations are of general application. Notwithstanding any limitations contained in the regulations of this chapter, the Secretary retains the power to waive or make exceptions to his regulations as found in chapter I of title 25 CFR in all cases where permitted by law and the Secretary finds that such waiver or exception is in the best interest of the Indians.

[25 FR 3124, Apr. 12, 1960]

§1.3 Scope.

Chapters I and II of this title contain the bulk of the regulations of the Department of the Interior of general application relating to Indian affairs. Subtitle B, chapter I, title 43 of the Code or Federal Regulations contains rules relating to the relationship of Indians to public lands and townsites. Subtitle A of title 43 CFR has application to certain aspects of Indian affairs and, among other things, contains procedural rules for appellate and other administrative review and for practice before the Department of the Interior, of which the Bureau of Indian Affairs is a part. Indian health matters are covered in 42 CFR part 36. Title 30 CFR contains regulations on oil and gas and other mining operations, which, under

certain circumstances, may be applicable to Indian resources.

[25 FR 3124, Apr. 12, 1960, as amended at 40 FR 20625, May 12, 1975; 48 FR 13414, Mar. 31, 1983]

§1.4 State and local regulation of the use of Indian property.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, none of the laws, ordinances, codes, resolutions, rules or other regulations of any State or political subdivision thereof limiting, zoning or otherwise governing, regulating, or controlling the use or development of any real or personal property, including water rights, shall be applicable to any such property leased from or held or used under agreement with and belonging to any Indian or Indian tribe, band, or community that is held in trust by the United States or is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States.

(b) The Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative may in specific cases or in specific geographic areas adopt or make applicable to Indian lands all or any part of such laws, ordinances, codes, resolutions, rules or other regulations referred to in paragraph (a) of this section as he shall determine to be in the best interest of the Indian owner or owners in achieving the highest and best use of such property. In determining whether, or to what extent, such laws, ordinances, codes, resolutions, rules or other regulations shall be adopted or made applicable, the Secretary or his authorized representative may consult with the Indian owner or owners and may consider the use of, and restrictions or limitations on the use of, other property in the vicinity, and such other factors as he shall deem appropriate.

[30 FR 7520, June 9, 1965]

§1.10 Availability of forms.

Forms upon which applications and related documents may be filed and upon which rights and privileges may be granted may be inspected and procured at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and at the office of

Appeal means a written request for review of an action or the inaction of an official of the Bureau of Indian Affairs that is claimed to adversely affect the interested party making the request.

Appellant means any interested party who files an appeal under this part.

Interested party means any person whose interests could be adversely affected by a decision in an appeal.

Legal holiday means a Federal holiday as designated by the President or the Congress of the United States.

Notice of appeal means the written document sent to the official des

ignated in this part, indicating that a decision is being appealed (see §2.9).

Person includes any Indian or non-Indian individual, corporation, tribe or other organization.

Statement of reasons means a written document submitted by the appellant explaining why the decision being appealed is in error (see §2.10).

[54 FR 6480, Feb. 10, 1989; 54 FR 7666, Feb. 22, 1989]

§2.3 Applicability.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this part applies to all appeals from decisions made by officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs by persons who may be adversely affected by such decisions.

(b) This part does not apply if any other regulation or Federal statute provides a different administrative appeal procedure applicable to a specific type of decision.

§2.4 Officials who may decide appeals. The following officials may decide appeals:

(a) An Area Director, if the subject of appeal is a decision by a person under the authority of that Area Director.

(b) An Area Education Programs Administrator, Agency Superintendent for Education, President of a Post-Secondary School, or the Deputy to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs/Director (Indian Education Programs), if the appeal is from a decision by an Office of Indian Education Programs (OIEP) official under his/her jurisdiction.

(c) The Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs pursuant to the provisions of §2.20 of this part.

(d) A Deputy to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs pursuant to the provisions of § 2.20(c) of this part.

(e) The Interior Board of Indian Appeals, pursuant to the provisions of 43 CFR part 4, subpart D, if the appeal is from a decision made by an Area Director or a Deputy to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs other than the Deputy to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs/Director (Indian Education Programs).

$2.5 Appeal bond.

(a) If a person believes that he/she may suffer a measurable and substantial financial loss as a direct result of the delay caused by an appeal, that person may request that the official before whom the appeal is pending require the posting of a reasonable bond by the appellant adequate to protect against that financial loss.

(b) A person requesting that a bond be posted bears the burden of proving the likelihood that he/she may suffer a measurable and substantial financial loss as a direct result of the delay caused by the appeal.

(c) In those cases in which the official before whom an appeal is pending determines that a bond is necessary to protect the financial interests of an Indian or Indian tribe, that official may require the posting of a bond on his/her own initiative.

(d) Where the official before whom an appeal is pending requires a bond to be posted or denies a request that a bond be posted, he/she shall give notice of his/her decision pursuant to §2.7.

§2.6 Finality of decisions.

(a) No decision, which at the time of its rendition is subject to appeal to a superior authority in the Department, shall be considered final so as to constitute Departmental action subject to judicial review under 5 U.S.C. 704, unless when an appeal is filed, the official to whom the appeal is made determines that public safety, protection of trust resources, or other public exigency requires that the decision be made effective immediately.

(b) Decisions made by officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall be effective when the time for filing a notice of appeal has expired and no notice of appeal has been filed.

(c) Decisions made by the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs shall be final for the Department and effective immediately unless the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs provides otherwise in the decision.

[54 FR 6480, Feb. 10, 1989; 54 FR 7666, Feb. 22, 1989]

§2.7 Notice of administrative decision or action.

(a) The official making a decision shall give all interested parties known to the decisionmaker written notice of the decision by personal delivery or mail.

(b) Failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of the decision or action but the time to file a notice of appeal regarding such a decision shall not begin to run until notice has been given in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) All written decisions, except decisions which are final for the Department pursuant to §2.6(c), shall include a statement that the decision may be appealed pursuant to this part, identify the official to whom it may be appealed and indicate the appeal procedures, including the 30-day time limit for filing a notice of appeal.

[54 FR 6480, Feb. 10, 1989; 54 FR 7666, Feb. 22, 1989]

§2.8

Appeal from inaction of official. (a) A person or persons whose interests are adversely affected, or whose ability to protect such interests is impeded by the failure of an official to act on a request to the official, can make the official's inaction the subject of appeal, as follows:

(1) Request in writing that the official take the action originally asked of him/her;

(2) Describe the interest adversely affected by the official's inaction, including a description of the loss, impairment or impediment of such interest caused by the official's inaction;

(3) State that, unless the official involved either takes action on the merits of the written request within 10 days of receipt of such request by the official, or establishes a date by which action will be taken, an appeal shall be filed in accordance with this part.

(b) The official receiving a request as specified in paragraph (a) of this section must either make a decision on the merits of the initial request within 10 days from receipt of the request for a decision or establish a reasonable later date by which the decision shall be made, not to exceed 60 days from the