representative of the applicant, a representative of the Secretary of the Interior, and a third representative to be selected by the other two for the purpose of determining the value of such property thus to be acquired by the United States.

(2) To allow the Department of the Interior to utilize for the transmission of electrical power any surplus capacity of the line in excess of the capacity needed by the holder of the grant for the transmission of electrical power in connection with the applicant's operations, or to increase the capacity of the line at the Department's expense and to utilize the increased capacity for the transmission of electrical power. Utilization by the Department of surplus or increased capacity shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(i) When the Department desires to utilize surplus capacity thought to exist in a line, notification will be given to the applicant and the applicant shall furnish to the Department within 30 days a certificate stating whether the line has any surplus capacity not needed by the applicant for the transmission of electrical power in connection with the applicant's operations, and, if so, the extent of such surplus capacity.

(ii) In order to utilize any surplus capacity certified by the applicant to be available, or any increased capacity provided by the Department at its own expense, the Department may interconnect its transmission facilities with the applicant's line in a manner conformable to approved standards of practice for the interconnection of transmission circuits.

(iii) The expense of interconnection will be borne by the Department, and the Department will at all times provide and maintain adequate switching, relaying, and protective equipment so as to insure that the normal and efficient operation of the applicant's line will not be impaired.

(iv) After any interconnection is completed, the applicant shall operate and maintain its line in good condition; and, except in emergencies, shall maintain in a closed position all connections under the applicant's control

between the applicant's line and the interconnecting facilities provided by the Department.

(v) The interconnected power systems of the Department and the applicant will be operated in parallel.

(vi) The transmission of electrical power by the Department over the applicant's line will be effected in such manner and quantity as will not interfere unreasonably with the applicant's use and operation of the line in accordance with the applicant's normal operating standards, except that the Department shall have the exclusive right to utilize any increased capacity of the line which has been provided at the Department's expense.

(vii) The applicant will not be obligated to allow the transmission over its line by the Department of electrical power to any person receiving service from the applicant on the date of the filing of the application for a grant, other than persons entitled to statutory preference in connection with the distribution and sale of electrical power by the Department.

(viii) The Department will pay to the applicant an equitable share of the total monthly cost of maintaining and operating the part of the applicant's line utilized by the Department for the transmission of electrical power, the payment to be an amount in dollars representing the same proportion of the total monthly operation and maintenance cost of such part of the line as the maximum amount in kilowatts of the power transmitted on a scheduled basis by the Department over the applicant's line during the month bears to the total capacity in kilowatts of that part of the line. The total monthly cost may include interest and amortization, in accordance with the system of accounts prescribed by the Federal Power Commission, on the applicant's net total investment (exclusive of any investment by the Department) in the part of the line utilized by the Department.

(ix) If, at any time subsequent to a certification by the applicant that surplus capacity is available for utilization by the Department, the applicant needs for the transmission of electrical power in connection with its oper

ations the whole or any part of the capacity of the line theretofore certified as being surplus to its needs, the applicant may modify or revoke the previous certification by giving the Secretary of the Interior 30 months' notice, in advance, of the applicant's intention in this respect. After the revocation of a certificate, the Department's utilization of the particular line will be limited to the increased capacity, if any, provided by the Department at its expense.

(x) If, during the existence of the grant, the applicant desires reciprocal accommodations for the transmission of electrical power over the interconnecting system of the Department to its line, such reciprocal accommodations will be accorded under terms and conditions similar to those prescribed in this paragraph with respect to the transmission by the Department of electrical power over the applicant's line.

(xi) The terms and conditions prescribed in this paragraph may be modified at any time by means of a supplemental agreement negotiated between the applicant and the Secretary of the Interior or his designee.

(g) Applicants may apply for additional lands for generating plants and appurtenant facilities. The lands desired for such purposes may be indicated on the maps showing the definite location of the right-of-way, but separate maps must be filed therefor. Such maps shall show enough of the line of route to indicate the position of the tract with respect to said line. The tract shall be located with respect to the public survey as provided in § 161.8, and all buildings or other structures shall be platted on a scale sufficiently large to show clearly their dimensions and relative positions.

[33 FR 19803, Dec. 27, 1968, as amended at 38 FR 14680, June 4, 1973]

§ 161.28 Public highways.

(a) The appropriate State or local authorities may apply under the regulations in this Part 161 for authority to open public highways across tribal and individually owned lands in accordance with State laws, as author

ized by the Act of March 3, 1901 (31 Stat. 1084; 25 U.S.C. 311).

(b) In lieu of making application under the regulations in this Part 161, the appropriate State or local authorities in Nebraska or Montana may, upon compliance with the requirements of the Act of March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. 1188), lay out and open public highways in accordance with the respective laws of those States. Under the provisions of that act, the applicant must serve the Secretary with notice of intention to open the proposed road and must submit a map of definite location on tracing linen showing the width of the proposed road for the approval of the Secretary prior to the laying out and opening of the road.

(c) Applications for public highway rights-of-way over and across roadless and wild areas shall be considered in accordance with the regulations contained in Part 163 of this chapter.

§ 162.2 Definitions.

As used in this part:

(a) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

(b) "Superintendent" means the Agency Superintendent at all locations, with the exception that at the Navajo Reservation this term shall mean the Area Director or his designated representative for public hearings on arterial roads which cross Agency boundaries of jurisdiction.

(c) "State" means a State or territory or political subdivision thereof.

(d) "Indian Reservation Roads and Bridges" means roads and bridges that are located within or provide access to an Indian reservation or Indian trust land or restricted Indian land which is not subject to fee title alienation without the approval of the Federal Government, or Indian and Alaska Native villages, groups or communities in which Indians and Alaskan Natives reside, whom the Commissioner has determined are eligible for services generally available to Indians under Federal laws specifically applicable to Indians. (23 U.S.C. 101(a))

(e) "Indian and Alaskan Native villages, groups, or communities in which Indian or Alaska Natives reside" means villages, groups or communities or portions of villages, groups, or communities in which the majority of the residents are Indians or Alaska Natives.

(f) "Federal-Aid Indian Road System" means those Indian reservation roads and bridges for which financial aid for construction is available only from specific appropriations

of Federal funds therefor and which are designated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Highway Administration. This term does not include roads or bridges on Indian reservations for which financial aid for construction and improvement is available to a State under the FederalAid Highway Act. (45 Stat. 750)

(g) "Construction" means supervising, inspecting, actual building, and all expenses incidental to the construction and improvement of roads and bridges including the elimination of roadway hazards and the acquisition of rights-of-way.

(h) "Maintenance" means the act of preserving the entire roadway, including surface, shoulders, roadsides, structures, and the necessary traffic control devices as nearly as possible in the as-built condition and to provide services for the satisfactory and safe use of such roads.

§ 162.3 Construction and improvement.

Subject to the availability of appropriations for Indian reservation roads and bridges and any other contribution of State or Indian tribal lands, the Commissioner shall plan, survey, design and construct roads on the Federal-Aid Indian Road System to provide an adequate system of road facilities serving Indian lands.

§ 162.4 Approval of road construction activities.

The Secretary of Transportation or his authorized representative shall approve the location, type, and design of all projects on the Federal-Aid Indian Road System before any construction expenditures are made. All such construction shall be under the general supervision of the Secretary of Transportation or his authorized representative.

(23 U.S.C. 208)

§ 162.4a Selection of road construction projects.

The Commissioner, who is responsible for the planning, surveys and design, shall keep the appropriate local tribal officials informed of all technical information relating to the project alternatives of proposed road

§ 162.5 Rights-of-way.

(a) The procedure for obtaining permission to survey and for granting any necessary right-of-way are governed by Part 161 of this chapter. Tribal consent as required under § 161.3(a) may be made by public dedication where proper tribal authority exists. Before any work is undertaken for the construction of road projects, the Commissioner shall obtain the written consent of the Indian landowners. Where an Indian has an interest in tribal land by virtue of a land use assignment, such consent shall be obtained from both the landholder of the assignment and the Indian tribe. Right-of-way easements are to be on a form approved by the Commissioner.

(b) If it appears that the road might be transferred to the tribe, the county or the State within 10 years, then before such construction is undertaken, right-of-way easements for the project shall be obtained in favor of the United States, its successors and assigns, with the right to construct, maintain, and repair improvements thereon and thereover, for such purposes and with the further right in the United States, its successors and assigns, to transfer the right-of-way easements by assignment, grant or otherwise.

Indian-owned construction companies, or the Commissioner may purchase materials, obtain equipment and employ Indian labor in the construction and maintenance of roads.

(36 Stat. 861; 78 Stat. 241, 253; 78 Stat. 257; 25 U.S.C. 47; 42 U.S.C. 2000e(b), 2000e-2(i); 23 U.S.C. 208(c))

§ 162.6 Maintenance of Indian roads.

The administration and maintenance of Indian reservation roads and bridges is basically a function of the local Government. Subject to the availability of funds, the Commissioner shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, those approved roads on the Federal-Aid Indian Road System. The Commissioner may also maintain roads not on the Federal-Aid Indian Road System if such roads meet the definition of "Indian reservation road and bridges" and are approved for maintenance by the Commissioner. No funds authorized under 23 U.S.C. section 208 are available for the maintenance of roads.

§ 162.6a Contributions from tribes.

The Commissioner may enter into agreements with an Indian tribe for a contribution from its tribal funds for the construction or maintenance of roads governed by regulations of this part. However, the tribe must be able to make such contributions without undue impairment of the necessary tribal functions.

§ 162.7 Cooperation with States.

The Commissioner may enter into an agreement with the State for cooperation in the construction and the maintenance of certain Indian reservation roads and bridges, especially at those locations where road projects serve non-Indian land as well as Indian land.

(23 U.S.C. 208(d); 23 U.S.C.308(a))

§ 162.6 Use of roads.

vent damage to unstable roadbed, the Commissioner may restrict the use of them or may close them to public use.

(b) The Commissioner shall conduct engineering and traffic analysis in accordance with established traffic engineering practices and determine the necessary maximum speed limit, maximum vehicular weight limit and other needed regulatory signs for roads which he maintains. The Commissioner shall make recommendations to local Government officials, who are authorized to enact and enforce ordinances on Indian lands, of his determination of the needed regulatory signs. Such regulatory signs as are authorized by established ordinances shall be erected by the Commissioner. At locations under the jurisdiction of the Court of Indian Offenses the Commissioner shall erect such regulatory signs as he determines are needed.

§ 162.9 Roadless and wild areas.

Roads passable to motor transportation shall not be constructed under the regulations in this part within the boundaries of the roadless and wild areas established in Part 163 of this chapter.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ROAD PROJECTS

AUTHORITY: 45 Stat. 750; 25 U.S.C. 318a. Interpret or apply Sec. 6, 49 Stat. 1521, as amended; 25 U.S.C. 318b.

SOURCE: §§ 162.10-162.19, 39 FR 12733, Apr. 8, 1974, unless otherwise noted.

§ 162.10 Purpose and objectives.

The regulations in this subpart govern the calling and conducting of public hearings on Bureau of Indian Affairs road projects beginning with road projects scheduled to begin construction in Fiscal Year 1975, and thereafter. In order to promote coordination and comprehensive planning of construction activities on Indian reservations, the objectives for conducting public hearings on proposed road projects are to:

(a) Inform interested persons of the road proposals which affect them and allow such persons to express their views at those stages of a project's development when the flexibility to respond to these views still exists.

(b) Insure that road locations and designs are consistent with the reservations' objectives and with applicable Federal regulations.

§ 162.11 Criteria.

A public hearing shall be held for each project that:

(a) Is a new route being constructed, (b) Would significantly change the layout or function of connecting or related roads or streets,

(c) Would have an adverse effect upon adjacent real property, or

(d) Is expected to be of a controversial nature.

§ 162.12 Need for public hearing determined.

The Superintendent will call a meeting of representatives from the tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other appropriate agencies to determine for each road project if a public hearing is needed. The determination will be based on the criteria given in § 162.11. More than one public hearing may be held for a project if necessary.

§ 162.13 Notice of road construction projects.

When no public hearing is scheduled for a road construction project, notice of the road construction project must be given at least 90 days before the date construction is scheduled to begin. Such notice should give the project name and location, the type of improvement planned, the date construction is scheduled to start, and the name and address of the office where more information can be obtained. The notice should be posted or published as determined by the Superintendent.

§ 162.14 Notice of public hearing.

Notice will be given to inform the local public of the scheduled hearing. The notice should give the date, time, and place of the scheduled hearing; the project location; the proposed work to be done; the place where the preliminary plans may be reviewed; and the place where more information on the project can be obtained. The notice should be posted or published as determined by the Superintendent.