Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2001

The special master in the Cobell v. Norton Individual Indian Money (IIM) lawsuit today filed his first investigative report into the records management policies of the Department of Interior.

Alan Balaran began the probe in February. But he has been hindered throughout by Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, who sought to limit his access to the necessary senior management and information.

All of Norton's challenges were eventually rejected and Balaran moved forward. He has now found that the government still has no clear policy despite being held in contempt for not producing relevant documents.

Perhaps more seriously and in what could lead to additional contempt charges, Balaran says the Interior has misrepresented completion of tasks identified by the High Level Implementation Plan (HLIP), the blueprint to trust reform. The government has provided quarterly reports saying 11 records projects are complete.

However, Balaran said the Interior cannot provide proof of its supposed success.

"Thus, although the Court plainly had reposed significant trust in Interior to make sure that the tasks outlined in the HLIP were getting done in a timely and efficacious manner, Interior does not appear to have put in place a mechanism that warrants such trust," Balaran wrote.

Get the Story:
FIRST INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL MASTER (11/29)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton ordered to trial for 'fraud' (11/29)
Tribal leaders reject BIA overhaul (11/29)
Indian Country deserves answers (11/29)
Norton to attend consultation session (11/29)
Big showing expected at Norton meeting (11/29)
Griles: Receiver ends sovereign relationship (11/29)
Swimmer: No clue on historical funds (11/29)
Contempt trial important somewhere (11/29)

Relevant Links:
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Developing: Norton, McCaleb ordered to contempt trial (11/28)
Norton sees GOP support on overhaul (11/28)
Trust fund settlement talks fail (11/28)
NCAI shoring up Norton opposition (11/28)
Tribal leaders challenging Norton (11/28)
Norton wants to cut Interior jobs (11/28)
Norton failing on trust fund backup (11/27)
Interior schedules first consultation (11/27)
Interior cutting off tribal comments (11/27)
BIA collecting Indian preference info (11/27)
Norton's BIA overhaul blasted (11/26)
Interior changes mind on consultation (11/26)
Indian Country opposition gains momentum(11/26)
Norton faces big week on trust (11/26)
Editorial: Give Norton plan a chance (11/26)
Norton's attorney decries unfairness (11/26)
Norton's choice raises questions (11/26)
Judge holds secret hearing (11/23)
Indian Country slams 'sham' consultation (11/21)
Top trust fund official questioned (11/21)
No Thanksgiving for Indian Country (11/21)
Domenici praises Norton's 'bold move' (11/21)
BIA reorganization a focus of NCAI (11/21)
Reagan's Indian chief is back (11/20)
McCaleb faces Indian preference question (11/20)
Norton defends overhaul of BIA (11/20)
Norton promises fast start (11/20)
Developing: Swimmer tapped by Bush administration (11/19)
Few answers on BIA overhaul (11/19)
Norton challenges trust fund receiver (11/19)
Gover: Indian Country had it coming (11/19)
BIA reorganization focus of radio show (11/19)
Norton defends quarterly reports (11/19)
Norton's 'runaway train' denounced (11/17)
Norton stripping BIA of trust duties (11/16)
Tribal leaders in uproar over proposal (11/16)
Top Democrat calls for hearings (11/16)
Bush officials to speak at NCAI (11/16)
Norton files contempt defense (11/16)
Q&A on BIA Reorganization (11/16)
Developing: BIA stripped of trust duties (11/15)
Interior might need year on new agency (11/15)
Gover: Indian Country now 'weaker' (11/15)