How long does it take for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process a land-into-trust application? According to one official, the wait can last several years.
Jeanette Hanna, the regional director of the BIA's office in Eastern Oklahoma, said it takes up to six months for her to review and make a recommendation on an application. If gaming is at issue, officials in Washington, D.C., make a the final decision, delaying the process a few years, Hanna said.
Assistant secretary Carl Artman has said he is speeding up the land-into-trust process. Although more than 1,300 applications have been submitted, he said fewer than 200 are actually ready for action.
Get the Story:Path to tribal casino is long (The Wichita Eagle 3/24)
