Facebook Twitter Email
Interior computer order finalized
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2001

The Department of Interior and attorneys representing 300,000 American Indian beneficiaries finalized a consent order this afternoon to allow the government to reconnect its information technology systems and computers back to the Internet.

Brokered over the past few days along with special master Alan Balaran, the agreement includes various stipulations the government must meet before placing systems online. One provision will enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to disburse payments to tribes and individual Indians, a primary concern to tribal leaders.

General assistance and oil and gas distribution payments would be included. A BIA spokesperson yesterday said acting Chief Information Officer Debbie Clark was coordinating the agency's effort.

As part of the order, the Interior has agreed to work with Balaran to ensure individual Indian trust data is protected. Interior has also entered into contract with Predictive Systems, whom Balaran hired to break into Individual Indian Money (IIM) systems, to install firewalls and intrusion detection systems at three BIA Office of Information Resource Management locations.

The locations are Reston, Virgina; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Phoenix, Arizona. The compliance date is January 31, 2002.

An attorney for Secretary Gale Norton said he was providing U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth with a copy of the contract. It is not clear when Norton hired the company and the consent order does not state this information.

The contract, however, will last at least a year to allow Predictive to monitor the Interior's technology infrastructure.

Today on Indianz.Com:
Judge eager for Norton testimony (12/13)
Norton must end the Indian Trust sham (12/13)
Tribal consultation begins on BITAM (12/13)
Norton set for first consultation (12/13)
Editorial: Bad faith, wasted dollars (12/13)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://indiantrust.doi.gov
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:
Confusion, conflict detailed at Interior (12/12)
Exclusive: Trust reform assessment (12/12)
Lamberth pokes fun at government (12/12)
Attorneys barred from BITAM consultation (12/12)
EDS trust reform report online (12/12)
Coverage of Contempt Trial, Day 2 (12/12)
Editorial: Still ripping off Indians (12/12)
Contempt trial continues (12/11)
Contested reports focus of contempt trial (12/11)
The Trial: Witnesses to Contempt (12/11)
Coverage of Contempt Trial, Day 1 (12/11)
Griles in charge of IT reform (12/11)
Editorial: Take criminal steps on trust fund (12/11)
NPR covers BIA overhaul, trust fund (12/11)
Norton contempt trial opens (12/10)
Norton attacks court monitor (12/10)
Norton set for contempt trial (12/10)
Indian panel urging BITAM slow down (12/10)
Editorial: Appoint IIM receiver (12/10)
Floods more important than Indians (12/10)
Norton contempt trial opens (12/10)
Norton attacks court monitor (12/10)
Norton set for contempt trial (12/10)
Indian panel urging BITAM slow down (12/10)
Editorial: Appoint IIM receiver (12/10)
Floods more important than Indians (12/10)