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In The Hoop
TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2002

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

Stop the Presses
A Republican environmental organization recently sent us an editorial criticizing Secretary of Interior Gale Norton for moving to allow a gold mine operation in Imperial County, California, the one opposed by the Quechan Nation.

REP America said the mine "would be bad policy on three counts: an abdication of the government's duty to look after Indian cultural sites, a failure to protect good stewardship of protected lands, and a rotten deal for taxpayers."

"Once the pits are dug, there would be no going back," wrote two members of the national group which formed in 1996 to oppose "mainstream" GOP policies on the environment.

But then the group decided it would scoop itself and told us the editorial would be published elsewhere, and that the target publication had an "exclusive" disclaimer or something. So we're not running it!

Incidentally, REP America opposed Norton's nomination.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere are Signs
The Bush administration is doing a lot of bookkeeping these days, seeking comment on government policies and practices in a manner some feel is a precursor to reversing all of them.

It doesn't seem like many in Indian Country are paying attention to how this is affecting the Department of Interior, though. Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb, for instance, announced last fall said he was seeking input on the collection of information related to Indian preference.

Yet four months later, no one has sent in any major comments, according to an update published last week. And that's not the only change happening. That same day, the Minerals Management Service sent out its own notice regarding Indian royalties.

But if you're worried about these policies, there's still time to comment, the Bush administration says. Start writing!

Goodbye to Romance
In case you were wondering where old regulations go to die, they end up on the desk of Neal McCaleb. In a Federal Register notice published today, he informs the public that he is getting rid of regulations affecting welfare agreements in Indian Country.

"Eliminating this rule will remove any confusion regarding the process for providing certain social services to the tribes," the March 14 document states.

Why is it being axed? Well, according to the document, no one commented on the final rule when it was first published back in 1996. And because some government attorneys raised concerns, it was never fully implemented.

Nevertheless, the regulation was used just once. But now it is receiving a farewell send-off, thanks to McCaleb. "It has never been funded as a viable program," the notice states.

In Your Hoop
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