Form 1221-2 (June 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Release BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 1-1781 Date MANUAL TRANSMITTAL SHEET 12/15/16 Subject: BLM Handbook 1780-1 Improving and Sustaining BLM-Tribal Relations (P) 1. Explanation of Material Transmitted: This release transmits the new Handbook (H) 1780-1, Improving and Sustaining BLM-Tribal Relations, which replaces H-8120-1, Guidelines for Conducting Tribal Consultation. H-1780-1 implements new administration and Departmental policies to provide comprehensive guidance concerning tribal relations for all BLM managers and programs. 2. Reports Required: None. 3. Material Superseded: H-8120-1. Release number 8-75 4. Filing Instructions: Remove and replace in accordance with the below instructions. REMOVE All of H-8120-1 INSERT All of H-1780-1 Release 8-75 Neil Kornze Director Bureau of Land Management H-1780-1 – IMPROVING AND SUSTAINING BLM-TRIBAL RELATIONS (P) i Table of Contents CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. I-1 A. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF THIS HANDBOOK ........................................................... I-1 B. THIS HANDBOOK’S PLACE IN THE BLM MANUAL SYSTEM ............................................... I-2 CHAPTER II. BUILDING AND MAINTAINING TRIBAL RELATIONSHIPS ............. II-1 A. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................II-1 B. CONFIDENTIALITY ............................................................................................................II-1 C. BUILDING A BROAD-BASED RELATIONSHIP ......................................................................II-4 D. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL PARTICIPATION IN BLM DECISIONMAKING ...............II-14 E. ACCOUNTABILITY ...........................................................................................................II-15 CHAPTER III. TRIBAL CONSULTATION GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS .............III-1 A. DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN NOTIFICATION, COORDINATION, AND CONSULTATION............................................................................................................... III-1 B. BLM REPRESENTATIVES IN CONSULTATION ................................................................... III-3 C. IDENTIFYING TRIBES AND OTHER INDIAN PARTIES FOR CONSULTATION ......................... III-4 D. WHEN IN THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS TO START CONSULTATION ............................ III-7 E. PREPARING AND INITIATING TRIBAL CONSULTATION ..................................................... III-8 F. CORRESPONDENCE CONTENT .......................................................................................... III-9 G. GENERAL FEATURES OF CONSULTATION ...................................................................... III-11 H. USE OF INTERNET TO FACILITATE CONSULTATION ....................................................... III-13 I. LACK OF TRIBAL RESPONSE .......................................................................................... III-14 J. APPROACHES TO CONTENTIOUS MEETINGS .................................................................. III-15 K. HOW MUCH CONSULTATION TO DO—MEETING THE GOOD FAITH STANDARD ............ III-15 L. DOCUMENTATION OF NOTIFICATION, COORDINATION, AND CONSULTATION ............... III-17 M. CONCLUSION OF CONSULTATION .................................................................................. III-18 CHAPTER IV. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION IN PLANNING AND DECISION SUPPORT .................................................................................................. IV-1 A. GENERAL AUTHORITIES .................................................................................................. IV-1 B. ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDIES .............................................................................................. IV-17 C. COORDINATING TRIBAL CONSULTATION OBLIGATIONS UNDER DIFFERENT LAWS ............................................................................................................................ IV-21 D. KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VARIOUS AUTHORITIES .................................................. IV-22 CHAPTER V. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS PROGRAM ........................................ V-1 A. OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... V-1 B. COMPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS SYSTEM ................................. V-3 CHAPTER VI. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM .................................................................... VI-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... VI-1 BLM HANDBOOK Rel. No. 1-1781 Supersedes Rel. 8-75 12/15/16 H-1780-1 – IMPROVING AND SUSTAINING BLM-TRIBAL RELATIONS (P) ii B. LEGAL AUTHORITIES FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION WITHIN THE FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ............................................................................................... VI-1 C. IMPORTANCE OF LUP/RMP FOR FIRE PLANNING AND COORDINATION WITH INDIAN TRIBES ................................................................................................................ VI-2 D. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................................. VI-3 E. PROGRAM OPERATION STANDARDS ................................................................................ VI-3 F. COHESIVE STRATEGY...................................................................................................... VI-3 G. PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRIBES ........................................................................................... VI-3 H. USE OF 638 COMPACTS OR SELF-GOVERNANCE CONTRACTS IN THE FIRE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................... VI-3 CHAPTER VII. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE FOREST AND WOODLANDS PROGRAM ...................................................... VII-1 A. OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... VII-1 B. LEGAL AUTHORITIES ..................................................................................................... VII-2 C. TREATIES AND FOREST PRODUCTS ................................................................................. VII-3 D. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING ........................................................................................ VII-4 CHAPTER VIII. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE RANGELAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. VIII-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ VIII-1 B. CONSULTING DURING MONITORING AND EVALUATION PROCESSES ............................ VIII-1 C. CONSULTING DURING GRAZING PERMIT RENEWAL AND OTHER VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................... VIII-1 D. HOW TYPES OF PROJECTS REQUIRING TRIBAL CONSULTATION ARE DEFINED ............ VIII-2 CHAPTER IX. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM ..................................................................... IX-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... IX-1 B. COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION APPROACH ................................................................ IX-1 C. SUBSISTENCE MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................... IX-2 D. ENDANGERED SPECIES AND MANAGEMENT OF CRITICAL HABITAT ................................ IX-2 E. DISRUPTION AND REMOVAL OF ANIMAL PARTS ............................................................. IX-3 F. CONFIDENTIAL BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION .................................................................... IX-3 G. LAND ACCESS AND CROSS-BOUNDARY FIELD ACTIVITIES ............................................. IX-4 H. LAW ENFORCEMENT ....................................................................................................... IX-5 CHAPTER X. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM ................................................................. X-1 A. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ X-1 B. CONSULTING UNDER HERITAGE RESOURCES AUTHORITIES ............................................ X-1 C. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/ISSUES THAT APPLY TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM ...................................................................................................................... X-17 BLM HANDBOOK Rel. No. 1-1781 Supersedes Rel. 8-75 12/15/16 H-1780-1 – IMPROVING AND SUSTAINING BLM-TRIBAL RELATIONS (P) iii CHAPTER XI. GUIDANCE FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION APPLICABLE TO THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM ................................................................. XI-1 A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... XI-1 B. NEPA COMPLIANCE FOR UTILITY-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY RIGHT-OF- WAY AUTHORIZATIONS .................................................................................................