§ 2204. Purchase of trust or restricted or controlled lands at no less than fair market value; requisite conditions

(a) Purchase of land

(1) In general

Subject to subsection (b) of this section, any Indian tribe may purchase, at not less than fair market value and with the consent of the owners of the interests, part or all of the interests in—

(A) any tract of trust or restricted land within the boundaries of the reservation of the tribe; or

(B) land that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the tribe.

(2) Required consent

(A) In general

The Indian tribe may purchase all interests in a tract described in paragraph (1) with the consent of the owners of undivided interests equal to at least 50 percent of the undivided interest in the tract.

(B) Interest owned by tribe

Interests owned by an Indian tribe in a tract may be included in the computation of the percentage of ownership of the undivided interests in that tract for purposes of determining whether the consent requirement under subparagraph (A) has been met.

(b) Conditions applicable to purchase

Subsection (a) of this section applies on the condition that—

(1) any Indian owning any undivided interest, and in actual use and possession of such tract for at least three years preceding the tribal initiative, may purchase such tract by matching the tribal offer;

(2) if at any time within five years following the date of acquisition of such land by an individual pursuant to this section, such property is offered for sale or a petition is filed with the Secretary for removal of the property from trust or restricted status, the tribe shall have 180 days from the date it is notified of such offer or petition to acquire such property by paying to the owner the fair market value as determined by the Secretary; and

(3) the approval of the Secretary shall be required for a land sale initiated under this section, except that such approval shall not be required with respect to a land sale transaction initiated by an Indian tribe that has in effect a land consolidation plan that has been approved by the Secretary under section 2203 of this title.

(1) Applicability

This subsection shall be applicable only to parcels of land (including surface and subsurface interests, except with respect to a subsurface interest that has been severed from the surface interest, in which case this subsection shall apply only to the surface interest) which the Secretary has determined, pursuant to paragraph (2)(B),^[1] to be parcels of highly fractionated Indian land.

(2) Requirements

Each partition action under this subsection shall be conducted by the Secretary in accordance with the following requirements:

(A) Application

Upon receipt of any payment or bond required under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall commence a process for partitioning a parcel of land by sale in accordance with the provisions of this subsection upon receipt of an application by—

(i) the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject land that owns an undivided interest in the parcel of land; or

(ii) any person owning an undivided interest in the parcel of land who is eligible to bid at the sale of the parcel pursuant to subclause (II), (III), or (IV) of subparagraph (I)(i);

provided that no such application shall be valid or considered if it is received by the Secretary prior to the date that is 1 year after the date on which notice is published pursuant to section 8(a)(4) of the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004.

(B) Costs of serving notice and publication

The costs of serving and publishing notice under subparagraph (F) shall be borne by the applicant. Upon receiving written notice from the Secretary, the applicant must pay to the Secretary an amount determined by the Secretary to be the estimated costs of such service of notice and publication, or furnish a sufficient bond for such estimated costs within the time stated in the notice, failing which, unless an extension is granted by the Secretary, the Secretary shall not be required to commence the partition process under subparagraph (A) and may deny the application. The Secretary shall have the discretion and authority in any case to waive either the payment or the bond (or any portion of such payment or bond) otherwise required by this subparagraph, upon making a determination that such waiver will further the policies of this chapter.

Upon receipt of an application pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall determine whether the subject parcel meets the requirements set forth in section 2201 (6) of this title to be classified as a parcel of highly fractionated Indian land.

(D) Consent requirements

(i) In general A parcel of land may be partitioned under this subsection only if the applicant obtains the written consent of—

(I) the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject land if such Indian tribe owns an undivided interest in the parcel;

(II) any owner who, for the 3-year period immediately preceding the date on which the Secretary receives the application, has

(aa) continuously maintained a bona fide residence on the parcel; or

(bb) operated a bona fide farm, ranch, or other business on the parcel; and

(III) the owners (including parents of minor owners and legal guardians of incompetent owners) of at least 50 percent of the undivided interests in the parcel, but only in cases where the Secretary determines that, based on the final appraisal prepared pursuant to subparagraph (F), any 1 owner’s total undivided interest in the parcel (not including the interest of an Indian tribe or that of the owner requesting the partition) has a value in excess of $1,500.

Any consent required by this clause must be in writing and acknowledged before a notary public (or other official authorized to make acknowledgments), and shall be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary has reason to believe that the consent was obtained as a result of fraud or undue influence.

(ii) Consent by the Secretary on behalf of certain individuals For the purposes of clause (i)(III), the Secretary may consent on behalf of—

(I) undetermined heirs of trust or restricted interests and owners of such interests who are minors and legal incompetents having no parents or legal guardian; and

(II) missing owners or owners of trust or restricted interests whose whereabouts are unknown, but only after a search for such owners has been completed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

(E) Appraisal

After the Secretary has determined that the subject parcel is a parcel of highly fractionated Indian land pursuant to subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall cause to be made, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for establishing fair market value, an appraisal of the fair market value of the subject parcel.

(F) Notice to owners on completion of appraisal

Upon completion of the appraisal, the Secretary shall give notice of the requested partition and appraisal to all owners of undivided interests in the parcel, in accordance with principles of due process. Such notice shall include the following requirements:

(i) Written notice The Secretary shall attempt to give each owner written notice of the partition action stating the following:

(I) That a proceeding to partition the parcel of land by sale has been commenced.

(II) The legal description of the subject parcel.

(III) The owner’s ownership interest in the subject parcel as evidenced by the Secretary’s records as of the date that owners are determined in accordance with clause (ii).

(IV) The results of the appraisal.

(V) The owner’s right to receive a copy of the appraisal upon written request.

(VI) The owner’s right to comment on or object to the proposed partition and the appraisal.

(VII) That the owner must timely comment on or object in writing to the proposed partition or the appraisal, in order to receive notice of approval of the appraisal and right to appeal.

(VIII) The date by which the owner’s written comments or objections must be received, which shall not be less than 90 days after the date that the notice is mailed under this clause or last published under clause (ii)(II).

(IX) The address for requesting copies of the appraisal and for submitting written comments or objections.

(X) The name and telephone number of the official to be contacted for purposes of obtaining information regarding the proceeding, including the time and date of the auction of the land or the date for submitting sealed bids.

(XI) Any other information the Secretary deems to be appropriate.

(ii) Manner of service

(I) Service by certified mail The Secretary shall use due diligence to provide all owners of interests in the subject parcel, as evidenced by the Secretary’s records at the time of the determination under subparagraph (C), with actual notice of the partition proceedings by mailing a copy of the written notice described in clause (i) by certified mail, restricted delivery, to each such owner at the owner’s last known address. For purposes of this subsection, owners shall be determined from the Secretary’s land title records as of the date of the determination under subparagraph (C) or a date that is not more than 90 days prior to the date of mailing under this clause, whichever is later. In the event the written notice to an owner is returned undelivered, the Secretary shall attempt to obtain a current address for such owner by conducting a reasonable search (including a reasonable search of records maintained by local, State, Federal and tribal governments and agencies) and by inquiring with the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject parcel, and, if different from that tribe, the Indian tribe of which the owner is a member, and, if successful in locating any such owner, send written notice by certified mail in accordance with this subclause.

(II) Notice by publication The Secretary shall give notice by publication of the partition proceedings to all owners that the Secretary was unable to serve pursuant to subclause (I), and to unknown heirs and assigns by—

(aa) publishing the notice described in clause (i) at least 2 times in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the subject parcel of land is located or, if there is an Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the parcel of land and that tribe publishes a tribal newspaper or newsletter at least once every month, 1 time in such newspaper of general circulation and 1 time in such tribal newspaper or newsletter;

(bb) posting such notice in a conspicuous place in the tribal headquarters or administration building (or such other tribal building determined by the Secretary to be most appropriate for giving public notice) of the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the parcel of land, if any; and

(cc) in addition to the foregoing, in the Secretary’s discretion, publishing notice in any other place or means that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(G) Review of comments on appraisal

(i) In general After reviewing and considering comments or information timely submitted by any owner of an interest in the parcel in response to the notice required under subparagraph (F), the Secretary may, consistent with the provisions of this chapter for establishing fair market value—

(I) order a new appraisal; or

(II) approve the appraisal;

provided that if the Secretary orders a new appraisal under subclause (I), notice of the new appraisal shall be given as specified in clause (ii).

(ii) Notice Notice shall be given—

(I) in accordance with subparagraph (H), where the new appraisal results in a value of the land that is equal to or greater than that of the earlier appraisal; or

(II) in accordance with subparagraph (F)(ii), where the new appraisal results in a lower valuation of the land.

(H) Notice to owners of approval of appraisal and right to appeal

Upon making the determination under subparagraph (G), the Secretary shall provide to the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject land and to all persons who submitted written comments on or objections to the proposed partition or appraisal, a written notice to be served on such tribe and persons by certified mail. Such notice shall state—

(i) the results of the appraisal;

(ii) that the owner has the right to review a copy of the appraisal upon request;

(iii) that the land will be sold for not less than the appraised value, subject to the consent requirements under paragraph (2)(D);

(iv) the time of the sale or for submitting bids under subparagraph (I);

(v) that the owner has the right, under the Secretary’s regulations governing administrative appeals, to pursue an administrative appeal from—

(I) the determination that the land may be partitioned by sale under the provisions of this section; and

(II) the Secretary’s order approving the appraisal;

(vi) the date by which an administrative appeal must be taken, a citation to the provisions of the Secretary’s regulations that will govern the owner’s appeal, and any other information required by such regulations to be given to parties affected by adverse decisions of the Secretary;

(vii) in cases where the Secretary determines that any person’s undivided trust or restricted interest in the parcel exceeds $1,500 pursuant to paragraph (2)(D)(iii), that the Secretary has authority to consent to the partition on behalf of undetermined heirs of trust or restricted interests in the parcel and owners of such interests whose whereabouts are unknown; and

(viii) any other information the Secretary deems to be appropriate.

(I) Sale to eligible purchaser

(i) In general Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii) and the consent requirements of paragraph (2)(D), the Secretary shall, after providing notice to owners under subparagraph (H), including the time and place of sale or for receiving sealed bids, at public auction or by sealed bid (whichever of such methods of sale the Secretary determines to be more appropriate under the circumstances) sell the parcel of land by competitive bid for not less than the final appraised fair market value to the highest bidder from among the following eligible bidders:

(I) The Indian tribe, if any, with jurisdiction over the trust or restricted interests in the parcel being sold.

(II) Any person who is a member, or is eligible to be a member, of the Indian tribe described in subclause (I).

(III) Any person who is a member, or is eligible to be a member, of an Indian tribe but not of the tribe described in subclause (I), but only if such person already owns an undivided interest in the parcel at the time of sale.

(IV) Any lineal descendent of the original allottee of the parcel who is a member or is eligible to be a member of an Indian tribe or, with respect to a parcel located in the State of California that is not within an Indian tribe’s reservation or not otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, who is a member, or eligible to be a member, of an Indian tribe or owns a trust or restricted interest in the parcel.

(ii) Right to match highest bid If the highest bidder is a person who is only eligible to bid under clause (i)(III), the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the parcel, if any, shall have the right to match the highest bid and acquire the parcel, but only if—

(I) prior to the date of the sale, the governing body of such tribe has adopted a tribal law or resolution reserving its right to match the bids of such nonmember bidders in partition sales under this subsection and delivered a copy of such law or resolution to the Secretary; and

(II) the parcel is not acquired under clause (iii).

(iii) Right to purchase Any person who is a member, or eligible to be a member, of the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the trust or restricted interests in the parcel being sold and is, as of the time of sale under this subparagraph, the owner of the largest undivided interest in the parcel shall have a right to purchase the parcel by tendering to the Secretary an amount equal to the highest sufficient bid submitted at the sale, less that amount of the bid attributable to such owner’s share, but only if—

(I) the owner submitted a sufficient bid at the sale;

(II) the owner’s total undivided interest in the parcel immediately prior to the sale was—

(aa) greater than the undivided interest held by any other co-owners, except where there are 2 or more co-owners whose interests are of equal size but larger than the interests of all other co-owners and such owners of the largest interests have agreed in writing that 1 of them may exercise the right of purchase under this clause; and

(bb) equal to or greater than 20 percent of the entire undivided ownership of the parcel;

(III) within 3 days following the date of the auction or for receiving sealed bids, and in accordance with the regulations adopted to implement this section (if any), the owner delivers to the Secretary a written notice of intent to exercise the owner’s rights under this clause; and

(IV) such owner tenders the amount of the purchase price required under this clause—

(aa) not more than 30 days after the date of the auction or time for receiving sealed bids; and

(bb) in accordance with any requirements of the regulations promulgated under paragraph (5).

(iv) Interest acquired A purchaser of a parcel of land under this subparagraph shall acquire title to the parcel in trust or restricted status, free and clear of any and all claims of title or ownership of all persons or entities (not including the United States) owning or claiming to own an interest in such parcel prior to the time of sale.

(J) Proceeds of sale

(i) Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the Secretary shall distribute the proceeds of sale of a parcel of land under the provisions of this section to the owners of interests in such parcel in proportion to their respective ownership interests.

(ii) Proceeds attributable to the sale of trust or restricted interests shall be maintained in accounts as trust personalty.

(iii) Proceeds attributable to the sale of interests of owners whose whereabouts are unknown, of undetermined heirs, and of other persons whose ownership interests have not been recorded shall be held by the Secretary until such owners, heirs, or other persons have been determined, at which time such proceeds shall be distributed in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii).

(K) Lack of bids or consent

(i) Lack of bids If no bidder described in subparagraph (I) presents a bid that equals or exceeds the final appraised value, the Secretary may either—

(I) purchase the parcel of land for its appraised fair market value on behalf of the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the land, subject to the lien and procedures provided under section 2213 (b) of this title; or

(II) terminate the partition process.

(ii) Lack of consent If an applicant fails to obtain any applicable consent required under the provisions of subparagraph (D) by the date established by the Secretary prior to the proposed sale, the Secretary may either extend the time for obtaining any such consent or deny the request for partition.

(3) Enforcement

(A) In general

If a partition is approved under this subsection and an owner of an interest in the parcel of land refuses to surrender possession in accordance with the partition decision, or refuses to execute any conveyance necessary to implement the partition, then any affected owner or the United States may—

(i) commence a civil action in the United States district court for the district in which the parcel of land is located; and

(ii) request that the court issue an order for ejectment or any other appropriate remedy necessary for the partition of the land by sale.

(B) Federal role

With respect to any civil action brought under subparagraph (A)—

(i) the United States—

(I) shall receive notice of the civil action; and

(II) may be a party to the civil action; and

(ii) the civil action shall not be dismissed, and no relief requested shall be denied, on the ground that the civil action is against the United States or that the United States is a necessary and indispensable party.

(4) Grants and loans

The Secretary may provide grants and low interest loans to successful bidders at sales authorized by this subsection, provided that—

(A) the total amount of such assistance in any such sale shall not exceed 20 percent of the appraised value of the parcel of land sold; and

(B) the grant or loan funds provided shall only be applied toward the purchase price of the parcel of land sold.

(5) Regulations

The Secretary is authorized to adopt such regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection. Such regulations may include provisions for giving notice of sales to prospective purchasers eligible to submit bids at sales conducted under paragraph (2)(I).

[1] So in original. Probably should be paragraph “(2)(C),”.

U.S. Code

§ 2204. Purchase of trust or restricted or controlled lands at no less than fair market value; requisite conditions