The Bureau of Indian Affairs has canceled environmental reviews for four land-into-trust applications, all of them affecting tribes who were seeking land away from existing reservations.

Two of the environmental impact statements were canceled because the affected tribes did not satisfy the land-into-trust criteria. The Hannahville Tribe of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and the joint project of the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla Indians and Cupeno Indians and Big Lagoon Rancheria, both of California, were rejected in January after assistant secretary Carl Artman issued new guidance that restricts off-reservation acquisitions.

The other two were canceled because Artman said the tribes haven't submitted complete land-into-trust applications and are no longer pursuing the matter. The Greenville Rancheria and the Lower Lake Rancheria, both of California, were seeking land away from existing reservations.

Artman's last day in office is Friday, May 23.

Federal Register Notices:
Greenville Rancheria | Lower Lake Rancheria Hannahville Tribe | Los Coyotes/Big Lagoon|

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