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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2003

The Department of Treasury this week said it would not file plans regarding the management of 300,000 Indian trust fund accounts.

Brian L. Ferrell, a Treasury attorney, said the agency would continue to assist the Department of Interior with the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust. A memorandum sent to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on Monday outlines some of the progress that has been made in the past couple of years.

"Treasury has already implemented measures to ensure retention and enhance retrievability of IIM records," the filing states. "Such measures meet Treasury's fiduciary obligations to IIM beneficiaries."

In December 1999, Lamberth declared that Treasury was in breach of trust on records. Earlier that year, he held former Secretary Robert Rubin, a Clinton appointee, in contempt for failing to produce documents. At the same time, Treasury employees destroyed 162 box of records.

Relevant Documents:
Treasury Memo (January 6, 2003)

Relevant Links:
The Department of Treasury - http://www.ustreas.gov
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

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