The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a follow up hearing on Thursday on the status of backlogs at the Interior Department.

The committee heard from assistant secretary Carl Artman on the issue back in October 2007. Artman, who is resigning on Friday, has since tried to speed up review of land-into-trust applications, environmental impact statements, probates, appraisals and leases.

The witness list for tomorrow's hearing hasn't been published. It's possible Artman might testify.

UPDATE: Here is the witness list:

Panel 1
THE HONORABLE CARL J. ARTMAN
Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior

THE HONORABLE ROBERT CHICKS
Mid-West Area Vice President, National Congress of American Indians; President, Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians

THE HONORABLE GARY SVANDA
Council Member, City of Madera

MR. DOUG NASH
Director, of Indian Estate Planning and Probating, Institute of Indian Estate Planning and Probate

Committee Notice:
OVERSIGHT HEARING to “Follow Up on the status of Backlogs at the Department of the Interior” (May 22, 2008)

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