Fee to Trust Applications. This is a transfer of land from an eligible Indian tribe or eligible Indian individual to the United States of America, in trust, for the benefit of the eligible Indian tribe or eligible Indian individual.
Indian tribes and individual Indian persons who meet the requirements established by federal statutes and further defined in federal regulations are eligible to apply for a fee-to-trust land acquisition. See 25 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 151.2.
Applications shall be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs office, by and through the Office of Real Estate Services, Cherokee Nation Complex, Tahlequah, OK 74465
The applicant must provide a legal description of the land to be acquired, the legal name of the eligible Indian tribe or individual, proof of an eligible Indian tribe or eligible person, the specific reason the applicant is requesting that the United States of America acquire the land for the applicant’s benefit, a title insurance commitment addressing the lands to be acquired and information that allows the Secretary of the Interior to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 602 Departmental Manual 2 (602 DM 2) – Hazardous Substances.
No, but each application will be evaluated separately. All decisions are in writing and the applicant will be advised of their appeal rights.
Trust lands are protected by and under the jurisdiction of the local Tribe (Cherokee); has Federal protection; and is not subject to ad valorem taxes.
