Consultation #1
Date: January 10, 2022
Time: 1pm – 3pm EST
Registration Link

Consultation #2
Date: January 11, 2022
Time: 11am – 1pm EST
Registration Link

Copies of all documents can be found here: https://www.noaa.gov/legislative-and-intergovernmental-affairs/noaa-tribal-resources-updates

NOAA requests your input on revisions to the following existing NOAA policies and guidance documents, which facilitate NOAA’s implementation of E.O. 13175: (1) NOAA Procedures for Government-to-Government Consultation With Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations (Draft Handbook); (2) NOAA Administrative Order 218-8, Policy on Government-to-Government Consultation with Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations (see last page of Draft Handbook); and (3) a traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) guidance currently titled NOAA Fisheries and National Ocean Service Guidance and Best Practices for Engaging and Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Decision-Making.

The Draft Handbook and NOAA Administrative Order revisions are intended to update and formalize the productive practices and procedures NOAA has developed throughout its years of working with tribal governments, American Indians, and Native Alaskans. These proposed updates are intended to further strengthen NOAA’s relationships with Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and improve the Agency’s consultation procedures.

NOAA plans to update and apply the TEK guidance to all NOAA offices, and is interested in input regarding any  updates or revisions to strengthen this guidance. TEK has the potential to inform and enrich many aspects of NOAA’s work, allowing us to better understand earth and ocean systems and fulfill our management responsibilities. The TEK Guidance has not been previously made available for tribal or public comment.

NOAA understands the importance of long-standing policies relating to government-to-government relations with tribal governments. In January 2021, President Biden issued a Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening the Nation-to-Nation Relationships that requires all federal departments and agencies to submit a plan for implementing Executive Order 13175. Executive Order 13175 charges federal departments and agencies to engage in regular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have Tribal implications. The revisions to these policy and guidance documents respond to those Administration requirements.

The Federal Register notice for this request was published on November 24, 2021, and can be found at www.Regulations.gov.