Dear Tribal Leader:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (herein “the Department” or USDOT) is pleased to announce that the Department will be hosting a virtual consultation with Tribes regarding a proposed update to the Department’s Tribal consultation policy and consultation plan. In consideration of your comments and recommendations submitted in March 2021 Tribal consultation sessions, which were conducted in accordance with President Biden’s January 26, 2021 Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships, we intend to update the Department’s Tribal consultation policy, as currently set forth in USDOT Order 5301.1 and the Department’s 2010 Tribal Consultation Plan.

To obtain your valuable feedback and comments on the proposed update to the Tribal consultation policy and plan, USDOT’s Director of Tribal Affairs, Milo Booth, requests your participation in a virtual consultation session via Zoom scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. EST. Here is the link to join the consultation session:
https://usdot.zoomgov.com/j/1606166123?pwd=bVR1OFd3T29kUTNRM2JqWHBFQjNYUT09&from=addon  The meeting passcode is 756518.

Accordingly, we request and welcome your views and comments on the proposed update to the Department’s Tribal consultation policy and plan. The proposed update (USDOT draft Order 5301.1A) is available at Draft 5301.1A. We expect this update will more fully and faithfully implement and reflect the policies, principles, and spirit of Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments while affirming the principles of Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Determination.

We look forward to our engagement with you on a Nation-to-Nation basis regarding this proposed update to the Department’s Tribal consultation policy and plan. As stated in the Department’s January 31, 2022 letter to you regarding this proposed update, the 120-day comment period commenced on February 1, 2022 and we will accept comments until May 31, 2022. You may submit your comments via email at tribalaffairs@dot.gov or via mail at: Office of Governmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation, Attn: Director, Milo Booth, Rm. W-83, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590.

If you have any questions please contact Milo Booth, Director of Tribal Affairs at 202.309.9786 or at milo.booth@dot.gov.

Regards,

Arlando Teller
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs
U.S. Department of Transportation