No. We cannot distribute the principal from the Lease Fund to the Tribe.

The Tribe may use income from the Lease Fund for the following purposes:

(a) For economic development purposes;

(b) For community development purposes; and

(c) For administrative costs reasonably related to the above.

To request a distribution of income from the Lease Fund, the Tribe must submit to us all of the following documents:

(a) A certified copy of a duly enacted resolution of the Tribal Council requesting a distribution from the Lease Fund;

(b) A pro forma budget for each identified economic development project and a program budget for each identified community development project, approved by the Tribal Council, showing precisely how the Tribe will spend the money;

(c) Supporting documentation for the budgets required by paragraph (b) of this section, and

(d) A certification stating that the Tribe will use the funds in accordance with budgets submitted under this section.

Within 30 days of receiving the information required by § 183.11 we will approve your request if it complies with the Settlement Act and this part. If we disapprove your request we will do so in writing and will provide you with the reasons for disapproval.

We will only disapprove a request for distribution of income from the Lease Fund if the request does any of the following:

(a) Fails to provide the documents identified in § 183.5;

(b) Fails to provide reports required under §§ 183.15 and 183.16; or

(c) Includes a use requested or written budget that does not comply with a specific provision of the Settlement Act or this part.

(a) The Tribe must spend income distributed from the Lease Fund only in accordance with a written budget submitted under § 183.5.

(b) The Tribe must not spend the income from the Lease Fund to make per capita payments to members of the Tribe.