Each partition action under this subsection shall be conducted by the Secretary in accordance with the following requirements:
(A)
Application
Upon receipt of any payment or bond required under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall commence a process for partitioning a parcel of land by sale in accordance with the provisions of this subsection upon receipt of an application by—
(i)
the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject land that owns an undivided interest in the parcel of land; or
(ii)
any person owning an undivided interest in the parcel of land who is eligible to bid at the sale of the parcel pursuant to subclause (II), (III), or (IV) of subparagraph (I)(i);
(D)
Consent requirements
(i)
In general
A parcel of land may be partitioned under this subsection only if the applicant obtains the written consent of—
(I)
the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject land if such Indian tribe owns an undivided interest in the parcel;
(II)
any owner who, for the 3-year period immediately preceding the date on which the Secretary receives the application, has
(aa)
continuously maintained a bona fide residence on the parcel; or
(bb)
operated a bona fide farm, ranch, or other business on the parcel; and
(III)
the owners (including parents of minor owners and legal guardians of incompetent owners) of at least 50 percent of the undivided interests in the parcel, but only in cases where the Secretary determines that, based on the final appraisal prepared pursuant to subparagraph (F), any 1 owner’s total undivided interest in the parcel (not including the interest of an Indian tribe or that of the owner requesting the partition) has a value in excess of $1,500.
Any consent required by this clause must be in writing and acknowledged before a notary public (or other official authorized to make acknowledgments), and shall be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary has reason to believe that the consent was obtained as a result of fraud or undue influence.
(ii)
Consent by the Secretary on behalf of certain individuals
For the purposes of clause (i)(III), the Secretary may consent on behalf of—
(I)
undetermined heirs of trust or restricted interests and owners of such interests who are minors and legal incompetents having no parents or legal guardian; and
(II)
missing owners or owners of trust or restricted interests whose whereabouts are unknown, but only after a search for such owners has been completed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.
(F)
Notice to owners on completion of appraisal
Upon completion of the appraisal, the Secretary shall give notice of the requested partition and appraisal to all owners of undivided interests in the parcel, in accordance with principles of due process. Such notice shall include the following requirements:
(i)
Written notice
The Secretary shall attempt to give each owner written notice of the partition action stating the following:
(I)
That a proceeding to partition the parcel of land by sale has been commenced.
(II)
The legal description of the subject parcel.
(III)
The owner’s ownership interest in the subject parcel as evidenced by the Secretary’s records as of the date that owners are determined in accordance with clause (ii).
(IV)
The results of the appraisal.
(V)
The owner’s right to receive a copy of the appraisal upon written request.
(VI)
The owner’s right to comment on or object to the proposed partition and the appraisal.
(VII)
That the owner must timely comment on or object in writing to the proposed partition or the appraisal, in order to receive notice of approval of the appraisal and right to appeal.
(VIII)
The date by which the owner’s written comments or objections must be received, which shall not be less than 90 days after the date that the notice is mailed under this clause or last published under clause (ii)(II).
(IX)
The address for requesting copies of the appraisal and for submitting written comments or objections.
(X)
The name and telephone number of the official to be contacted for purposes of obtaining information regarding the proceeding, including the time and date of the auction of the land or the date for submitting sealed bids.
(XI)
Any other information the Secretary deems to be appropriate.
(ii)
Manner of service
(I)
Service by certified mail
(II)
Notice by publication
The Secretary shall give notice by publication of the partition proceedings to all owners that the Secretary was unable to serve pursuant to subclause (I), and to unknown heirs and assigns by—
(aa)
publishing the notice described in clause (i) at least 2 times in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the subject parcel of land is located or, if there is an Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the parcel of land and that tribe publishes a tribal newspaper or newsletter at least once every month, 1 time in such newspaper of general circulation and 1 time in such tribal newspaper or newsletter;
(bb)
posting such notice in a conspicuous place in the tribal headquarters or administration building (or such other tribal building determined by the Secretary to be most appropriate for giving public notice) of the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the parcel of land, if any; and
(cc)
in addition to the foregoing, in the Secretary’s discretion, publishing notice in any other place or means that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(G)
Review of comments on appraisal
(i)
In general
(I)
order a new appraisal; or
(II)
approve the appraisal;
(ii)
Notice
Notice shall be given—
(I)
in accordance with subparagraph (H), where the new appraisal results in a value of the land that is equal to or greater than that of the earlier appraisal; or
(II)
in accordance with subparagraph (F)(ii), where the new appraisal results in a lower valuation of the land.
(H)
Notice to owners of approval of appraisal and right to appeal
Upon making the determination under subparagraph (G), the Secretary shall provide to the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the subject land and to all persons who submitted written comments on or objections to the proposed partition or appraisal, a written notice to be served on such tribe and persons by certified mail. Such notice shall state—
(i)
the results of the appraisal;
(ii)
that the owner has the right to review a copy of the appraisal upon request;
(iii)
that the land will be sold for not less than the appraised value, subject to the consent requirements under paragraph (2)(D);
(iv)
the time of the sale or for submitting bids under subparagraph (I);
(v)
that the owner has the right, under the Secretary’s regulations governing administrative appeals, to pursue an administrative appeal from—
(I)
the determination that the land may be partitioned by sale under the provisions of this section; and
(II)
the Secretary’s order approving the appraisal;
(vi)
the date by which an administrative appeal must be taken, a citation to the provisions of the Secretary’s regulations that will govern the owner’s appeal, and any other information required by such regulations to be given to parties affected by adverse decisions of the Secretary;
(vii)
in cases where the Secretary determines that any person’s undivided trust or restricted interest in the parcel exceeds $1,500 pursuant to paragraph (2)(D)(iii), that the Secretary has authority to consent to the partition on behalf of undetermined heirs of trust or restricted interests in the parcel and owners of such interests whose whereabouts are unknown; and
(viii)
any other information the Secretary deems to be appropriate.
(I)
Sale to eligible purchaser
(i)
In general
Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii) and the consent requirements of paragraph (2)(D), the Secretary shall, after providing notice to owners under subparagraph (H), including the time and place of sale or for receiving sealed bids, at public auction or by sealed bid (whichever of such methods of sale the Secretary determines to be more appropriate under the circumstances) sell the parcel of land by competitive bid for not less than the final appraised fair market value to the highest bidder from among the following eligible bidders:
(I)
The Indian tribe, if any, with jurisdiction over the trust or restricted interests in the parcel being sold.
(II)
Any person who is a member, or is eligible to be a member, of the Indian tribe described in subclause (I).
(III)
Any person who is a member, or is eligible to be a member, of an Indian tribe but not of the tribe described in subclause (I), but only if such person already owns an undivided interest in the parcel at the time of sale.
(IV)
Any lineal descendent of the original allottee of the parcel who is a member or is eligible to be a member of an Indian tribe or, with respect to a parcel located in the State of California that is not within an Indian tribe’s reservation or not otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, who is a member, or eligible to be a member, of an Indian tribe or owns a trust or restricted interest in the parcel.
(ii)
Right to match highest bid
If the highest bidder is a person who is only eligible to bid under clause (i)(III), the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the parcel, if any, shall have the right to match the highest bid and acquire the parcel, but only if—
(I)
prior to the date of the sale, the governing body of such tribe has adopted a tribal law or resolution reserving its right to match the bids of such nonmember bidders in partition sales under this subsection and delivered a copy of such law or resolution to the Secretary; and
(II)
the parcel is not acquired under clause (iii).
(iii)
Right to purchase
Any person who is a member, or eligible to be a member, of the Indian tribe with jurisdiction over the trust or restricted interests in the parcel being sold and is, as of the time of sale under this subparagraph, the owner of the largest undivided interest in the parcel shall have a right to purchase the parcel by tendering to the Secretary an amount equal to the highest sufficient bid submitted at the sale, less that amount of the bid attributable to such owner’s share, but only if—
(I)
the owner submitted a sufficient bid at the sale;
(II)
the owner’s total undivided interest in the parcel immediately prior to the sale was—
(aa)
greater than the undivided interest held by any other co-owners, except where there are 2 or more co-owners whose interests are of equal size but larger than the interests of all other co-owners and such owners of the largest interests have agreed in writing that 1 of them may exercise the right of purchase under this clause; and
(bb)
equal to or greater than 20 percent of the entire undivided ownership of the parcel;
(III)
within 3 days following the date of the auction or for receiving sealed bids, and in accordance with the regulations adopted to implement this section (if any), the owner delivers to the Secretary a written notice of intent to exercise the owner’s rights under this clause; and
(IV)
such owner tenders the amount of the purchase price required under this clause—
(aa)
not more than 30 days after the date of the auction or time for receiving sealed bids; and
(bb)
in accordance with any requirements of the regulations promulgated under paragraph (5).
(J)
Proceeds of sale
(i)
Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the Secretary shall distribute the proceeds of sale of a parcel of land under the provisions of this section to the owners of interests in such parcel in proportion to their respective ownership interests.
(ii)
Proceeds attributable to the sale of trust or restricted interests shall be maintained in accounts as trust personalty.
(iii)
Proceeds attributable to the sale of interests of owners whose whereabouts are unknown, of undetermined heirs, and of other persons whose ownership interests have not been recorded shall be held by the Secretary until such owners, heirs, or other persons have been determined, at which time such proceeds shall be distributed in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii).