(a) Unless otherwise provided under tribal law, when we have reason to believe that a trespass on Indian agricultural land has occurred, within five business days, we or the authorized tribal representative will provide written notice to the alleged trespasser, the possessor of trespass property, any known lien holder, and beneficial Indian landowner, as appropriate. The written notice will include the following:

(1) The basis for the trespass determination;

(2) A legal description of where the trespass occurred;

(3) A verification of ownership of unauthorized property (e.g., brands in the State Brand Book for cases of livestock trespass, if applicable);

(4) Corrective actions that must be taken;

(5) Time frames for taking the corrective actions;

(6) Potential consequences and penalties for failure to take corrective action; and

(7) A statement that unauthorized livestock or other property may not be removed or disposed of unless authorized by us.

(b) If we determine that the alleged trespasser or possessor of trespass property is unknown or refuses delivery of the written notice, a public trespass notice will be posted at the tribal community building, U.S. Post Office, and published in the local newspaper nearest to the Indian agricultural lands where the trespass is occurring.

(c) Trespass notices under this subpart are not subject to appeal under 25 CFR part 2.

If you receive a trespass notice, you will within the time frame specified in the notice:

(a) Comply with the ordered corrective actions; or

(b) Contact us in writing to explain why the trespass notice is in error. You may contact us by telephone but any explanation of trespass you wish to provide must be in writing. If we determine that we issued the trespass notice in error, we will withdraw the notice.

A written trespass notice will remain in effect for the same conduct identified in that written notice for a period of one year from the date of receipt of the written notice by the trespasser.

Under this part, trespass is any unauthorized occupancy, use of, or action on Indian agricultural lands. These provisions also apply to Indian agricultural land managed under an agricultural lease or permit under part 162 of this title.

We will:

(a) Investigate accidental, willful, and/or incidental trespass on Indian agricultural land;

(b) Respond to alleged trespass in a prompt, efficient manner;

(c) Assess trespass penalties for the value of products used or removed, cost of damage to the Indian agricultural land, and enforcement costs incurred as a consequence of the trespass.

(d) Ensure that damage to Indian agricultural lands resulting from trespass is rehabilitated and stabilized at the expense of the trespasser.

(a) The BIA enforces the provisions of this subpart. If the tribe adopts the provisions of this subpart, the tribe will have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce this subpart. Additionally, if the tribe so requests, we will defer to tribal prosecution of trespass on Indian agricultural lands.

(b) Nothing in this subpart shall be construed to diminish the sovereign authority of Indian tribes with respect to trespass.

If the trespasser fails to take the corrective action specified by us, we may take one or more of the following actions, as appropriate:

(a) Seize, impound, sell or dispose of unauthorized livestock or other property involved in the trespass. We may keep such property we seize for use as evidence.

(b) Assess penalties, damages, and costs, under § 166.812 of this subpart.

We will impound unauthorized livestock or other property under the following conditions:

(a) Where there is imminent danger of severe injury to growing or harvestable crop or destruction of the range forage.

(b) When the known owner or the owner's representative of the unauthorized livestock or other property refuses to accept delivery of a written notice of trespass and the unauthorized livestock or other property are not removed within the period prescribed in the written notice.

(c) Any time after five days of providing notice of impoundment if you failed to correct the trespass.

(a) If the trespass is not corrected in the time specified in the initial trespass notice, we will send written notice of our intent to impound unauthorized livestock or other property to the unauthorized livestock or property owner or representative, and any known lien holder of the unauthorized livestock or other property.

(b) If we determine that the owner of the unauthorized livestock or other property or the owner's representative is unknown or refuses delivery of the written notice, we will post a public notice of intent to impound at the tribal community building, U.S. Post Office, and published in the local newspaper nearest to the Indian agricultural lands where the trespass is occurring.

(c) After we have given notice as described above, we will impound unauthorized livestock or other property without any further notice.

Following the impoundment of unauthorized livestock or other property, we will provide notice that we will sell the impounded property as follows:

(a) We will provide written notice of the sale to the owner, the owner's representative, and any known lien holder. The written notice must include the procedure by which the impounded property may be redeemed prior to the sale.

(b) We will provide public notice of sale of impounded property by posting at the tribal community building, U.S. Post Office, and publishing in the local newspaper nearest to the Indian agricultural lands where the trespass is occurring. The public notice will include a description of the impounded property, and the date, time, and place of the public sale. The sale date must be at least five days after the publication and posting of notice.

You may redeem impounded livestock or other property by submitting proof of ownership and paying all penalties, damages, and costs under § 166.812 of this subpart and completing all corrective actions identified by us under § 166.804 of this subpart.

(a) Unless the owner or known lien holder of the impounded livestock or other property redeems the property prior to the time set by the sale, by submitting proof of ownership and settling all obligations under § 166.804 and § 166.812 of this subpart, the property will be sold by public sale to the highest bidder.

(b) If a satisfactory bid is not received, the livestock or property may be re-offered for sale, returned to the owner, condemned and destroyed, or otherwise disposed of.

(c) We will give the purchaser a bill of sale or other written receipt evidencing the sale.

Trespassers on Indian agricultural land must pay the following penalties and costs:

(a) Collection of the value of the products illegally used or removed plus a penalty of double their values;

(b) Costs associated with any damage to Indian agricultural land and/or property;

(c) The costs associated with enforcement of the regulations, including field examination and survey, damage appraisal, investigation assistance and reports, witness expenses, demand letters, court costs, and attorney fees;

(d) Expenses incurred in gathering, impounding, caring for, and disposal of livestock in cases which necessitate impoundment under § 166.807 of this subpart; and

(e) All other penalties authorized by law.

We will determine the value of forage or crops consumed or destroyed based upon the average rate received per month for comparable property or grazing privileges, or the estimated commercial value or replacement costs of such products or property.

We will determine the value of the products or property illegally used or removed based upon a valuation of similar products or property.

We will determine the damages by considering the costs of rehabilitation and revegetation, loss of future revenue, loss of profits, loss of productivity, loss of market value, damage to other resources, and other factors.

Costs of enforcement may include detection and all actions taken by us through prosecution and collection of damages. This includes field examination and survey, damage appraisal, investigation assistance and report preparation, witness expenses, demand letters, court costs, attorney fees, and other costs.

Unless otherwise provided by applicable tribal law:

(a) We will refuse to issue you a permit for use, development, or occupancy of Indian agricultural lands; and

(b) We will forward your case for appropriate legal action.

Unless otherwise provided by tribal law:

(a) We will treat any amounts recovered under § 166.812 of this subpart as proceeds from the sale of agricultural property from the Indian agricultural land upon which the trespass occurred.

(b) Proceeds recovered under § 166.812 of this subpart may be distributed to:

(1) Repair damages of the Indian agricultural land and property;

(2) Reimburse the affected parties, including the permittee for loss due to the trespass, as negotiated and provided in the permit; and

(3) Reimburse for costs associated with the enforcement of this subpart.

(c) If any money is left over after the distribution of the proceeds described in paragraph (b) of this section, we will return it to the trespasser or, where we cannot identify the owner of the impounded property within 180 days, we will deposit the net proceeds of the sale into the accounts of the landowners where the trespass occurred.

We will send written notice to the trespasser demanding immediate settlement and advising the trespasser that unless settlement is received within five business days from the date of receipt, we will forward the case for appropriate legal action. We may send a copy of the notice to the Indian landowner, permittee, and any known lien holders.