Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-73

§3507 Appraisals

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - INDIAN ENERGY › § 3507

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

For any deal that needs the Secretary’s approval and involves mineral or energy resources held in trust for a tribe or tribal land that cannot be sold freely, an appraisal of fair market value required by law can be done by one of three people: the Secretary, the tribe itself, or a certified outside appraiser hired by the tribe. When the Secretary gets an appraisal done by or for the tribe, the Secretary must review it within 45 days and must approve it unless it does not meet the standards in rules the Secretary will create. If the Secretary rejects an appraisal, the Secretary must send the tribe a written notice saying each reason for the rejection and explaining how to fix the appraisal. The Secretary must write rules that explain the standards for approval or rejection.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §3507

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For any transaction that requires approval of the Secretary and involves mineral or energy resources held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian tribe or by an Indian tribe subject to Federal restrictions against alienation, any appraisal relating to fair market value of those resources required to be prepared under applicable law may be prepared by—

(1)the Secretary;

(2)the affected Indian tribe; or

(3)a certified, third-party appraiser pursuant to a contract with the Indian tribe.

(b)Not later than 45 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an appraisal prepared by or for an Indian tribe under paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)review the appraisal; and

(2)approve the appraisal unless the Secretary determines that the appraisal fails to meet the standards set forth in regulations promulgated under subsection (d).

(c)If the Secretary determines that an appraisal submitted for approval under subsection (b) should be disapproved, the Secretary shall give written notice of the disapproval to the Indian tribe and a description of—

(1)each reason for the disapproval; and

(2)how the appraisal should be corrected or otherwise cured to meet the applicable standards set forth in the regulations promulgated under subsection (d).

(d)The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section, including standards the Secretary shall use for approving or disapproving the appraisal described in subsection (a).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 3507

Title 25 — Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73