What We Do

Programs and Services available through the Regional Office are:

Branch of Real Estates Services

The Eastern Region Branch of Real Estate Services provides technical support, general policy direction, and administrative review and evaluation of the Region’s real estate services program. The staff reviews proposed realty transactions, such as: rights-of-way, acquisitions and disposals, and leases and permits prior to approval consideration by the Regional Director. The Branch also provides services necessary to protect Indian rights based on treaties, statutes, proclamations, sovereignty, and the Federal government’s trust responsibility.

Probate

The Regional Office is responsible for preparation of probate cases for submission to responsible decision makers for determination of legal heirs or devisees and subsequent distribution of the estates.

Branch of Forestry

The Eastern Regional Office Branch of Forestry supports the Departmental goal of serving communities by assisting tribes with the management of their forest inventory and management planning, including the development of Integrated Resource Management Plans, timber sales management, forest protection (trespass, forest insect and disease management), forest development, woodland management, and wildland fire management.

Branch of Tribal Government

This Branch assists tribes with tribal constitutions, Secretarial and tribal elections, and the exercise of off-reservation treaty rights.

Branch of Self Determination

The staff provides the Regional Director with program expertise on all matters related to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638 as amended (ISDEA). In addition, Self-Determination staff provides overall guidance and direction for the Tribes, Regional branches and agencies in the implementation, coordination, evaluation and technical assistance of the ISDEA.

Division of Transportation

The Eastern Regional Office (ERO) staff provides Direct Service for design, technical assistance, program monitoring, and engineering services to all the Tribes within the Eastern Region. The ERO staff also provides the Regional Director and the Agency staff with their expertise on all matters related to the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program. The purpose of the IRR Program is to provide safe and adequate transportation and public road access to and within Indian reservations, Indian lands, and communities for Indians and Alaska Natives, visitors, recreational users, resource users, and others, while contributing to economic development, self-determination, and employment of Indians and Alaska Natives.

Branch of Social Services

The staff provides the technical oversight of the Services to Children, Elderly and Families programs, including the development and operation of Bureau and tribal Human Services programs. Staff provides training and technical assistance to tribes and agencies, consults with tribes, allocates and tracks welfare assistance funds, coordinates and conducts program reviews and monitors/coordinates ICWA and child protection activities with other Human Services programs. Where necessary, the staff certifies the accuracy of welfare assistance payments. The staff assesses, manages, and reviews supervised accounts under Individual Indian Monies, and monitors utilization of those funds.

Branch of Natural Resources

Administers the processes federal agencies must follow under environmental and cultural resources laws. Provides tribal and agency staff with training and technical assistance in environmental and cultural resources compliance procedures. Reviews and drafts comments on proposed actions by other federal agencies that might affect Indian lands, and assists tribes in consulting with such agencies. Issues and administers federal permits for the excavation of archeological resources or Indian burials on Indian lands. Serves as regional liaison to other governmental agencies. Manage compliance issues with respect to environmental and cultural resources laws that federal agencies, as federal agencies, must follow in conducting their business