What happens after the informal conference?

(a) Within 10 business days of the informal conference, the person who conducted the informal conference shall prepare and mail to the Tribe/Consortium a brief summary of the informal conference. The summary must include any agreements reached or changes from the initial position of the bureau or the Tribe/Consortium.

(b) Every summary of an informal conference must contain the following language:

Within 30 days of the receipt of the summary from the informal conference, you may file an appeal of the initial decision of the Department of the Interior agency in accordance with subpart R of 25 CFR part 1000. Alternatively, you may file an action in Federal court pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 5331.

(c) If in its judgment no agreement was reached, the Tribe/Consortium may choose to appeal the initial decision, as modified by any changes made as a result of the informal conference, under this subpart.