25 CFR § 83.31 - Can OFA suspend review of a documented petition?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t25/s83.31"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "25 CFR § 83.31 - Can OFA suspend review of a documented petition?"
title_number: 25
title_name: "Indians"
section_number: "83.31"
section_name: "Can OFA suspend review of a documented petition?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "F"
subchapter_name: "TRIBAL GOVERNMENT"
part_number: "83"
part_name: "PROCEDURES FOR FEDERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF INDIAN TRIBES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 2, 9, 5131; 25 U.S.C. 5130 note (Congressional Findings); and 43 U.S.C. 1457."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 37887, July 1, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "83"
---


# 83.31 Can OFA suspend review of a documented petition?

(a) OFA can suspend review of a documented petition, either conditionally or for a stated period, upon:

(1) A showing to the petitioner that there are technical or administrative problems that temporarily preclude continuing review; and

(2) Approval by the Assistant Secretary.

(b) Upon resolution of the technical or administrative problems that led to the suspension, the documented petition will have the same priority on the numbered register of documented petitions to the extent possible.

(1) OFA will notify the petitioner and those listed in § 83.22(d) when it suspends and when it resumes review of the documented petition.

(2) Upon the resumption of review, OFA will have the full six months to issue a proposed finding.