Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar called it a “historic day” as he signed regulations at Sandia Pueblo on Thursday morning that will allow the tribe to lease land without federal approval.

The pueblo is only the second tribe in the country to take advantage of a law, called the HEARTH Act (Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Home Ownership Act of 2012), which was signed last year. Prior to the law, any long-term leases for residential, business, or other purposes — large or small — needed approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs...