To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to administratively transfer covered parcels of National Forest System land to the Secretary of the Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of Indian Tribes.
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Committee
Latest Action · December 19, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer small parcels of National Forest System land to the Secretary of the Interior to be held in trust for American Indian tribes. Eligible parcels must be 640 acres or smaller, requested by a federally recognized tribe, and meet certain criteria such as being physically isolated, inaccessible, or in need of restoration. The transfer process requires a 30-day public notice period, notification to relevant state and local governments, and notification to other tribes that may have treaty rights or cultural interests in the land. If multiple tribes request the same parcel, the Secretary must use mediation and dispute resolution methods to establish an agreement before transferring it. The bill does not include specific funding amounts but requires the Secretary to establish the transfer process within 180 days of the law's enactment.
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