IB

Union Calendar No. 172

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1913

[Report No. 107–285]

To require the valuation of nontribal interest ownership of subsurface rights

within the boundaries of the Acoma Indian Reservation, and for other

purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 17, 2001

Mr. SKEEN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on Resources

NOVEMBER 13, 2001

Additional sponsors: Mrs. WILSON and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico

NOVEMBER 13, 2001

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 17, 2001]

A BILL

To require the valuation of nontribal interest ownership of

subsurface rights within the boundaries of the Acoma

Indian Reservation, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

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1 SECTION 1. PUEBLO OF ACOMA LAND AND MINERAL CON2 SOLIDATION.

3 (a) VALUATION.—Not later than 6 months after the

4 date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the

5 Interior shall determine the extent and the value of the non6 tribal interest ownership of the subsurface rights, including

7 mineral rights, within the boundaries of the Acoma Indian

8 Reservation.

9 (b) LAND EXCHANGES.—Upon completion of the valu10 ation required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, unless

11 the Secretary exercises an option under subsection (c), nego12 tiate an exchange with any willing sellers of interests in

13 nontribal land (including interests in mineral or other sur14 face or subsurface rights) within the boundaries of the

15 Acoma Indian Reservation for interests in Federal land

16 that is—

17 (1) located within the boundaries of the State of

18 New Mexico;

19 (2) identified by the Bureau of Land Manage20 ment as available for disposal; and

21 (3) of approximately the same value as the inter22 est in land for which it is being exchanged.

23 (c) PURCHASE OPTION.—At the discretion of the Sec24 retary, instead of a land exchange under subsection (b), the

25 Secretary may acquire interests in nontribal land (includ26 ing interests in mineral or other surface or subsurface
3

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1 rights) within the boundaries of the Acoma Indian Reserva2 tion through—

3 (1) direct cash purchase of the interests in non4 tribal land for the fair market value determined

5 under subsection (a);

6 (2) issuance to any owner of the interests in

7 nontribal land of a Certificate of Bidding Rights in

8 such form and manner as provided for under regula9 tions promulgated by the Secretary under provisions

10 of the Act of February 25, 1920 (commonly known as

11 the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.)) or

12 the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.

13 1331 et seq.) for mineral leasing and bidding rights

14 equal to the fair market value determined under sub15 section (a).

16 (d) COST SHARING.—The costs of the valuation re17 quired under subsection (a) and any land exchange under

18 subsection (b) shall be equally shared between the owners

19 of the interests in nontribal land and the Secretary. This

20 subsection shall apply to the cost of the valuation under

21 subsection (a) even if the Secretary elects to exercise the op22 tions for acquisition under subsection (c).

23 (e) TIMELINE; LAND TAKEN INTO TRUST.—The Sec24 retary shall complete such negotiations and exchanges not

25 later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this
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1 section and shall place interests in land within the bound2 aries of the Acoma Indian Reservation that are acquired

3 under this section into trust for the Pueblo of Acoma.

Union Calendar No. 172

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1913

[Report No. 107–285]

A BILL

To require the valuation of nontribal interest ownership of subsurface rights within the boundaries

of the Acoma Indian Reservation, and for otherpurposes.

NOVEMBER 13, 2001

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,

and ordered to be printed