I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1377 
To authorize the Mescalero Apache Tribe to lease adjudicated water rights. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2013 
Mr. PEARCE (for himself, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, 
and Mr. BEN RAY LUJA´N of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Mescalero Apache Tribe to lease adjudicated 
water rights. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mescalero Apache 
Tribe Leasing Authorization Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADJUDICATED WATER RIGHTS.—The term 
‘‘adjudicated water rights’’ means water rights that 
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were adjudicated to the Tribe in State v. Lewis, 116 
N.M. 194, 861 P. 2d 235 (1993). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of New Mexico. 
(4) TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Tribe’’ means the Mes-
calero Apache Tribe. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION TO LEASE ADJUDICATED WATER 
RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Tribe 
may lease, enter into a contract with respect to, or other-
wise transfer to another party, for another purpose, or to 
another place of use in the State, all or any portion of 
the adjudicated water rights. 
(b) STATE LAW.—In carrying out any action under 
subsection (a), the Tribe shall comply with all laws (in-
cluding regulations) of the State with respect to the leas-
ing or transfer of water rights. 
(c) ALIENATION; MAXIMUM TERM.— 
(1) ALIENATION.—The Tribe shall not perma-
nently alienate any adjudicated water rights. 
(2) MAXIMUM TERM.—The term of any water 
use lease, contract, or other agreement under this 
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section (including a renewal of such an agreement) 
shall be not more than 99 years. 
(d) LIABILITY.—The Secretary shall not be liable to 
the Tribe or any other person for any loss or other det-
riment resulting from a lease, contract, or other arrange-
ment entered into pursuant to this section. 
(e) PURCHASES OR GRANTS OF LAND FROM INDI-
ANS.—The authorization provided by this Act for the leas-
ing, contracting, and transfer of the adjudicated water 
rights shall be considered to satisfy any requirement for 
authorization of the action by treaty or convention im-
posed by section 2116 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 
177). 
(f) PROHIBITION ON FORFEITURE.—The nonuse of 
all or any portion of the adjudicated water rights by a 
lessee or contractor shall not result in the forfeiture, aban-
donment, relinquishment, or other loss of all or any por-
tion of the adjudicated water rights. 
Æ 
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