Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act
Bill: S.4439 | Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex (D-CA)
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act
This act takes approximately 1,031 acres of specified lands in Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties, California, into trust for the benefit of the Karuk Tribe. Land taken into trust may be used for traditional and customary uses for the benefit of the tribe.
Additionally, the land taken into trust must allow for continued access by the Forest Service for managing the component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System that flows through the land. The Department of Agriculture must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the tribe to establish mutual goals for the protection and enhancement of the river values of such component.
Further, the act prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.

[117th Congress Public Law 353]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 136 STAT. 6268]]

Public Law 117-353
117th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To take certain Federal land located in Siskiyou County, California, and 
  Humboldt County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Karuk 
   Tribe, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 5, 2023 -  [S. 4439]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Katimiin and 
Ameekyaaraam Sacred Lands Act.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam Sacred 
Lands Act''.
SEC. 2. LAND HELD IN TRUST FOR THE KARUK TRIBE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is located in the 
        ancestral territory of the Karuk Tribe; and
            (2) the Karuk Tribe has historically used, and has an 
        ongoing relationship with, the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land.

    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Katimiin and ameekyaaraam land.--The term ``Katimiin and 
        Ameekyaaraam land'' means the approximately 1,031 acres of 
        Federal land, including improvements and appurtenances to the 
        Federal land, located in Siskiyou County, California, and 
        Humboldt County, California, and generally depicted as 
        ``Proposed Area'' on the map of the Forest Service entitled 
        ``Katimiin Area Boundary Proposal'' and dated August 9, 2021.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

    (c) Administrative Transfer.--Administrative jurisdiction of the 
Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is hereby transferred from the Secretary 
of Agriculture to the Secretary, subject to the condition that the Chief 
of the Forest Service shall continue to manage the component of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System that flows through the Katimiin 
and Ameekyaaraam land.
    (d) Land Held in Trust.--The Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is 
hereby taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the Karuk 
Tribe, subject to--
            (1) valid existing rights, contracts, and management 
        agreements relating to easements and rights-of-way; and
            (2) continued access by the Chief of the Forest Service for 
        the purpose of managing the component of the National Wild and 
        Scenic Rivers System that flows through the Katimiin and 
        Ameekyaaraam land.

[[Page 136 STAT. 6269]]

    (e) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
provide to the Secretary a complete survey of the land taken into trust 
under subsection (d).

    (f) Use of Land.--
            (1) In general.--Land taken into trust under subsection (d) 
        may be used for traditional and customary uses for the benefit 
        of the Karuk Tribe.
            (2) Gaming.--Class II and class III gaming under the Indian 
        Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) shall not be 
        allowed on the land taken into trust under subsection (d).

    (g) Wild and Scenic Rivers Management.--
            (1) In general.--Nothing in this section affects the status 
        or administration of any component of the National Wild and 
        Scenic Rivers System, including any component that flows through 
        the land taken into trust under subsection (d).
            (2) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary of 
        Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with 
        the Karuk Tribe, consistent with the obligations of the 
        Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (c), to establish 
        mutual goals for the protection and enhancement of the river 
        values of any component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
        System that flows through the land taken into trust under 
        subsection (d).

    Approved January 5, 2023.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 4439 (H.R. 6032):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-679 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying
H.R. 6032.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
            Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 22, considered and passed House.

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