A bill to confirm the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the State of Colorado and to define jurisdiction within such reservation.
PL 98-290 (H.R.4176), enacted 05/21/1984

PUBLIC LAW 98-290—MAY 21, 1984 
98 STAT. 201 
Public Law 98-290 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To confirm the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the State of 
May 21, 1984 
Colorado and to define jurisdiction within such reservation. 
[H.R. 4176] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
CONGRESSIONAL PURPOSE 
SECTION 1. The purposes of this Act are— 
25 use 668 note. 
(1) to resolve uncertainty over the boundaries of the Southern 
Ute Indian Reservation and the status of unrestricted land on 
such reservation, and 
(2) to avoid long and costly litigation over issues dependent on 
reservation or Indian country status. 
INDIAN TRUST LAND DEFINED 
SEC. 2. For purposes of this Act, the term "Indian trust land" 
25 USC 668 note. 
means any land within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian 
Reservation which— 
(1) is held by the United States in trust for the benefit of the 
Southern Ute Indian Tribe or individual Indians, or 
(2) is owned by the United States and reserved for use or 
actually used in the administration of Indian affairs. 
Any right-of-way bounded on both sides by Indian trust land shall be 
Indian trust land. Any other right-of-way shall not be Indian trust 
land. 
BOUNDARIES OF THE SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN RESERVATION DEFINED 
SEC. 3. The Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the State of 
25 use 668 note. 
Colorado is declared to have the following boundaries: 
(1) Bounded on the north by the southern boundary of the 
lands— 
(A) ceded to the United States by certain bands of Ute 
' 
Indians under the Articles of Convention entered into on 
September 13, 1873, and ratified by the Act approved 
April 29,1874 (18 Stat. 36), and 
(B) described in article I of such Articles of Convention. 
(2) Bounded on the south by the boundary line between the 
States of Colorado and New Mexico as described in article II of 
the treaty between the United States and the Ute Indians 
concluded March 2, 1868, and proclaimed November 6, 1868 (15 
Stat. 619). 
(3) Bounded on the west by the eastern boundary of the Ute 
Mountain Ute Indian Reservation. 
(4) Bounded on the east by the southernmost 15 miles of the 
eastern boundary of the lands reserved to the Ute Indians by 
article II of the treaty between the United States and the Ute 
'>gu 
98 STAT. 202 
PUBLIC LAW 98-290—MAY 21, 1984 
Indians concluded March 2, 1868, and proclaimed November 6, 
1868 (15 Stat. 619), except that the lands east of such boundary 
in township 32 north, range 1 west, New Mexico principal 
meridian, that are held by the United States in trust for the 
benefit of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe are part of the South-
ern Ute Indian Reservation. 
25 u s e 668 note. 
Alcohol and 
alcoholic 
beverages. 
JURISDICTION OVER RESERVATION 
SEC. 4. (a) Such territorial jurisdiction as the Southern Ute Indian 
Tribe has over persons other than Indians and the property of such 
persons shall be limited to Indian trust lands within the reservation. 
(b) Any person who is not an Indian and the property of any such 
person shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the United States under 
section 1152 of title 18, United States Code, only on Indian trust 
land. 
(c) Any law of the United States related to the sale, possession, 
introduction, or manufacture of alcoholic beverages or to trading 
with Indians within Indian country, or within the Indian reserva-
tion, shall apply, with respect to the Southern Ute Indian Reserva-
tion, only on Indian trust land. 
JURISDICTION OVER INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE 
RESERVATION 
25 use 668 note. 
SEC. 5. The State of Colorado shall exercise criminal and civil 
jurisdiction within the boundaries of the town of Ignacio, Colorado, 
and any other municipality which may be incorporated under the 
laws of Colorado within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, as if 
such State had assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the Act of 
August 15, 1953 (67 Stat. 588), as amended by the Act of April 11, 
1968 (82 Stat. 79). 
Approved May 21, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4176 (S. 1979): 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-716 (eomm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-404 accompanying S. 1979 (eomm. on Indian Affairs). 
eONGRESSIONAL REOORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
Apr. 30, considered and passed House. 
May 3, considered and passed Senate.