An act to confirm undocumented Federal rights-of-way or easements on the Gila River Indian Reservation, clarify the northern boundary of the Gila River Indian Community's Reservation, to take certain land located in Maricopa County and Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, and for other purposes
PL 115-350 (H.R.4032), enacted 12/21/2018

132 STAT. 5060 
PUBLIC LAW 115–350—DEC. 21, 2018 
Public Law 115–350 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To confirm undocumented Federal rights-of-way or easements on the Gila River 
Indian Reservation, clarify the northern boundary of the Gila River Indian Commu-
nity’s Reservation, to take certain land located in Maricopa County and Pinal 
County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gila River Indian Community 
Federal Rights-of-Way, Easements and Boundary Clarification Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) establish, ratify, document, and confirm the Federal 
electrical, irrigation, and road rights-of-way and easements that 
exist within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation as of 
the date of the enactment of this Act; 
(2) establish a fixed location of the northern boundary 
of the Reservation and to provide for the Secretary of the 
Interior to ensure that the northern boundary is resurveyed 
and marked in conformance with the public system of surveys; 
(3) authorize and direct the Secretary to place certain lands 
into trust for the benefit of the Community; 
(4) substitute the benefits provided under this Act to the 
Community, its members and allottees for any claims that 
the Community, its members and allottees may have had in 
connection with alleged failures relating to the northern 
boundary of the Reservation and the documentation and 
management of Federal rights-of-way on the Reservation; and 
(5) authorize the funds necessary for the United States 
to meet the obligations under this Act. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ALLOTTEE.—The term ‘‘allottee’’ means a person who 
holds a beneficial real property interest in an Indian allotment 
that is— 
(A) located within the exterior boundaries of the Res-
ervation; and 
(B) held in trust by the United States. 
(2) COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘Community’’ means the Gila 
River Indian Community, a government composed of members 
of the Pima Tribe and the Maricopa Tribe and organized under 
section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5123). 
Gila River Indian 
Community 
Federal Rights- 
of-Way, 
Easements and 
Boundary 
Clarification Act. 
Dec. 21, 2018 
[H.R. 4032] 
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132 STAT. 5061 
PUBLIC LAW 115–350—DEC. 21, 2018 
(3) DISPUTED AREA.—The term ‘‘Disputed Area’’ means the 
land north of the Harrington Survey line and south of the 
middle of the Salt River (as it currently flows). 
(4) EXECUTIVE ORDER.—The term ‘‘Executive Order’’ means 
the Executive order executed by President R.B. Hayes on June 
14, 1879. 
(5) FEDERAL AND TRIBAL FACILITIES.—The term ‘‘Federal 
and Tribal Facilities’’ means any and all structures, improve-
ments, and appurtenances associated with roadways, canals, 
power lines, and other projects constructed for the benefit of 
the Community and its members. Thus, ‘‘Federal and Tribal 
Facilities’’ refers to— 
(A) Indian Reservation Road (IRR) transportation 
facilities, including public roads, bridges, drainage struc-
tures, culverts, ferry routes, marine terminals, transit 
facilities, boardwalks, pedestrian paths, trails, and their 
appurtenances, and other transportation facilities, as des-
ignated by the Community and the Secretary and defined 
in section 170.5 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(B) Federal irrigation facilities included in the San 
Carlos Irrigation Project, the irrigation project authorized 
under the Act of June 7, 1924 (43 Stat. 475), including 
all structures and appurtenant works within the San Carlos 
Irrigation Project for the delivery, diversion, and storage 
of irrigation water, as defined in section 171.100 of title 
25, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(C) Federal electric distribution facilities included in 
the San Carlos Irrigation Project—Electric Services, 
including all structures and appurtenant works for the 
delivery of electric power on the Reservation that are part 
of that project. 
(6) LOWER
SONORAN
LANDS.—The term ‘‘Lower Sonoran 
Lands’’ means the approximately 3,400 acres of land— 
(A) owned by the United States and administered by 
the Secretary through the Bureau of Land Management 
that have been identified and designated for disposal by 
the Bureau of Land Management under the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.) in the Lower Sonoran Resource Management Plan 
(September 2012); 
(B) located in Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, and 12, Township 
2 South, Range 1 West, contiguous to the northwest 
boundary of the Community’s existing Reservation; and 
portions of Sections 16 and 17, Township 5 South, Range 
5 East, contiguous to the southern boundary of the Commu-
nity’s existing Reservation; and 
(C) that the Community shall acquire pursuant to the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 
(7) HARRINGTON SURVEY.—The term ‘‘Harrington Survey’’ 
means the Dependent Resurvey of a Portion of Township 1 
North, Range 1 East, Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona, 
Gila River Indian Reservation, conducted by Guy P. Harrington, 
as shown on the plat and described in the field notes at Book 
3384, approved September 2, 1920, and officially filed on 
November 3, 1920, on file with the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment. 
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132 STAT. 5062 
PUBLIC LAW 115–350—DEC. 21, 2018 
(8) RESERVATION.—The term ‘‘Reservation’’ means the land 
located within the exterior boundaries of the reservation created 
under sections 3 and 4 of the Act of February 28, 1859 (11 
Stat. 401, chapter LXVI), and Executive orders of August 31, 
1876, June 14, 1879, May 5, 1882, November 15, 1883, July 
31, 1911, June 2, 1913, August 27, 1914, and July 19, 1915, 
and any other lands placed in trust for the benefit of the 
Community. 
(9) ROW, EASEMENTS, AND FEDERAL AND TRIBAL FACILITIES 
MAP.—The term ‘‘ROW, Easements, and Federal and Tribal 
Facilities Map’’ means the map depicting the Federal rights- 
of-way, easements, and Federal and Tribal facilities that exist 
within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation on the date 
of enactment of this Act, which map is submitted to Congress 
as part of the Congressional record accompanying this Act. 
(10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec-
retary of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. LAND INTO TRUST FOR BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall take the Lower Sonoran 
Lands into trust for the benefit of the Community, after the Commu-
nity— 
(1) conveys to the Secretary all right, title, and interest 
of the Community in and to the Lower Sonoran Lands; 
(2) submits to the Secretary a request to take the Lower 
Sonoran Lands into trust for the benefit of the Community; 
(3) conducts a survey (to the satisfaction of the Secretary) 
to determine the exact acreage and legal description of the 
Lower Sonoran Lands, if the Secretary determines a survey 
is necessary; and 
(4) pays all costs of any survey conducted under paragraph 
(3). 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF LOWER SONORAN LANDS MAP.—Not later 
than 180 days after the Lower Sonoran Lands are taken into 
trust under subsection (a), the map shall be on file and available 
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Secretary. 
(c) LANDS TAKEN INTO TRUST AS PART OF RESERVATION.—After 
the date on which the Lower Sonoran Lands are taken into trust 
under subsection (a), those lands shall be treated as part of the 
Reservation. 
(d) GAMING.—Class II and class III gaming under the Indian 
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) shall not be allowed 
at any time on the land taken into trust under subsection (a). 
(e) DESCRIPTION.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall cause the full metes- 
and-bounds description of the Lower Sonoran Lands to be published 
in the Federal Register. The description shall, on publication, con-
stitute the official description of the Lower Sonoran Lands. 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED NORTHERN BOUNDARY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Northern boundary of the Reservation 
created by the Executive Order is hereby modified in accordance 
with this section and shall be fixed, permanent, and not ambulatory. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF NORTH BOUNDARY.—That portion of the 
Reservation boundary created by the Executive Order as along 
the middle of the Salt River shall be modified to be a fixed and 
permanent boundary as established by the Harrington Survey of 
Deadline. 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
Deadline. 
Public inspection. 
Survey. 
Determinations. 
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132 STAT. 5063 
PUBLIC LAW 115–350—DEC. 21, 2018 
the north boundary of the Reservation, as shown on the plat and 
described in the field notes. 
(c) RESURVEY AND MARKING.—Subject to available appropria-
tions, the Secretary shall ensure that the modified Reservation 
boundary as described in subsection (b) is surveyed and clearly 
marked in conformance with the public system of surveys. 
(d) EFFECT.—The Reservation boundary as modified and resur-
veyed by subsections (b) and (c) shall become the north boundary 
of the Reservation in all respects and upon all the same terms 
as if such lands had been included in the Executive Order. No 
other portion of the Reservation boundary shall be affected by 
this Act except as specifically set forth in this Act. 
(e) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish in the Federal 
Register this modification and the resurvey of the Community’s 
reservation boundary, as set forth in subsections (b) and (c), which 
shall constitute the fixed northern boundary of the Reservation. 
SEC. 6. SATISFACTION AND SUBSTITUTION OF CLAIMS. 
(a) INTENT OF CONGRESS.—It is the intent of Congress to pro-
vide to the Community, its members, and allottees benefits that 
are equivalent to or exceed the claims the Community, its members, 
and allottees may possess as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, taking into consideration— 
(1) the potential risks, cost, and time delay associated 
with litigation; 
(2) the cultural and historic significance of the Lower 
Sonoran Lands to the Community, its members, and allottees; 
(3) the benefit to the Community, its members, and 
allottees associated with having a fixed northern boundary 
of the Reservation; 
(4) the benefits that will accrue to the Community, its 
members, and allottees resulting from the legal confirmation 
of Federal electrical, irrigation, and road rights-of-way as pro-
vided under this Act; and 
(5) the availability of appropriations under this Act. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The benefits realized by the Community, 
its members, and allottees under this Act shall be in complete 
replacement of and substitution for, and full satisfaction of all 
claims that the Community, its members, and allottees may have 
had against the United States— 
(1) relating to the United States alleged failure to legally 
establish and document Federal rights-of-way on the Reserva-
tion through the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) for the United States alleged failure to establish, main-
tain and defend the Community’s northern boundary of the 
Reservation through the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall become effective on 
the later of the date on which the Secretary— 
(1) publishes in the Federal Register the notice required 
under section 4(e); 
(2) publishes in the Federal Register the notice required 
under section 5(e); and 
(3) completes the surveys for the Federal rights-of-way 
required under this Act. 
SEC. 7. FEDERAL RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) ESTABLISHED, RATIFIED, AND CONFIRMED.—All of the rights- 
of-way depicted in the ROW, Easements, and Federal and Tribal 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
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132 STAT. 5064 
PUBLIC LAW 115–350—DEC. 21, 2018 
Facilities Map accompanying this Act are hereby established, rati-
fied, and confirmed. The specific position and dimensions of such 
rights-of-way are to be determined following a survey conducted 
in accordance with section 8. 
(b) RECORDATION.—All of the rights-of-way established, ratified, 
and confirmed in subsection (a) shall be recorded with the Land 
Titles and Records Office following each survey conducted in accord-
ance with section 8. 
(c) GRANTEE OR APPLICANT.—The Federal Government shall 
be considered the grantee or applicant for any and all rights- 
of-way established pursuant to this Act. 
(d) CANCELLATION.—Any rights-of-way established by this Act 
may be cancelled pursuant to sections 404–409 of title 25, Federal 
Code of Regulations, or upon written request by the Community 
to the Secretary to remove the rights-of-way from the ROW, Ease-
ments, and Federal and Tribal Facilities Map subject to otherwise 
applicable law regarding rights-of-way on the Reservation. Any 
request for cancellation action by the Community shall be formally 
documented by tribal resolution. 
(e) OTHER INTERESTS IN LAND.—Notwithstanding any law, the 
granting of any rights-of-way or easement other than those depicted 
in the ROW, Easements, and Federal and Tribal Facilities Map 
accompanying this Act, or any future additions, expansions or modi-
fications of any of the rights-of-way or easement established, rati-
fied, and confirmed in subsection (a), may only be done in accord-
ance with all applicable laws and regulations. All other rights- 
of-ways or easements on the Reservation shall be valid only to 
the extent that they have been established in accordance with 
applicable Federal statute and regulation specifically governing 
rights-of-ways or easements on Indian lands. 
SEC. 8. SURVEY. 
(a) COMPLETION
AND PUBLICATION.—Not later than 6 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs shall undertake and complete a survey of each of the Federal 
rights-of-way established under this Act. A retroactive grant of 
easement shall be required upon completion of each survey of 
each of the Federal rights-of-way established under this Act. The 
Bureau of Indian Affairs shall cause the surveys undertaken pursu-
ant to this Act to be published in the Federal Register. 
(b) CONTRACT.—The Bureau of Indian Affairs is authorized, 
subject to appropriations, to contract for the survey of all Federal 
rights-of-way established pursuant to this Act to the Community 
or a third party. 
(c) DELETIONS.—Upon completion of the surveys authorized 
and undertaken pursuant to subsection (a), the Community and 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs may determine that anomalies exist 
with respect to certain Federal rights-of-way such that deletion 
of such Federal right-of-way from the ROW, Easements, and Federal 
and Tribal Facilities Map is appropriate and such Federal right- 
of-way may be removed from the ROW, Easements, and Federal 
Tribal Facilities Map. 
SEC. 9. HUNT HIGHWAY. 
Nothing in this Act shall establish, terminate, or otherwise 
impact any right-of-way or easement associated with Hunt Highway 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
Deadline. 
Determination. 
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132 STAT. 5065 
PUBLIC LAW 115–350—DEC. 21, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4032: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–817 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115–399 (Comm. on Indian Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018): 
July 17, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 13, considered and passed Senate. 
in Pinal County, Arizona, including the portion of Hunt Highway 
that traverses the Reservation. 
Approved December 21, 2018. 
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