Crow Boundary Settlement Act of 1994
PL 103-444 (H.R.5200), enacted 11/02/1994

108 STAT. 4632 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
Public Law 103-444 
103d Congress 
An Act 
Nov. 2, 1994 
[H.R. 5200] 
Crow Boundary 
Settlement Act 
of 1994. 
Montana. 
25 u s e 1776 
note. 
25 use 1776. 
To resolve the 107th meridian boundary dispute between the Crow Indian Tribe 
and the United States. 
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 "Crow Boundary Settlement 
Act of 1994". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Under the treaty between the United States of America 
and the Crow Tribe of Indians concluded May 7, 1868 (com-
monly known as the "Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868"; 15 Stat. 
649), the eastern boundary of the Crow Indian Reservation 
was established as the 107th meridiEin for approximately 90 
miles from the Yellowstone River to the boundary between 
Montana and Wyoming. 
(2) Under Executive orders issued in 1884 and 1900, the 
western boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation was 
established as the 107th meridian. The 107th meridian was 
intended to be the common boundary between the Crow Res-
ervation and Northern Cheyenne Reservation for approximately 
25 miles. 
(3) From 1889 through 1891, a survey was conducted of 
the eastern boundary of the Crow Reservation. The 1891 survey 
line strayed to the west, and resulted in the exclusion from 
the Crow Indian Reservation of a strip of land of approximately 
36,164 acres. Approximately 12,964 acres of such strip of land 
were included in the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Deposits 
of low sulphur coal underlie the land excluded from the Crow 
Indian Reservation, including the land included in the Northern 
Cheyenne Indian Reservation. 
(4)(A) The erroneous nature of the survey was not discov-
ered for several decades. Meanwhile, the areas along the 107th 
meridian to the north and south of the Northern Cheyenne 
Indian Reservation were opened to settlement in the late nine-
teenth century and early part of the twentieth century. Patents 
were issued to non-Indian persons and to the State of Montana 
for most of the surface land and a significant portion of the \ 
minerals in these areas between the 107th meridian and the 
1891 survey line. 
(B) The 12,964 acres included in the Northern Cheyenne 
Reservation have been treated as part of the Northern Chey-
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
108 STAT. 4633 
enne Reservation and occupied by the Northern Cheyenne Tribe 
and the Northern Cheyenne allottees, and their successors in 
interest. 
(5) Legislation to resolve the 107th meridian boundary 
dispute was introduced in Congress in the 1960's and 1970's, 
and again in 1992, but no such legislation was enacted into 
law. 
(b) PURPOSE.—^The purpose of this Act is to settle the 107th 
meridian boundary dispute created by the erroneous survey of the 
eastern boundary of the Crow Indian Reservation made by the 
Federal Government described in subsection (a)(3). 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
25 USC 1776a. 
As used in this Act: 
(1) CROW TRIBE.—^The term "Crow Tribe" means the Crow 
Tribe of Indians, the duly recognized governing body of the 
Crow Indian Reservation. 
(2) DISPUTED AREA.—^The term "disputed area" means the 
approximately 36,164 acres of land, including the minerals, 
located between the 107th meridian on the east and the 1891 
survey line on the west from the Yellowstone River on the 
north to the boundary between the State of Wyoming and 
the State of Montana on the south. 
(3) 1891 SURVEY.—The term "1891 survey" means the sur-
vey of the eastern boundary of the Crow Reservation conducted 
by the United States Government from 1889 through 1891. 
(4) 1891 SURVEY LINE.—The term "1891 survey line" means 
the erroneous boundary line resulting from the survey of the 
107th meridian which was completed in 1891. 
(5) NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBE.—The term "Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe" means the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of 
Indians, with the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council as the 
duly recognized governing body of the Northern Cheyenne 
Indian Reservation. 
(6) 107TH MERIDIAN BOUNDARY DISPUTE.—The term "107th 
meridian boundary dispute" means the dispute resulting from 
the disparity between the location of the 107th meridian and 
the location of the 1891 survey line. 
(7) 107TH MERIDIAN ESCROW FUND.—The term "107th 
meridian escrow fund" means the revenues that arise from, 
or are derived from, parcel number 2, including all accrued 
interest on such revenues, which are held by the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs in an escrow account as of the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(8) PARCEL NUMBER i.—The term "parcel number 1" means 
the area, encompassing approximately 11,317 acres, bounded 
on the south by the Montana-Wyoming border, on the east 
by the 107th meridian, on the north by the extension to the 
west of the southern boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Indian 
Reservation, and on the west by the 1891 survey line. 
(9) PARCEL NUMBER 2.—The term "parcel number 2" means 
the area, encompassing approximately 12,964 acres, bounded 
on the south by the extension to the west of the southern 
boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, on 
the east by the 107th meridian, on the north by the extension 
to the west of the northern boundary of the Northern Cheyenne 
Indian Reservation, and on the west by the 1891 survey line. 
79-194 0—95—3 : QL 3 Part 6 
108 STAT. 4634 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
(10) PARCEL NUMBER 3.—The term "parcel number 3" 
means the area, encompassing approximately 2,469 acres, 
bounded on the south by the extension to the west of the 
northern boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reserva-
tion, on the east by the 107th meridian, on the north by 
the northern boundary of the Crow Indian Reservation, and 
on the west by the 1891 survey line. 
(11) PARCEL NUMBER 4.—^The term "parcel number 4" 
means the area, encompassing approximately 9,415 acres, 
bounded on the south by the northern boundary of the Crow 
Indian Reservation, on the east by the 107th meridian, on 
the north by the midpoint of the Yellowstone River, and on 
the west by the 1891 survey line. 
(12) PUBLIC LANDS.—^The term "public lands" means any 
land or interest in land owned by the United States (without 
regard to the means by which the United States acquired 
ownership of the land or interest in land) and administered 
by the Secretary through the Bureau of Land Management. 
(13) 
ROYALTIES RECEIVED AND RETAINED BY THE UNITED 
STATES.—The term "royalties received and retained by the 
United States" means the royalties derived from minerals 
owned by the United States that the United States retains 
after all payments from the royalties have been made to the 
State of Montana or any unit of local government of the State 
of Montana. 
(14) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means the Sec-
retary of the Interior. 
(15) 
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—The term 
"Settlement 
Agreement" means the agreement between the Secretary, on 
behalf of the United States and the Crow Tribe, that provides 
for the resolution of all claims held by the Crow Tribe arising 
from the 107th meridian boundary dispute. 
(16) UNDISPOSED OF COAL.—The term "undisposed of coal" 
means coal that has not been conveyed to private parties or 
to the State of Montana by the United States. 
(17) 
UNDISPOSED 
OF 
SURFACE 
LANDS.—The 
term 
"undisposed of surface lands" means surface land that has 
not been conveyed to private parties or to the State of Montana 
by the United States. 
(18) UNDISPOSED OF OIL, GAS, COAL METHANE, OR OTHER 
MINERALS.—The term "undisposed of oil, gas, coal methane, 
or other minerals" means oil, gas, coal methane, or other min-
erals (excluding coal) that have not been conveyed to private 
parties or to the State of Montana by the United States. 
25 use 1776b. 
SEC. 4. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. 
(a) EXECUTION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—Subject to 
the terms and conditions of this Act, the Secretary shall enter 
into the Settlement Agreement with the Crow Tribe. 
(b) RATIFICATION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—Subject 
to the conditions set forth in section 9(a), the United States hereby 
approves, ratifies, and confirms the Settlement Agreement, to the 
extent that such Settlement Agreement does not conflict with this 
Act. 
(c) MODIFICATION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—^The terms 
and conditions of the Settlement Agreement may be modified by 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
108 STAT. 4635 
mutual agreement of the Crow Tribe and the Secretary if such 
modification— 
(1) is not inconsistent with this Act; and 
(2) does not diminish or impair any right or benefit secured 
to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the Northern Cheyenne 
allottees, or their successors in interest by or pursuant to 
any provision of this Act. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
Settlement Agreement shall be subject to the enforcement provi-
sions under chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAI, ENFORCEMENT,—If, with respect to the 
enforcement of the Settlement Agreement, the remedies avail-
able under the provisions referred to in paragraph (1) do not 
provide adequate or complete relief, the Settlement Agreement 
shall be subject to the enforcement provisions under section 
1505 of title 28, United States Code. 
SEC. 5. SETTLEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND EXTINGUISH- 
25 USC 1776C. 
MENT OF CLAIMS. 
(a) PROPERTY WITHIN PARCEL NUMBER 1.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^With respect to the property within parcel 
number 1, the following provisions shall apply: 
(A) The boundary of the Crow Indian Reservation shall 
be the 107th meridian. 
(B) Title to the undisposed of coal of such parcel shall 
be vested in the United States in trust for the sole use 
and benefit of the Crow Tribe and shall be recognized 
as part of the Crow Indian Reservation. 
(C) Title to the undisposed of surface lands of such 
parcel shall be vested in the United States in trust for 
the sole use and benefit of the Crow Tribe and shall be 
recognized as part of the Crow Indian Reservation. 
(D) Title to the undisposed of oil, gas, coal methane, 
or other minerals of such parcel shall be vested in the 
United States in trust for the sole use and benefit of 
the Crow Tribe and shall be recognized as part of the 
Crow Indian Reservation. 
(2) PROHIBITION.—Nothing in this Act or the Settlement 
Agreement may alter, diminish, disturb, or cause to be divested 
any right, title, or interest of any person or entity in any 
land, coal, oil, gas, coal methane, or mineral within parcel 
number 1 that is based on the 1891 survey line, except for 
the specific rights that are vested in the United States for 
the sole use and benefit of the Crow Tribe pursuant to subpara-
graphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1). 
(3) WAIVERS AND RELEASES.—The following waivers and 
releases shall be included in the Settlement Agreement: 
(A) A disclaimer and relinquishment by the Crow Tribe 
of all right, title, claim, or interest in all the land and 
minerals within parcel number 1, except for the rights, 
titles, and interests recognized as beneficially owned by 
the Crow Tribe and as part of the Crow Indian Reservation 
in subparagraphs (B) through (D) of paragraph (1). 
(B) A release by the Crow Tribe of all persons and 
entities, including the United States, from any liability 
108 STAT. 4636 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
arising from, or related to, the 1891 survey and the subse-
quent occupancy and use of parcel number 1. 
(b) PROPERTY WITHIN PARCEL NUMBER 2.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to the property within parcel 
number 2, the following provisions shall apply: 
(A) The boundary between the Crow and Northern 
Cheyenne Indian Reservations shall be the 1891 survey 
line. 
(B) All surface lands and minerals of such parcel shall 
constitute part of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. 
(C) All surface lands, including all rights appurtenant 
to the surface lands, of such parcel shall be vested in 
the United States in trust for the sole use and benefit 
of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, except that surface lands 
that have been allotted shall be recognized as held in 
trust for, or owned in fee by (as the case may be), the 
Northern Cheyenne allottees or their successors in interest. 
(D) The oil, gas, coal, coal methane, and other minerals, 
including all rights appurtenant to such minerals, of such 
parcel shall be vested in the United States in trust for 
the sole use and benefit of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. 
(2) WAIVERS AND RELEASES.—^The following waivers and 
releases shall be included in the Settlement Agreement: 
(A) A disclaimer and relinquishment by the Crow Tribe 
of all right, jurisdiction, title, claim, or interest in the 
lands and minerals within parcel number 2, including all 
rights appurtenant to such land and minerals. 
(B) A release by the Crow Tribe of all persons and 
entities, including the United States, the Northern Chey-
enne Tribe, the Northern Cheyenne allottees and their 
successors in interest, from any liability arising from, or 
related to, the 1891 survey and the subsequent occupancy 
and use of parcel number 2. 
(3) ENFORCEMENT.—The provisions of subsection (b) may 
be enforced, in law or in equity, by the Northern Cheyenne 
Tribe, Northern Cheyenne allottees, and their successors in 
interest, in accordance with their respective interests. 
(c) 
PROPERTY 
WITHIN 
PARCEL 
NUMBER 
3 AND PARCEL 
NUMBER 4.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to the property within parcel 
number 3 and parcel number 4, the boundary of the Crow 
Indian Reservation shall be the 1891 survey line. 
(2) PROHIBITION.—Nothing in this Act or the Settlement 
Agreement may alter, diminish, disturb, or cause to be divested 
any right, title, or interest of any person or entity in any 
land, coal, or mineral within parcel number 3 or parcel number 
4 that is based on the 1891 survey line. 
(3) WAIVERS AND RELEASES.—^The following waivers and 
releases shall be included in the Settlement Agreement: 
(A) A disclaimer and relinquishment by the Crow Tribe 
of all right, jurisdiction, title, claim, or interest in the 
lands and minerals situated within parcel number 3 and 
parcel number 4. 
(B) A release by the Crow Tribe of all persons and 
entities, including the United States, from any liability 
arising from, or related to, the 1891 survey and the subse-
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
108 STAT. 4637 
quent occupancy and use of parcel number 3 and parcel 
number 4. 
(d) EXCHANGE OF PUBLIC LANDS.—With respect to the land 
exchanges with the State of Montana and private landowners made 
under this Act the following provisions shall apply: 
(1) IN GENERAL.-—(A) The Secretary shall negotiate with 
the State of Montana for the purpose of exchanging public 
lands within the State of Montana for State trust lands within 
the Crow Reservation having a total value substantially equal 
to the value of the surface estate of the approximately 46,625 
acres of State trust lands obtained by the State of Montana 
pursuant to the Act of February 22, 1889 (commonly known 
as the "Montana Enabling Act"; 25 Stat. 676, chapter 180), 
and the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the allotment 
of lands of the Crow Tribe for the distribution of tribal funds 
and for other purposes" approved June 4, 1920 (commonly 
known as the "Crow Allotment Act"; 41 Stat. 751, chapter 
224) within the Crow Indian Reservation and the disputed 
area. 
(B) The exchange described in subparagraph (A) shall be 
in accordance with the exchange procedures set forth in section 
206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(43 U.S.C. 1716). 
(C) In determining the fair market value of the lands 
described in subparagraph (A), the parties to the exchange 
shall give due consideration to the value of improvements on 
the lands. 
(D) The Secretary shall ensure that lands exchanged pursu-
ant to this paragraph as part of the settlement of the 107th 
Meridian boundary dispute made pursuant to this Act shall 
be selected in such manner that the financial impact on local 
governments, if any, will be minimized. 
(E) The Secretary shall provide such financial or other 
assistance to the State of Montana and to the Crow Tribe 
as may be necessary to obtain the appraisals, and to satisfy 
administrative requirements, necessary to accomplish the 
exchanges made pursuant to subparagraph (A). 
(F) Upon approving an exchange made pursuant to this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall— 
(i) receive title to the State trust lands involved in 
the exchange on behalf of the United States; and 
(ii) transfer title to the public lands disposed of pursu-
ant to the exchanges with the State of Montana by such 
means of conveyance as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(G) Title to the State trust lands acquired pursuant to 
the exchanges made with the State of Montana pursuant to 
this paragraph shall be vested in the United States in trust 
for the sole use and benefit of the Crow Tribe and shall be 
recognized as part of the Crow Indian Reservation. 
(2) REQUIREMENT FOR EXCHANGES.—(A) In carrying out 
the exchanges with the State of Montana pursuant to paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall, during a period of at least 5 years 
beginning on the date on which the Settlement Agreement 
becomes effective, give first priority to the exchange of public 
lands within the State of Montana for State trust lands owned 
108 STAT. 4638 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
by the State of Montana as of the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), if, for any reason, after 
the expiration of the period specified in subparagraph (A), 
the exchanges of the State trust lands identified in paragraph 
(1) have not provided the Crow Tribe with a total of 46,625 
acres of surface lands within the boundaries of the existing 
Crow Indian Reservation (including parcel number 1), the Sec-
retary shall, at the request of, and in cooperation with, the 
Crow Tribe, develop and implement a program to provide the 
Crow Tribe with additional land within the Crow Indian Res-
ervation (including parcel number 1) through land exchanges 
with private landowners, 
(C) The total value of— 
(i) the value of the lands exchanged and acquired for 
the Crow Tribe pursuant to paragraph (1), and 
(ii) the value of the lands exchanged and acquired 
for the Crow Tribe pursuant to this paragraph, 
shall not exceed the value of the surface estate of the 46,625 
acres of land identified in paragraph (1)(A). 
(D) In carrying out a program developed pursuant to this 
paragraph, the Secretary may exchange public lands within 
the State of Montana for private lands of substantially equal 
value within the boundaries of the existing Crow Indian Res-
ervation in accordance with section 206 of the Federal Land 
Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716). 
(E) In determining the fair market value of the lands 
described in subparagraph (D), the parties to an exchange 
made pursuant to subparagraph (D) shall give due consider-
ation to the value of improvements on the lands. 
(F) If the Secretary obtains private lands pursuant to 
subparagraph (D), the Secretary shall transfer title to such 
lands to the Crow Tribe. 
(G) Title to any private or public lands transferred to 
the Crow Tribe pursuant to this paragraph shall— 
(i) be vested in the United States in trust for the 
sole use and benefit of the Crow Tribe; and 
(ii) be recognized as part of the Crow Indian Reserva-
tion, if such lands are located within the boundaries of 
the Crow Indian Reservation. 
(H) The Crow Tribe shall assist in obtaining prospective 
willing parties to exchange private lands within the Crow 
Indian Reservation for public lands within the State of Montana 
pursuant to this paragraph. 
(e) CROW TRIBAL TRUST FUND.—The Settlement Agreement 
shall include provisions governing the distribution of interest 
income to the Crow Tribe from the Crow Tribal Trust Fund pursu-
ant to the terms and conditions described in section 6. 
25 use 1776d. 
SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF CROW TRIBAL 
TRUST FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF CROW TRIBAL TRUST FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Treasury of 
the United States a trust fund to be known as the "Crow 
Tribal Trust Fund". 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS IN THE CROW TRIBAL TRUST 
FUND.—^Amounts in the Crow Tribal Trust Fund shall be avail-
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
108 STAT. 4639 
able, without fiscal year limitation, to the Secretary for distribu-
tion to the Crow Tribe in accordance with subsection (d). 
(b) CONTRIBUTIONS TO CROW TRIBAL TRUST FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) and the require-
ments of section 10— 
(A) on or before November 30, 1994, the Secretary 
of the Treasury shall deposit into the Crow Tribal Trust 
Fund an amount equal to the amounts of royalties received 
and retained by the United States during fiscal year 1994 
from the East Decker, West Decker, and Spring Creek 
coal mines; and 
(B) commencing with fiscal year 1995 and for such 
period thereafter as may be necessary, the Secretary and 
the Secretary of the Treasury shall make necessary and 
proper arrangements for the monthly payment, transfer, 
or deposit (or any combination thereof) into the Crow Tribal 
Trust Fund of the royalties received and retained by the 
United States for the immediately preceding month from 
the East Decker, West Decker, and Spring Creek coal mines 
in the State of Montana for the life of such mines, including 
any extensions of the existing leases for such mines and 
any expansions of such mines to nearby and adjacent feder-
ally owned coal deposits, as specified in the Settlement 
Agreement. 
(2) AMOUNT OF ROYALTIES.—The total amount of royalties 
described in paragraph (1) that are paid, transferred, or depos-
ited into the Crow Tribal Trust Fund shall not exceed, in 
the aggregate, $85,000,000, excluding— 
(A) any interest earned on moneys in the Crow Tribal 
Trust Fund; and 
(B) the funds transferred to the Suspension Accounts 
pursuant to section 10. 
(3) PAYMENTS OF ROYALTIES RECEIVED AND RETAINED BY 
THE UNITED STATES.—Subject to paragraph (2) and the require-
ments of section 10, the royalties received and retained by 
the United States from the East Decker, West Decker, and 
Spring Creek coal mines shall be paid, transferred or deposited 
into the Crow Tribal Trust Fund not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the royalties are due and paid. 
(4) ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS.—The Federal Government shall 
make payments, in addition to the payments referred to in 
paragraph (3), from the royalties received and retained by 
the United States from other coal mines within the State of 
Montana into the Crow Tribal Trust Fund in an amount equal 
to any lost interest income (as determined by the Secretary), 
if any portion of the sums described in paragraph (3) are 
not paid, transferred or deposited into the Crow Tribal Trust 
Fund within the 30-day period prescribed in paragraph (3). 
(c) INVESTMENT.—^At the request of the Secretary, the Secretary 
of the Treasury shall invest all sums deposited into, accruing to, 
and remaining in, the Crow Tribal Trust Fund in accordance with 
the Act of February 12, 1929 (45 Stat. 1164, chapter 178; 25 
U.S.C. 161a). 
(d) DISTRIBUTION OF INTEREST.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Only the interest received on funds in 
the Crow Tribal Trust Fund shall be available for distribution 
by the Secretary to the Crow Tribe for use for education. 
108 STAT. 4640 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
25 use 1776e. 
25 use 1776f. 
land acquisition, economic development, youth and elderly pro-
grams or other tribal purposes in accordance with plans and 
budgets developed and approved by the Crow Tribe and 
approved by the Secretary. 
(2) 
REQUIREMENTS 
FOR DISTRIBUTION 
OF 
INTEREST.— 
Commencing with fiscal year 1996 and for each fiscal year 
thereafter, without fiscal year limitation, the interest received 
on monies in the Crow Tribal Trust Fund shall be available 
for distribution under this subsection only if— 
(A) the United States and the Crow Tribe enter into 
the Settlement Agreement; and 
(B) the requirements of section 9 relating to the 
approval and execution of the Settlement Agreement are 
satisfied. 
(3) PROHIBITION.—^No portion of the Crow Tribal Trust 
Fund or the interest earned on the Crow Tribal Trust Fund 
may be distributed to members of the Crow Tribe on a per 
capita basis. 
(e) USE OF INTEREST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Crow Tribe may, subject 
to approval by the Secretary, assign the right of the Crow Tribe 
to the interest earned on monies in the Crow Tribal Trust Fund 
to a third party in connection with loans made for economic develop-
ment projects on or near the Crow Indian Reservation. 
(f) LIMITATION.—^Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
no portion of the principal of the Crow Tribal Trust Fund shall 
be available for withdrawal or disbursement or used for any purpose 
other than the purposes specified in this section and section 10. 
SEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER FEDERAL SERVICES. 
No payments made or benefits conferred pursuant to this Act 
shall result in the reduction or denial of any Federal services 
or programs to any tribe or to any member of a tribe to which 
the tribe or member of the tribe is entitled or eligible because 
of the status of the tribe as a federally recognized Indian tribe 
or the status of a member of such tribe as a member. 
SEC. 8. EXCHANGES OF LAND OR MINERALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to approval by the Secretary, 
the Crow Tribe may exchange any land or minerals to which its 
title is recognized in or obtained pursuant to this Act for other 
land or minerals of substantially equivalent value within the Crow 
Indian Reservation (including parcel number 1). 
(2) Lands or minerals received by the Crow Tribe in any 
exchange made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be— 
(A) vested in the United States in trust for the sole use 
and benefit of the Crow Tribe; and 
(B) recognized as part of the Crow Indian Reservation. 
(b) 
OWNERSHIP 
BY NON-INDIANS.—^Any land or minerals 
received by a person who is not an Indian in an exchange referred 
to in subsection (a) shall be owned in fee. 
25 use 1776g. 
SEC. 9. APPLICABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Act shall take effect upon the occurrence 
of the following conditions: 
(1) The Settlement Agreement is approved and executed 
by the Secretary. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
108 STAT. 4641 
(2) The Settlement Agreement is approved and executed 
by the Crow Tribe. 
(3) The Settlement Agreement and the releases and waivers 
required by section 5 are approved and duly executed by the 
Crow Tribe in accordance with the requirements and procedures 
set forth in the constitution of the Crow Tribe. 
(4) The Settlement Agreement becomes effective in accord-
ance with the terms and conditions specified in the Settlement 
Agreement. 
(b) APPROVAL OF RELEASES AND WAIVERS.—^The United States 
hereby approves and confirms the releases and waivers required 
by section 5. 
SEC. 10. ESCROW FUNDS. 
25 USC 1776h. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^As soon as practicable after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall make distributions from the 
107th meridian escrow fund as follows: 
(1) One-half of the fund shall be distributed to the Crow 
Tribe. 
(2) One-half of the fund shall be distributed to the Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe. 
(3) The receipt and acceptance by a tribe of funds distrib-
uted under this section shall be deemed to be— 
(A) a disclaimer, relinquishment and waiver by such 
tribe of all right, claim or interest in the 107th meridian 
escrow fund; and 
(B) a release by such tribe of all persons and entities, 
including the United States, from any liability arising from, 
or related to, the establishment and administration of the 
107th meridian escrow fund. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF SUSPENSION ACCOUNTS.—As soon as 
practicable after the Settlement Agreement is executed and 
approved pursuant to this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
establish in the Treasury of the United States two interest bearing 
accounts to be known respectively as the "Crow Tribal Suspension 
Account" and the "Northern Cheyenne Tribal Suspension Account" 
(collectively referred to in this subsection as the "Suspension 
Accounts"), consisting of— 
(1) such amounts as are transferred to the Suspension 
Accounts under subsection (c); and 
(2) any interest earned on investments of amounts in the 
Suspension Accounts under subsection (e). 
(c) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUSPENSION ACCOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAI..—Beginning with fiscal year 1995, and 
ending on the date on which the total amount deposited pursu-
ant to this subsection into the Suspension Accounts is equal 
to $200,000 for each such account (as specified in subsection 
(d)), the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
make necessary and proper arrangements for the monthly pay-
ment, transfer, or deposit (or any combination thereof) into 
each of the Suspension Accounts of an amount equal to one-
half of the royalties received and retained by the United States 
for the immediately preceding month, as determined in accord-
ance with section 6(b)(1), by the date specified under section 
6(b)(3). 
(2) SUBSEQUENT DEPOSITS.—At such time as the amount 
deposited pursuant to this subsection into the Suspension 
108 STAT. 4642 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
Accounts is equal to $200,000 for each such account (as specified 
in subsection (d)), in accordance with section 6(b)(1), the Sec-
retary and the Secretary of the Treasury shall thereafter 
deposit any remaining amounts determined under section 
6(b)( 1) in the Crow Tribal Trust Fund established under section 
6(a). 
(d) LIMITATION.—The Secretary and the Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall not transfer more than a total amount equal to $200,000 
to each of the Suspension Accounts from the amounts determined 
under section 6(b)(1). 
(e) INVESTMENT.—^All sums deposited in, accruing to and 
remaining in the Suspension Accounts shall be invested by the 
Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury in interest bearing 
deposits and securities in accordance with the Act of June 24, 
1938 (52 Stat. 1037, chapter 648; 25 U.S.C. 162a). 
(f) WITHDRAWALS AND TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—(A) Beginning on the date that is 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Crow Tribe and 
the Northern Cheyenne Tribe may each submit a duly author-
ized request to the Secretary for the withdrawal of all of the 
funds from the Suspension Account of the tribe established 
under subsection (b). 
(B) Not later than 60 days after receiving a request for 
the distribution of funds from a Suspension Account made 
by a tribe under subparagraph (A)— 
(i) the Secretary shall, in cooperation with the Sec-
retary of the Treasury, withdraw and distribute such funds 
in accordance with such request; and 
(ii) the Secretary of the Treasury shall terminate the 
Suspension Account. 
(2) OTHER MEANS OF TERMINATION.—With respect to a 
Suspension Account established under subsection (b) that is 
not terminated pursuant to paragraph (1), at such time as 
the corpus and the accrued interest of the Suspension Account 
of the Crow Tribe or the Northern Cheyenne Tribe is approxi-
mately equal to the amount specified in paragraph (1) or (2) 
of subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall terminate 
the Suspension Account and the Secretary of the Interior shall 
distribute the funds from the Suspension Account to the tribe. 
25 use 17761. 
SEC. 11. FORT LARAMIE TREATY OF 1868. 
Except for the adjustment to the eastern boundary of the Crow 
Indian Reservation, nothing in this Act or in the Settlement Agree-
ment shall affect or modify the terms and conditions of the treaty 
between the United States of America and the Crow Tribe of Indians 
concluded May 7, 1868 (commonly known as the "Fort Laramie 
Treaty of 1868"; 15 Stat. 649). 
25 u s e 1776J. 
SEC. 12. SATISFACTION OF CLAIMS. 
The benefits available to the Crow Tribe under the terms 
and conditions of this Act and the Settlement Agreement shall 
constitute full and complete satisfaction of all claims by the Crow 
Tribe and the members of the Crow Tribe arising from or related 
to the erroneous survey of the 107th meridian described in section 
2(a)(3). 
•Jfr-V^^ - "z," -' 
PUBLIC LAW 103-444—NOV. 2, 1994 
108 STAT. 4643 
SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
25 USC 1776k. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department 
of the Interior such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. 
Approved November 2, 1994. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5200: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 140 (1994): 
Oct. 6, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 7, considered and passed Senate.