A bill to provide that certain Bureau of Land Management land shall be held in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso in the State of New Mexico.
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 108-66.
Official Summary
Declares the right, title, and interest of the United States in certain tracts of land in Rio Arriba County and in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties, New Mexico, to be held in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, respectively (including mineral rights). Directs the Office of Cadastral Survey to conduct a survey of the boundary lines between the properties.Declares the lands held in trust to be part of the Santa Clara Indian Reservation and the San Ildefonso Indian Reservation and directs that they be administered in accordance with any law (including regulations) or court order generally applicable to property held by the U.S. Government in trust for Indian tribes. Subjects the trust lands and other lands in the Santa Clara Pueblo Grant and the San Ildefonso Pueblo Grant that are held by the respective tribes or subsequently acquired by them to the Pueblo Lands Act of 1924.Requires trust lands to be used only for traditional or customary uses or stewardship conservation.Prohibits this Act from being construed to: (1) affect any person's (other than the United States') existing right-of-way, lease, permit, mining claim, grazing permit, water right, or other right or interest in or to the trust lands; (2) affect any existing right or claim of either Pueblo to any lands or interest in lands based upon Aboriginal or Indian title; or (3) constitute the reservation of water or water rights in the trust lands or any change in status of water rights of either Pueblo.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™This bill establishes that certain Bureau of Land Management lands in New Mexico are to be held in trust by the United States for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso. It includes mineral rights and requires a survey of boundary lines between the properties. The lands are designated as part of the respective Indian reservations and are to be managed according to applicable laws and court orders governing trust lands for Indian tribes.
The bill transfers specific federal lands into trust status for two New Mexico Pueblos, affecting land management and tribal sovereignty within those areas.
- Certain federal lands in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties, New Mexico, are held in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso.
- The lands are incorporated into the respective Indian reservations and managed under laws applicable to trust lands for tribes.
- The bill protects existing rights such as leases, permits, and water rights and restricts the use of trust lands to traditional, customary, or conservation purposes.
The Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso are the primary beneficiaries, as the bill provides them with trust status over specified lands. The U.S. government, through the Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Cadastral Survey, is involved in land management and surveying activities.
Implementation may require coordination for surveying and managing trust lands, which could involve administrative costs. The bill limits land use to traditional or conservation purposes, which may affect other potential uses. It also preserves existing rights but does not address future claims or disputes beyond those specified.
This bill, originating in the Senate during the 108th Congress, addresses Native American land trust issues and has passed into law as Public Law 108-66. It falls under the policy area of Native Americans and reflects legislative actions related to tribal land management.
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GovScope reviewed 11 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
The designation of lands as trust lands may influence local land use, tribal governance, and resource management. It could affect future land transactions, conservation efforts, and the exercise of existing rights on these lands.
The full text of the bill is not provided, limiting detailed analysis of specific provisions. Citizens may want to review how the surveying and administration of trust lands are implemented and monitor any impacts on existing rights or local land use. The bill’s preservation of existing rights and limitation to traditional uses are important details for stakeholders.
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