H.R. 2388: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

This bill, known as the **Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act**, aims to take approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Washington State into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Here’s a breakdown of its provisions:

Key Provisions

1. Land in Trust

• The bill authorizes the transfer of specific federal land, detailed in a map from December 2021, into trust for the Lower Elwha Tribe. This means the land will be legally recognized as belonging to the Tribe and managed by the Tribe.
• This land will be included as part of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation.
• The land will not be required to undergo federal valuation, appraisal, or equalization processes, which can be lengthy and complex.

2. Management of Land

• A designated portion of the Elwha River that falls under the jurisdiction of a previous act aimed at ecosystem restoration will be managed according to established laws for scenic rivers.

3. Boundary Adjustment and Survey

• The Secretary of the Interior will conduct a survey to define the boundaries of the trust land.
• The Secretary is also authorized to make minor adjustments to the boundaries and correct any errors related to maps or land descriptions.

4. Gaming Prohibition

• The land taken into trust under this bill will not be classified as “Indian lands” under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, meaning that the Tribe would not be able to use this land for casino gaming purposes.

Treaty Rights

The bill clarifies that it does not impact treaty rights established under a historic treaty between the United States and the S'Klallam Indians, ensuring that those rights remain intact.

Relevant Companies

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