II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1831 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 6, 2005 Mr. Domenici (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) (by request) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To convey certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

1.

Conveyance of certain submerged land to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The first section of Public Law 93–435 (48 U.S.C. 1705) is amended— (1)in the second sentence of subsection (b), by inserting Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Guam,; and (2)by adding at the end the following: (e)(1)Subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States in land permanently or periodically covered by tidal water up to but not above the line of mean high tide and seaward to a line 3 geographical miles distant from the coastline of the territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (as modified before, on, or after the date of enactment of this subsection by accretion, erosion, or reliction, or in artificially made, filled in, or reclaimed land that was formerly permanently or periodically covered by tidal water) are conveyed to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to be administered in trust for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth. (2)The conveyance shall be subject to clauses (ii), (iv), (v), (vii), (viii), and (ix) of subsection (b) and subsection (c), except that each reference to the date of enactment of this Act in those clauses shall (for the purposes of this subsection) be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment of this subsection. .

2.

Authority of Secretary to resolve certain claims of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

(a)

In general

On the request of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Secretary of the Interior may settle any claim of the Commonwealth arising pursuant to any provision of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, approved by the first section of Public Law 94–241 (48 U.S.C. 1801 note). (b)

Assistance

(1)

Request

The Secretary may request assistance from the head of any other Federal agency in order to expeditiously resolve any claim described in subsection (a). (2)

Provision

On request, the head of the Federal agency shall provide the assistance. (c)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out subsection (a). (2)

Other funds

The Secretary may also use to carry out subsection (a) any other sums that are appropriated for the purpose of a provision of the Covenant that is subject to a claim by the Commonwealth.