[117th Congress Public Law 353]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 6268]]
Public Law 117-353
117th Congress
An Act
To take certain Federal land located in Siskiyou County, California, and
Humboldt County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Karuk
Tribe, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 5, 2023 - [S. 4439]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Katimiin and
Ameekyaaraam Sacred Lands Act.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam Sacred
Lands Act''.
SEC. 2. LAND HELD IN TRUST FOR THE KARUK TRIBE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is located in the
ancestral territory of the Karuk Tribe; and
(2) the Karuk Tribe has historically used, and has an
ongoing relationship with, the Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Katimiin and ameekyaaraam land.--The term ``Katimiin and
Ameekyaaraam land'' means the approximately 1,031 acres of
Federal land, including improvements and appurtenances to the
Federal land, located in Siskiyou County, California, and
Humboldt County, California, and generally depicted as
``Proposed Area'' on the map of the Forest Service entitled
``Katimiin Area Boundary Proposal'' and dated August 9, 2021.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(c) Administrative Transfer.--Administrative jurisdiction of the
Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is hereby transferred from the Secretary
of Agriculture to the Secretary, subject to the condition that the Chief
of the Forest Service shall continue to manage the component of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System that flows through the Katimiin
and Ameekyaaraam land.
(d) Land Held in Trust.--The Katimiin and Ameekyaaraam land is
hereby taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the Karuk
Tribe, subject to--
(1) valid existing rights, contracts, and management
agreements relating to easements and rights-of-way; and
(2) continued access by the Chief of the Forest Service for
the purpose of managing the component of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System that flows through the Katimiin and
Ameekyaaraam land.
[[Page 136 STAT. 6269]]
(e) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Survey.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
provide to the Secretary a complete survey of the land taken into trust
under subsection (d).
(f) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--Land taken into trust under subsection (d)
may be used for traditional and customary uses for the benefit
of the Karuk Tribe.
(2) Gaming.--Class II and class III gaming under the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) shall not be
allowed on the land taken into trust under subsection (d).
(g) Wild and Scenic Rivers Management.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this section affects the status
or administration of any component of the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System, including any component that flows through
the land taken into trust under subsection (d).
(2) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with
the Karuk Tribe, consistent with the obligations of the
Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (c), to establish
mutual goals for the protection and enhancement of the river
values of any component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System that flows through the land taken into trust under
subsection (d).
Approved January 5, 2023.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 4439 (H.R. 6032):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-679 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying
H.R. 6032.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 22, considered and passed House.
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