S. 1513

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To take certain Federal land in the State of Washington into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · April 29, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Cantwell · Committee: Committee on Indian Affairs

Table of contents

• S. 1513
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Land taken into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
  • SEC. 3. No impact on treaty rights

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act.

SEC. 2. Land taken into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

• (a) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term Reservation means the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation, also known as the Lower Elwha Reservation, located in the State of Washington.
    • The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
    • The term Tribe means the Lower Elwha Tribal Community, also known as the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, located in the State of Washington.
• (b) Land held in trust
  • (1) In general
    • Subject to all valid existing rights of the United States, the approximately 1,082.63 acres of Federal land generally depicted as on the map entitled , numbered 149/178020, and dated December 2021 is hereby taken into and held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe. NPS Parcels to be Transferred to Tribe Olympic National Park Proposed Transfer of Elwha Lands
  • (2) Inclusion in reservation
    • The land taken into trust under paragraph (1) shall be part of the Reservation.
  • (3) Law applicable to certain land
    • The land taken into trust under paragraph (1) shall not be subject to any requirements for valuation, appraisal, or equalization under any Federal law.
• (c) Land management
  • Of the land taken into and held in trust under subsection (b)(1), the portion of the Elwha River subject to section 3(c)(3) of the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (; 106 Stat. 3175) shall be managed in accordance with subsection (b) of the first section of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (), except for necessary modifications under section 3(c)(3) of the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (; 106 Stat. 3175). Public Law 102–495; 16 U.S.C. 1271; Public Law 102–495
• (d) Map and survey
  • (1) Boundary adjustment; survey
    • As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a survey to define the boundaries of the land taken into and held in trust under subsection (b)(1).
  • (2) Adjustments
    • The Secretary may—
      • make minor boundary adjustments to the land taken into and held in trust under subsection (b)(1); and
      • correct any minor errors in any map, acreage estimate, or description of that land.
• (e) Gaming prohibition
  • No land taken into and held in trust for the benefit of the Tribe under this section shall be considered Indian lands for the purpose of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (). 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.

SEC. 3. No impact on treaty rights

• Nothing in this Act affects treaty rights under the Treaty between the United States of America and the S'Klallams Indians, concluded at Point no Point, Washington Territory, January 26, 1855 (12 Stat. 933) (commonly known as the ). Treaty of Point No Point