Sponsors
The bill secures tribal title and expands federal conservation protections for contiguous lands and a cultural landmark, but imposes upfront costs on the Tribe, short deadlines, reserved easements, and a waiver of a statutory review step that may limit public scrutiny and constrain future land use.
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation gains clear title to ~1,460 acres of ancestral land, strengthening tribal sovereignty and enabling tribal governance and land stewardship.
About 1,475 acres are transferred into federal ownership and added to the San Bernardino National Forest, expanding protected public forestland and conservation management.
A required preservation agreement protects the Arrowhead landmark on the exchanged land, safeguarding a cultural and historic resource.
The Tribe must pay for required land surveys, creating an immediate financial burden on the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
The exchange is exempted from FLPMA §206 review, removing a statutory review step and potentially limiting public input and environmental scrutiny of the swap.
Reserved easements for Forest Service roads could restrict the Nation's use or development of conveyed parcels that intersect those easements.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs a land swap: roughly 1,475 acres of national forest for roughly 1,460 acres owned by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, with easements and preservation conditions.
Introduced June 11, 2025 by Jay Obernolte · Last progress June 11, 2025
Requires the Forest Service to exchange about 1,475 acres of National Forest System land for about 1,460 acres owned by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation if the Nation conveys clear title to its parcels. The Forest Service must accept the Nation’s offer and convey the Federal parcels within 120 days of receiving the offer, reserve easements for access on specified Forest Service roads, and the exchanged land will become part of the San Bernardino National Forest. The Nation must pay for surveys to establish precise boundaries, enter an agreement to preserve the Arrowhead Landmark within 120 days of enactment, and maps and legal descriptions will be kept on file for public inspection; the exchange is exempted from a statutory competitive-disposal requirement under FLPMA.