Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act
This bill would take about 1,082.63 acres of federal land within Olympic National Park in Washington and place it into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (Lower Elwha Tribal Community). The land would become part of the tribe’s reservation and would be managed in a way that aligns with the Elwha River restoration framework and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, with necessary adjustments called for by the Elwha River legislation. The land would not be subject to federal valuation, appraisal, or equalization requirements. A boundary survey would be conducted, with authority to make minor boundary changes or correct small errors. The bill also states that this land may not be treated as Indian lands for the purposes of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Finally, the bill clarifies that treaty rights, specifically those tied to the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point, are not affected by this act. In short, the measure would expand the tribe’s land base by transferring specific federal lands into trust, integrate those lands into the reservation, and establish management and regulatory protections aligned with river restoration and conservation laws, while limiting gaming on the land and preserving existing treaty rights.
Key Points
- 1Transfer of 1,082.63 acres of federal land in Olympic National Park to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, to be held in trust and added to the tribe’s reservation; land is described as “NPS Parcels to be Transferred to Tribe” on a 2021 map.
- 2The land is treated as held in trust for the Tribe, and is not subject to valuation, appraisal, or equalization requirements under federal law.
- 3Management framework: the portion of the Elwha River within the transferred land will be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (with modifications from the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act) to protect river values.
- 4Boundary work: the Secretary must survey and define the land’s boundaries after enactment, with authority for minor boundary adjustments and corrections.
- 5Gaming prohibition: the land taken into trust shall not be considered Indian lands for purposes of IGRA, limiting the Tribe’s ability to conduct gaming on these lands under federal law.
- 6No impact on treaty rights: the act explicitly preserves the rights and obligations under the Treaty of Point No Point (1855).