Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1513
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T11:03:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to transfer specific federal land in Washington State from the National Park Service into trust by the United States for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This supports land restoration efforts tied to the Elwha River ecosystem recovery, enhancing the tribe's reservation without requiring standard federal processes like property appraisals.
Key Provisions
- Land Transfer: Approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land, depicted on a specific map (Olympic National Park Proposed Transfer of Elwha Lands, dated December 2021), is taken into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This land becomes part of the tribe's existing reservation in Washington State.
- Exemptions: The transfer is exempt from federal requirements for land valuation, appraisal, or equalization (balancing property values in exchanges).
- Management Requirements: A portion of the land along the Elwha River must be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (a law protecting certain rivers for their natural, cultural, and recreational values), with allowances for modifications related to prior ecosystem restoration efforts.
- Survey and Adjustments: The Secretary of the Interior must conduct a boundary survey soon after enactment and can make minor adjustments or corrections to boundaries, maps, or descriptions.
- Gaming Restriction: The transferred land cannot be used for gambling activities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (a federal law governing tribal casinos).
- Preservation of Rights: The act does not alter any rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point (a historical agreement between the U.S. and S'Klallam tribes covering fishing, hunting, and other traditional uses).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Bypasses typical federal procedures for taking land into trust, such as appraisals, which are usually required under the Indian Reorganization Act (a 1934 law enabling trust land for tribes).
- Introduces specific management rules for river areas, modifying applications of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to align with the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act (a 1992 law focused on dam removal and habitat recovery in the Olympic Peninsula).
- Explicitly prohibits gaming on the new trust land, distinguishing it from other tribal lands that might qualify under gaming regulations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service loses control over the transferred land, potentially affecting park management in Olympic National Park. The Department of the Interior gains responsibility for trust oversight and surveys.
- Citizens and Tribes: The tribe gains expanded reservation land for cultural, environmental, or community uses, supporting restoration after the removal of Elwha River dams (completed in 2014). Local non-tribal residents may see minimal direct changes, but river management could influence public access or recreation.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic land transfer involving U.S. federal and tribal entities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe: Primary beneficiary, gaining sovereign control over the land for reservation purposes.
- U.S. Department of the Interior (including Bureau of Indian Affairs and National Park Service): Responsible for implementation, surveys, and ongoing trust management.
- Local Communities in Washington State: Indirectly affected through changes in land use, environmental protection, and potential economic or recreational shifts in the Olympic Peninsula region.
- Environmental Groups: Interested in Elwha River ecosystem health, as the transfer ties into broader restoration goals.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Tribal Sovereignty: Reinforces federal trust responsibilities to tribes under the U.S. Constitution's Indian Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8), which gives Congress authority over Indian affairs, by expanding tribal lands without lengthy administrative reviews.
- Environmental and Treaty Compliance: Ensures continuity with prior laws on river restoration and upholds treaty rights, avoiding conflicts with historical agreements like the Treaty of Point No Point.
- Political Context: As a bipartisan bill introduced by Washington senators, it addresses long-standing tribal land restoration needs post-dam removal, potentially setting a precedent for similar trust transfers in national parks while limiting gaming to focus on non-commercial uses. No major constitutional challenges are anticipated, given the specific exemptions and narrow scope.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-12-17: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
- 2025-04-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 2025-04-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act — issued 2025-04-29 — PDF (4 pages)