§410aaa–75 Native American uses and interests

Summary

The Secretary must allow members of Indian Tribes to use areas protected under this Act for traditional cultural and religious purposes, following applicable law like the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. If a Tribe or Indian religious community asks, the Secretary must temporarily close part of a national monument, special management area, wild and scenic river, area of critical environmental concern, or National Park unit to the public so tribal activities can be private. Any closure must cover the smallest area and last only as long as needed. The Secretary must work with the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and other federal agencies to study lands inside and outside Death Valley that could be suitable for a Timbisha reservation, subject to available funding, and must report the study results to the listed Congressional committees not later than 1 year after October 31, 1994. Not later than 2 years after March 12, 2019, the Secretary must create and carry out a Tribal cultural resources management plan for the Xam Kwatchan Trail network from Avikwaame (Spirit Mountain, Nevada) to Avikwlal (Pilot Knob, California). The Secretary must consult the named tribes (Chemehuevi, Hualapai, Fort Mojave, Colorado River, Quechan, Cocopah), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the State Historic Preservation Offices of Nevada, Arizona, and California. The plan must be based on a Tribal survey and include ways to identify and protect petroglyphs, trails, intaglios, sleeping circles, artifacts, and other cultural resources under the listed federal laws. Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land in the Indian Pass Withdrawal Area is permanently withdrawn from public-land entry, mining claims, and leasing or rights-of-way for minerals or solar, wind, or geothermal energy.