§441n Lands Outside Gunnery Range; Exchange of Lands; Reservation of Mineral Rights; Grazing and Mineral Development Rights of Indians; Execution of Instruments; Trust Title

Summary

Allows the United States to trade certain federal lands in and around the Badlands Air Force gunnery range to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The trade covers federal lands that were moved under Interior Department control and park lands the United States bought for the gunnery range, though some of those lands may still carry a life interest or park-use rules (including measures to protect the black-footed ferret). In return, the United States gets the right to use all tribal land inside the park for park purposes, such as managing fish and wildlife and building visitor and administrative facilities, and it receives ownership of 3,115.63 acres of tribal land in the gunnery range area (the land described in civil action 859 W.D. in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota), if the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council approves the exchange. Lands exchanged remain subject to reserved mineral rights by both parties, and U.S. park use of lands owned by the tribe before August 8, 1968, will not stop the tribe from grazing or developing minerals (including oil and gas) there. The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council may sign the papers for the tribe, and the Secretary may sign for the United States. After the swap, the tribe’s ownership of the acquired land will be held in trust under the same rules that apply to the tribe’s other trust lands.