PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Most Pueblo claims to own or control land in the Area are permanently ended, except for the rights listed in sections 539m–2, 539m–3, 539m–5, 539m–6, and 539m–7. This ending covers all kinds of claims, including aboriginal claims and claims about boundaries, surveys, trespass, or money damages, and it applies to land, parts of land, subdivisions, and property interests. The United States’ ownership of the Area is confirmed. Pueblo claims are also ended for subdivisions and their property interests except for land the Pueblo owned in fee on February 20, 2003, and for the land in the special use permit and land where the crest facilities are located. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Pueblo agreed to give up those claims. In return, the Pueblo’s rights and interests listed in sections 539m through 539m–12 are the agreed consideration, and Congress intends those rights can only be reduced by a future law that specifically says it is changing sections 539m through 539m–12.

Title 16, §539m–8

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except for the rights and interests in and to the Area specifically recognized in section 539m–2, 539m–3, 539m–5, 539m–6, and 539m–7 of this title, all Pueblo claims to right, title and interest of any kind, including aboriginal claims, in and to land within the Area, any part thereof, and property interests therein, as well as related boundary, survey, trespass, and monetary damage claims, are permanently extinguished. The United States’ title to the Area is confirmed.

(b)Any Pueblo claims to right, title and interest of any kind, including aboriginal claims, in and to the subdivisions and property interests therein (except for land owned in fee by the Pueblo as of February 20, 2003), as well as related boundary, survey, trespass, and monetary damage claims, are permanently extinguished.

(c)Any Pueblo right, title and interest of any kind, including aboriginal claims, and related boundary, survey, trespass, and monetary damage claims, are permanently extinguished in and to—

(1)the land described in the special use permit; and

(2)the land on which the crest facilities are located.

(d)As provided in the Settlement Agreement, the Pueblo has agreed to the relinquishment and extinguishment of those claims, rights, titles and interests extinguished pursuant to subsection 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsections”. (a), (b), and (c).

(e)The recognition of the Pueblo’s rights and interests in sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title constitutes adequate consideration for the Pueblo’s agreement to the extinguishment of the Pueblo’s claims in this section and the right-of-way grants contained in section 539m–7 of this title, and it is the intent of Congress that those rights and interests may only be diminished by a future Act of Congress specifically authorizing diminishment of such rights, with express reference to sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original “this title”, meaning title IV of div. F of Pub. L. 108–7, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 279, which is classified generally to sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 539m of this title and Tables.

§539m–8 Extinguishment of Claims