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Title 25, IndiansRelease 119-110

§3902 Definitions

Title 25 › CHAPTER 41 — INDIAN LANDS OPEN DUMP CLEANUP › § 3902

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines the key words used for managing waste on Indian and Alaska Native lands. It explains what each term means in simple ways. "Closure or close" means stopping use of an open dump and fixing it so it meets federal rules or stricter tribal or Alaska Native rules. "Director" means the person who leads the Indian Health Service. "Indian land" means reservation land, dependent Indian communities in the United States, or Indian allotments where tribal title still exists; rights-of-way through these lands are included. "Alaska Native land" means land given under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), including reconveyances under section 14(c)(3) (43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(3)), and land given under the Fur Seal Act of 1966 (Act of Nov. 2, 1966; 16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). "Indian tribal government" means the governing body of a recognized tribe or similar Indian group. "Alaska Native entity" includes ANCSA-created native corporations and Alaska Native villages or municipalities that own Alaska Native land. "Open dump" means a waste disposal site that is not a sanitary landfill meeting the criteria in section 4004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6944) and is not for hazardous waste. "Postclosure maintenance" means work at a closed waste site to maintain containment, monitor standards, or fix violations under subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.). "Service" means the Indian Health Service. "Solid waste" has the meaning given in section 1004(27) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6903) and its rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §3902

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Closure or close
The term “closure or close” means the termination of operations at open dumps on Indian land or Alaska Native land and bringing such dumps into compliance with applicable Federal standards and regulations, or standards promulgated by an Indian tribal government or Alaska Native entity, if such standards are more stringent than the Federal standards and regulations.
(2)Director (3) Indian land (4) Alaska Native land (5) Indian tribal government
The term “Director” means the Director of the Indian Health Service.
(6)Alaska Native entity
The term “Alaska Native entity” includes native corporations established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.] and any Alaska Native village or municipal entity which owns Alaska Native land.
(7)Open dump
The term “open dump” means any facility or site where solid waste is disposed of which is not a sanitary landfill which meets the criteria promulgated under section 4004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6944) and which is not a facility for disposal of hazardous waste.
(8)Postclosure maintenance
The term “postclosure maintenance” means any activity undertaken at a closed solid waste management facility on Indian land or on Alaska Native land to maintain the integrity of containment features, monitor compliance with applicable performance standards, or remedy any situation or occurrence that violates regulations promulgated pursuant to subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.).
(9)Service
The term “Service” means the Indian Health Service.
(10)Solid waste
The term “solid waste” has the meaning provided that term by section 1004(27) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6903) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in pars. (4) and (6), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. section 14(c)(3) of the Act was redesignated section 14(c)(1)(C) by Pub. L. 119–23, § 2(1), (2), July 7, 2025, 139 Stat. 403, and is classified to section 1613(c)(1)(C) of Title 43. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables. The Fur Seal Act of 1966, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 89–702, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1091, which is classified principally to chapter 24 (§ 1151 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1151 of Title 16 and Tables. The Solid Waste Disposal Act, referred to in par. (8), is title II of Pub. L. 89–272, Oct. 20, 1965, 79 Stat. 997, as amended generally by Pub. L. 94–580, § 2, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2795. Subtitle D of the Act is classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 6941 et seq.) of chapter 82 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6901 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

1996—Par. (7). Pub. L. 104–109 substituted “section 4004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6944)” for “section 6944 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.)”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 3902

Title 25, Indians

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110