Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act
Summary
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act directs the Federal government to take approximately 1,082.63 acres of Federal land in Washington State into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This land will become part of the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation. The Act also addresses land management and prohibits gaming on the transferred land.
Expected Effects
The Act will formally transfer ownership and management of specific federal lands to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. This will provide the tribe with greater control over these lands and resources. It also clarifies the management of the Elwha River portion of the land and ensures no impact on existing treaty rights.
Potential Benefits
- Tribal Sovereignty: Empowers the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe by granting them control over ancestral lands.
- Cultural Preservation: Facilitates the preservation of cultural and historical sites significant to the Tribe.
- Resource Management: Allows the Tribe to manage natural resources in accordance with their traditions and needs.
- Economic Development: Creates opportunities for economic development on tribal lands.
- Environmental Stewardship: Potentially enhances environmental stewardship through traditional ecological knowledge.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential Land Use Conflicts: Possible conflicts may arise regarding land use between the Tribe and neighboring landowners or other stakeholders.
- Administrative Burden: The transfer of land and subsequent management may create administrative burdens for the Department of the Interior and the Tribe.
- Economic Limitations: The gaming prohibition may limit potential revenue generation for the Tribe.
- Limited Scope: The Act focuses on a specific land transfer and may not address broader issues facing the Tribe.
- Potential for mismanagement: There is a potential for mismanagement of the land if the tribe does not have the resources or expertise to manage it effectively.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the federal government's trust responsibility to Native American tribes, as recognized in numerous Supreme Court cases. The transfer of land can be seen as an exercise of Congress's power to regulate commerce with Indian tribes (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).