Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act
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The bill would transfer about 72 acres of federal land in Washington State from the Forest Service to the Interior Department, to be held in trust as part of the Quinault Indian Reservation.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would administratively transfer roughly 72 acres of land known as "Allotment 1157" in Washington State from the U.S. Forest Service to the Department of the Interior, which would take the land into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation. The land would become part of the Quinault Indian Reservation and would be administered under the laws and regulations generally applicable to trust property held for a tribe.
The bill would bar gaming on the transferred land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and would state that nothing in the Act affects treaty rights under the 1855-56 Treaty of Olympia. It would also require Interior to meet federal hazardous-substance disclosure requirements before taking the land into trust, but would not require Interior to remediate or clean up any contamination found.
Key provisions
- 1Would transfer approximately 72 acres of specified land in Washington State from the Forest Service to the Department of the Interior, to be held in trust for the Quinault Indian Nation
- 2Would make the transferred land part of the Quinault Indian Reservation, administered under standard federal Indian trust-land rules
- 3Would prohibit gaming on the transferred land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
- 4Would clarify that the transfer does not affect treaty rights under the 1855-56 Treaty of Olympia
- 5Would require Interior to meet hazardous-substance disclosure requirements before taking the land into trust, without requiring remediation
Who would be affected
The Quinault Indian Nation, which would gain the land as part of its reservation; the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior, which would carry out the administrative transfer; and any parties with valid existing rights to the roughly 72-acre parcel in Washington State.
Why it matters
For the Quinault Indian Nation, the transfer would expand tribal trust land and reservation boundaries, giving the tribe jurisdiction consistent with trust status. The gaming prohibition limits future use of the land, while the hazardous-materials provision means Interior can accept the land without being obligated to clean up any contamination first.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) (Sec. 2(c))
Makes the newly transferred trust land ineligible for gaming under the Act.
Amends Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)) (Sec. 2(e))
Requires Interior to meet the Act's hazardous-substance disclosure requirements but exempts it from remediation duties for this transfer.
Agencies directed to act
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 2389 would have no significant effect on the federal deficit, with zero impact on direct spending or revenues over the 2025–2035 period.
CBO estimates that H.R. 2389, which would transfer approximately 72 acres of land in Washington state from the Forest Service to the Department of the Interior (DOI) to be held in trust for the Quinault Indian Nation, would result in no changes to direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit over the 2025–2035 scoring window. Administrative costs to implement the bill are expected to be minimal and would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds; any such discretionary spending is estimated at less than $500,000 over 2025–2030. CBO found that the bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.
How implementation would work
The Forest Service and Department of the Interior would carry out an administrative land transfer rather than a formal rulemaking process. Before completing the trust acquisition, Interior must satisfy disclosure requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act regarding any hazardous substances on the parcel, but is explicitly relieved of any duty to remediate them. Once transferred, the land becomes part of the Quinault Indian Reservation and is administered under standard federal trust-land rules.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill administratively transfers approximately 72 acres of specified lands in Washington from the U.S. Forest Service to the Department of the Interior. Interior must take this land into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation. Land taken into trust shall be part of the tribe's reservation.
The bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.
The bill requires Interior, for purposes of taking the land into trust, to meet the disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants, without otherwise being required to remediate or abate those hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
Legislative subjects
Federal-Indian relations; Indian lands and resources rights; Land transfers; Native Americans; Washington State
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-288