The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for the termination of Federal supervision over the trust and restricted property of the Klamath Tribe of Indians consisting of the Klamath and Modoc Tribes and the Yahooskin Band of Snake Indians, and of the individual members thereof, for the disposition of federally owned property acquired or withdrawn for the administration of the affairs of said Indians, and for a termination of Federal services furnished such Indians because of their status as Indians.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §1, 68 Stat. 718.)
Pub. L. 86–40, June 11, 1959, 73 Stat. 70, provided: “That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make loans, without interest, from the revolving fund authorized by the Acts of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 986; 25 U.S.C. 470), and June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1968; 25 U.S.C. 506), as amended and supplemented, to members of the Klamath Tribe of Indians who elected to withdraw from the tribe pursuant to the Act of August 13, 1954 (68 Stat. 718; 25 U.S.C. 564), as amended, regardless of the degree of Indian blood of the borrower, and to collect such loans by setoff against funds payable to the borrower pursuant to said Act of August 13, 1954, as amended [this subchapter]. The Secretary is also authorized to refinance from such revolving fund any loan made by a lending agency to a withdrawing Klamath Indian that is secured by encumbrance of his beneficial interest in tribal property with the approval of the Secretary as required by section 4 of said 1954 Act [section 564c of this title], and to include therein a nonreimbursable grant equal to the interest charges incurred by the borrower prior to such refinancing. In the event adequate funds are not available from the revolving fund to refinance a loan by such lending agency, the Secretary is authorized to pay from the revolving fund, without reimbursement, the interest charged on such loan.”
Certain funds to be administered as a single Indian Revolving Loan Fund after Apr. 12, 1974, see section 1461 of this title.
Section 24 of act Aug. 13, 1954, as amended by Pub. L. 85–72, June 29, 1957, 71 Stat. 243, provided that: “All Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act [this subchapter] are hereby repealed insofar as they affect the tribe or its members. Effective on July 1, 1957, section 2 of the Act of August 19, 1949 (63 Stat. 621, ch. 488) shall become inapplicable to the unrecouped balance of funds expended in cooperation with the school board of Klamath County, Oregon, pursuant to said Act.”
Section 25 of act Aug. 13, 1954, provided that: “If any provision of this Act [this subchapter], or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the Act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.”
For the purposes of this subchapter:
(a) “Tribe” means the Klamath Tribe of Indians consisting of the Klamath and Modoc Tribes and Yahooskin Band of Snake Indians.
(b) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.
(c) “Lands” means real property, interests therein, or improvements thereon, and include water rights.
(d) “Tribal property” means any real or personal property, including water rights, or any interest in real or personal property, that belongs to the tribe and either is held by the United States in trust for the tribe or is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States.
(e) “Adult” means a person who is an adult according to the law of the place of his residence.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §2, 68 Stat. 718; Pub. L. 85–132, §1(f), Aug. 14, 1957, 71 Stat. 348.)
1957—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 85–132 substituted provision defining adult as a person who is an adult according to the law of the place of his residence, for provision defining adult as a member of the tribe who has attained the age of twenty-one years.
At midnight of August 13, 1954, the roll of the tribe shall be closed and no child born thereafter shall be eligible for enrollment: Provided, That the tribe shall have a period of six months from August 13, 1954, in which to prepare and submit to the Secretary a proposed roll of the members of the tribe living on August 13, 1954, which shall be published in the Federal Register. If the tribe fails to submit such roll within the time specified in this section, the Secretary shall prepare a proposed roll for the tribe, which shall be published in the Federal Register. Any person claiming membership rights in the tribe or an interest in its assets, or a representative of the Secretary on behalf of any such person, may, within ninety days from the date of publication of the proposed roll, file an appeal with the Secretary contesting the inclusion or omission of the name of any person on or from such roll. The Secretary shall review such appeals and his decisions thereon shall be final and conclusive. After disposition of all such appeals, the roll of the tribe shall be published in the Federal Register, and such roll shall be final for the purposes of this subchapter.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §3, 68 Stat. 718.)
Upon publication in the Federal Register of the final roll as provided in section 564b of this title, the rights or beneficial interests in tribal property of each person whose name appears on the roll shall constitute personal property which may be inherited or bequeathed, but shall not otherwise be subject to alienation or encumbrance before the transfer of title to such tribal property as provided in section 564e of this title without the approval of the Secretary. Any contract made in violation of this section shall be null and void. Property which this section makes subject to inheritance or bequest and which is inherited or bequeathed after August 13, 1954, and prior to the transfer of title to tribal property as provided in section 564e of this title shall not be subject to State or Federal inheritance, estate, legacy, or succession taxes.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §4, 68 Stat. 718; Pub. L. 85–731, §2, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 818.)
1958—Pub. L. 85–731 inserted provision that property which is inherited or bequeathed after Aug. 13, 1954, and prior to transfer of title to tribal property should not be subject to taxes.
Use of Revolving Loan Fund for Indians to assist Klamath Indians during period for terminating Federal supervision, see note set out under section 564 of this title.
The Secretary is authorized and directed to select and retain by contract, at the earliest practicable time after August 13, 1954 and after consultation with the tribe at a general meeting called for that purpose, the services of qualified management specialists who shall—
(1) cause an appraisal to be made, within not more than twelve months after their employment, or as soon thereafter as practicable, of all tribal property showing its fair market value by practicable logging or other appropriate economic units;
(2) immediately after the appraisal of the tribal property and approval of the appraisal by the Secretary, give to each member whose name appears on the final roll of the tribe an opportunity to elect to withdraw from the tribe and have his interest in tribal property converted into money and paid to him, or to remain in the tribe and participate in the tribal management plan to be prepared pursuant to paragraph (5) of this subsection; in the case of members who are minors, persons declared incompetent by judicial proceedings, or deceased, the opportunity to make such election on their behalf shall be given to the person designated by the Secretary as the person best able to represent the interests of such member: Provided, however, That any member, or any heir or any devisee of any deceased member, for whom the Secretary has so designated a representative may (on his own behalf, through his natural guardian, or next friend) within one hundred and twenty days after receipt of written notice of such secretarial designation, contest the secretarial designation in any naturalization court for the area in which such member resides, by filing of a petition therein requesting designation of a named person other than the secretarial designee, and the burden shall thereupon devolve upon the Secretary to show cause why the member-designated representative should not represent the interests of such member, and the decision of such court shall be final and conclusive;
(3) determine and select the portion of the tribal property which if sold at the appraised value would provide sufficient funds to pay the members who elect to have their interests converted into money, arrange for the sale of such property, and distribute the proceeds of sale among the members entitled thereto: Provided, That any person whose name appears on the final roll of the tribe, or a guardian on behalf of any such person who is a minor or an incompetent, shall have the right to purchase, for his or its own account but not as an agent for others, any of such property in lots as offered for sale for not less than the highest offer received by competitive bid; any individual Indian purchaser who has elected to withdraw from the tribe may apply toward the purchase price up to 100 per centum of the amount estimated by the Secretary to be due him from the sale or taking of forest and marsh land pursuant to subsection (b), (d), and (f) of section 564w–1 of this title, and up to 75 per centum of the amount estimated by the Secretary to be due him from the conversion of his interest in other tribal property; and if more than one right is exercised to purchase the same property pursuant to this proviso the property shall be sold to one of such persons on the basis of competitive bids: Provided further, That when determining and selecting the portion of the tribal property to be sold, due consideration shall be given to the use of such property for grazing purposes by the members of both groups of the tribe;
(4) cause such studies and reports to be made as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the tribe or by the Secretary in connection with the termination of Federal supervision as provided for in this subchapter; and
(5) cause a plan to be prepared in form and content satisfactory to the members who elect to remain in the tribe and to the Secretary for the management of tribal property through a trustee, corporation, or other legal entity. If no plan that is satisfactory both to the members who elect to remain in the tribe and to the Secretary has been prepared six months before the time limit provided in section 564e(b) of this title the Secretary shall adopt a plan for managing the tribal property, subject to the provisions of section 564n of this title.
Such amounts of Klamath tribal funds as may be required for the purposes of this section shall be available for expenditure by the Secretary. In order to reimburse the tribe, in part, for expenditure of such tribal funds as the Secretary deems necessary for the purposes of carrying out the requirements of this section, there is authorized to be appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount equal to one-half of such expenditures from tribal funds, or the sum of $550,000, whichever is the lesser amount.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §5, 68 Stat. 718; Pub. L. 85–132, §1(b), (d), (e), (g), Aug. 14, 1957, 71 Stat. 347, 348; Pub. L. 85–731, §§6–8, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 819.)
1958—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 85–731, §§6, 7, struck out first proviso requiring that funds payable to the withdrawing members be distributed as each $200,000 accumulates, and substituted “who has elected to withdraw from the tribe may apply toward the purchase price up to 100 per centum of the amount estimated by the Secretary to be due him from the sale or taking of forest and marsh lands pursuant to subsections (b), (d), and (f) of section 564w–1 of this title, and up to 75 per centum of the amount estimated by the Secretary to be due him from the conversion of his interest in other tribal property” for “may apply toward the purchase price all or any part of the sum due him from the conversion of his interest in tribal property” in second proviso.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 85–731, §8, inserted sentence to provide that if no plan is satisfactory both to the members who elect to remain in the tribe and to the Secretary, the Secretary shall adopt a management plan.
1957—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 85–132, §1(d), provided that the time of election to withdraw be given after the appraisal is approved by the Secretary, and provided for election on behalf of minors, incompetents, or deceased persons by designee of Secretary.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 85–132, §1(e), in second proviso provided that any person whose name appears on the final roll of the tribe, may purchase for his own account, but not as an agent for others, any such property in lots as offered for sale, and provided that if more than one right is exercised to purchase the same property, it be sold on the basis of competitive bids.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 85–132, §1(g), substituted “members who elect to remain in the tribe” for “tribe”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–132, §1(b), provided for partial reimbursement of the tribe for expenditures of tribal funds under this section, authorization of appropriation of the lesser of amount equal to one-half of such expenditures, or $550,000, in lieu of former provisions which charged expenses incident to par. (3) to members who withdraw from tribe, charged expenses under pars. (4) and (5) to members who remain in tribe, and charged all other expenses under this section to interests of both groups of members.
Section 3 of Pub. L. 85–731 provided that: “No funds distributed pursuant to section 5 of the Act of August 13, 1954, as amended [this section], to members who withdraw from the tribe shall be paid to any person as compensation for services pertaining to the enactment of said Act or amendments thereto [this subchapter] and any person making or receiving such payments shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imprisoned for not more than six months and fined not more than $500.”
Section 4 of Pub. L. 85–731 provided that: “The Secretary of the Interior is directed to terminate the contract between him and the management specialists by giving immediately the sixty-day notice required by paragraph 18 of such contract. When the contract is terminated, all of the functions of the management specialists under section 5 of the Act of August 13, 1954, as amended [this section], shall be performed by the Secretary.”
Section 5 of Pub. L. 85–731 provided that: “Nothing in this Act shall in any way modify or repeal the provisions of subsection 5(a) of the Act of August 13, 1954, 68 Stat. 718), as amended [subsec. (a) of this section], providing for and requiring members of the Klamath Tribe to elect to withdraw from or remain in the tribe, following the appraisal of the tribal property.”
Section 9 of Pub. L. 85–731 provided that: “Except as provided below the provisions of the Act of August 13, 1954 (68 Stat. 718), as amended [this subchapter], shall not apply to cemeteries within the reservation. The Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to transfer title to such properties to any organization authorized by the tribe and approved by him. In the event such an organization is not formed by the tribe within eighteen months following enactment of this Act [August 23, 1958], the Secretary is directed to perfect the organization of a nonprofit entity empowered to accept title and maintain said cemeteries, any costs involved to be subject to the provisions of section 5(b) of said Act of August 13, 1954, as amended [subsec. (b) of this section].”
Sales of tribal property made pursuant to subsec. (a)(3) of this section or section 564e of this title as deferred until the adjournment of the second session of the Eighty-fifth Congress, see note set out under section 564e of this title.
The Secretary is authorized and directed to execute any conveyancing instrument that is necessary or appropriate to convey title to tribal property to be sold in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of section 564d of this title, and to transfer title to all other tribal property to a trustee, corporation, or other legal entity in accordance with the plan prepared pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of section 564d of this title.
It is the intention of the Congress that all of the actions required by section 564d of this title and this section shall be completed at the earliest practicable time and in no event later than seven years from August 13, 1954.
Members of the tribe who receive the money value of their interests in tribal property shall thereupon cease to be members of the tribe: Provided, That nothing shall prevent them from sharing in the proceeds of tribal claims against the United States.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §6, 68 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 85–132, §1(c), Aug. 14, 1957, 71 Stat. 347; Pub. L. 85–731, §10, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 819.)
1958—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–731 substituted “seven years” for “six years”.
1957—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–132 substituted “six years” for “four years”.
Section 27 of act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, as added by Pub. L. 85–132, §1(a), provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act [this subchapter], no sales of tribal property shall be made pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of section 5, or section 6 of this Act [section 564d(a)(3) of this title or this section] prior to the adjournment of the second session of the Eighty-fifth Congress.”
The Secretary is authorized and directed, as soon as practicable after the passage of this subchapter, to pay from such funds as are deposited to the credit of the tribe in the Treasury of the United States, $250 to each member of the tribe on the rolls of the tribe on August 13, 1954. Any other person whose application for enrollment on the rolls of the tribe is subsequently approved, pursuant to the terms of section 564b of this title, shall, after enrollment, be paid a like sum of $250: Provided, That such payments shall be made first from the capital reserve fund created by section 530 of this title.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §7, 68 Stat. 720.)
The Secretary is authorized and directed to transfer within four years from August 13, 1954, to each member of the tribe unrestricted control of funds or other personal property held in trust for such member by the United States.
All restrictions on the sale or encumbrance of trust or restricted interests in land, wherever located, owned by members of the tribe (including allottees, purchasers, heirs, and devisees, either adult or minor), and on trust or restricted interests in land within the Klamath Indian Reservation, regardless of ownership, are removed four years after August 13, 1954, and the patents or deeds under which titles are then held shall pass the titles in fee simple, subject to any valid encumbrances. The titles to all interests in trust or restricted land acquired by members of the tribe by devise or inheritance four years or more after August 13, 1954, shall vest in such members in fee simple, subject to any valid encumbrance.
Prior to the time provided in subsection (b) of this section for the removal of restrictions on land owned by one or by more than one member of a tribe, the Secretary may—
(1) upon request of any of the owners, partition the land and issue to each owner a patent or deed for his individual share that shall become unrestricted four years from August 13, 1954;
(2) upon request of any of the owners, and a finding by the Secretary that partition of all or any part of the land is not practicable, cause all or any part of the land to be sold at not less than the appraised value thereof and distribute the proceeds of sale to the owners: Provided, That any one or more of the owners may elect before a sale to purchase the other interests in the land at not less than the appraised value thereof, and the purchaser shall receive an unrestricted patent or deed to the land; and
(3) if the whereabouts of none of the owners can be ascertained, cause such lands to be sold and deposit the proceeds of sale in the Treasury of the United States for safekeeping.
The Secretary is authorized to approve—
(1) the exchange of trust or restricted land between the tribe and any of its members;
(2) the sale by the tribe of tribal property to individual members of the tribe; and
(3) the exchange of tribal property for real property in fee status. Title to all real property included in any sale or exchange as provided in this subsection shall be conveyed in fee simple.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §8, 68 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 85–132, §1(h), (i), Aug. 14, 1957, 71 Stat. 348; Pub. L. 85–731, §11, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 819.)
1958—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–731 struck out provision making subsection inapplicable to subsurface rights and directing Secretary to transfer subsurface rights to trustees for management for a period not less than ten years.
1957—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–132, §1(i), substituted “interests in land, wherever located” for “land”, and inserted “purchasers” and “and on trust or restricted interests in land within the Klamath Reservation regardless of ownership” preceding proviso.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–132, §1(h), inserted “one or by” after “on land owned by”.
The Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 855), the Act of February 14, 1913 (37 Stat. 678), and other Acts amendatory thereto shall not apply to the probate of the trust and restricted property of the members of the tribe who die six months or more after August 13, 1954.
The laws of the several States, Territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia with respect to the probate of wills, the determination of heirs, and the administration of decedents’ estates shall apply to the individual property of members of the tribe who die six months or more after August 13, 1954.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §9(a), (b), 68 Stat. 720, 721.)
Act of June 25, 1910, referred to in subsec. (a), is act June 25, 1910, ch. 431, 36 Stat. 855, which enacted sections 47, 93, 151, 202, 337, 344a, 351, 352, 353, 372, 403, 406, 407, and 408 of this title, section 6a–1 of former Title 41, Public Contracts, and section 148 of Title 43, Public Lands, and amended sections 191, 312, 331, 333, and 336 of this title and sections 104 and 107 of former Title 18, Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure. Sections 104 and 107 of former Title 18 were repealed and restated as sections 1853 and 1856 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, by act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 683. Section 6a–1 of former Title 41 was repealed and restated as section 6102(e) of Title 41, Public Contracts, by Pub. L. 111–350, §§3, 7(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3677, 3855. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Act of February 14, 1913, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Feb. 14, 1913, ch. 55, 37 Stat. 678, which amended section 373 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Section is comprised of subsecs. (a) and (b) of section 9 of act Aug. 13, 1954. Subsection (c) of section 9 repealed section 555 of this title.
The Secretary is authorized, in his discretion, to transfer to the tribe or any member or group of members thereof any federally owned property acquired, withdrawn, or used for the administration of the affairs of the tribe which he deems necessary for Indian use, or to transfer to a public or nonprofit body any such property which he deems necessary for public use and from which members of the tribe will derive benefit.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §10, 68 Stat. 721.)
No property distributed under the provisions of this subchapter shall at the time of distribution be subject to Federal or State income tax. Following any distribution of property made under the provisions of this subchapter, such property and any income derived therefrom by the individual, corporation, or other legal entity shall be subject to the same taxes, State and Federal, as in the case of non-Indians: Provided, That, for the purpose of capital gains or losses the base value of the property shall be the value of the property when distributed to the individual, corporation or other legal entity.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §11, 68 Stat. 721.)
Pub. L. 94–81, §1, Aug. 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 417, as amended by Pub. L. 96–596, §5(a), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3476; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided: “That, for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954, Title 26, Internal Revenue Code], all amounts realized by the trust from the condemnation, pursuant to Public Law 93–102 [section 564w–2 of this title], of the Klamath Indian forest lands held by the trustee for the Klamath Indian Tribe—
“(1) shall be excluded from the gross income of the trust, and
“(2) on the distribution from the trust of the proceeds of such condemnation, shall be excluded from the gross income of each person receiving such distribution.”
Section 5(b) of Pub. L. 96–596 provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending section 1 of Pub. L. 94–81, set out above] shall apply to all amounts whether received before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 24, 1980].”
All loans made from the reimbursable loan fund established by section 531 of this title, and all other loans made from Klamath tribal funds, including loans of livestock made by the tribe repayable in kind, shall be transferred to the tribe for collection in accordance with the terms thereof.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §12, 68 Stat. 721.)
Section 531 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §12, 68 Stat. 721.
Section is composed of second sentence of section 12 of act Aug. 13, 1954. The first sentence of said section 12 repealed sections 531 to 535 and 542(a) of this title.
That part of section 499 of title 43, which relates to the transfer of the care, operation, and maintenance of reclamation works to water users associations or irrigation districts shall be applicable to the irrigation works on the Klamath Reservation.
Effective on the first day of the calendar year beginning after the date of the proclamation provided for in section 564q of this title, the deferment of the assessment and collection of construction costs provided for in the first proviso of section 386a of this title, shall terminate with respect to any lands within irrigation projects on the Klamath Reservation. The Secretary shall cause the first lien against such lands created by section 387 1 of this title, to be filed of record in the appropriate county office.
There is authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of $89,212 for payment to the Klamath Tribe with interest at 4 per centum annually as reimbursement for tribal funds used for irrigation construction operation and maintenance benefiting nontribal lands on the Klamath Reservation, such interest being computed from the dates of disbursement of such funds from the United States Treasury.
The Secretary is authorized to adjust, eliminate, or cancel all or any part of reimbursable irrigation operation and maintenance costs and reimbursable irrigation construction costs chargeable against Indian owned lands that are subject to the provisions of this subchapter, and all or any part of assessments heretofore or hereafter imposed on account of such costs, when he determines that the collection thereof would be inequitable or would result in undue hardship on the Indian owner of the land, or that the administrative costs of collection would probably equal or exceed the amount collected.
Nothing contained in any other section of this subchapter shall affect in any way the laws applicable to irrigation projects on the Klamath Reservation.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §13, 68 Stat. 721.)
Section 387 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was omitted after not being repeated in the Interior Department Appropriation Act of 1947, July 1, 1946, ch. 529, 60 Stat. 348.
1 See References in Text note below.
Nothing in this subchapter shall abrogate any water rights of the tribe and its members, and the laws of the State of Oregon with respect to the abandonment of water rights by nonuse shall not apply to the tribe and its members until fifteen years after the date of the proclamation issued pursuant to section 564q of this title.
Nothing in this subchapter shall abrogate any fishing rights or privileges of the tribe or the members thereof enjoyed under Federal treaty.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §14, 68 Stat. 722.)
Prior to the transfer of title to, or the removal of restrictions from, property in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary shall protect the rights of members of the tribe who are minors, non compos mentis, or in the opinion of the Secretary in need of assistance in conducting their affairs, by causing the appointment of guardians for such members in courts of competent jurisdiction, or by such other means as he may deem adequate, without application from the member, including but not limited to the creation of a trust of such member's property with a trustee selected by the Secretary, or the purchase by the Secretary of an annuity for such member: Provided, however, That no member shall be declared to be in need of assistance in conducting his affairs unless the Secretary determines that such member does not have sufficient ability, knowledge, experience, and judgment to enable him to manage his business affairs, including the administration, use, investment, and disposition of any property turned over to such member and the income and proceeds therefrom, with such reasonable degree of prudence and wisdom as will be apt to prevent him from losing such property or the benefits thereof: Provided further, That any member determined by the Secretary to be in need of assistance in conducting his affairs may, within one hundred and twenty days after receipt of written notice of such secretarial determination, contest the secretarial determination in any naturalization court for the area in which said member resides by filing therein a petition having that purpose; the burden shall thereupon devolve upon the Secretary to show cause why such member should not conduct his own affairs, and the decision of such court shall be final and conclusive with respect to the affected member's conduct of his affairs.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §15, 68 Stat. 722; Pub. L. 85–132, §1(j), Aug. 14, 1957, 71 Stat. 348.)
1957—Pub. L. 85–132 inserted provisions allowing Secretary to act without application from member to create a trust or purchase an annuity for such member, by setting out factors for determination by Secretary before he declares a member to be in need of assistance, and by providing for contest of such secretarial determination by member.
Pending the completion of the property dispositions provided for in this subchapter, the funds now on deposit, or hereafter deposited, in the United States Treasury to the credit of the tribe shall be available for advance to the tribe, or for expenditure, for such purposes as may be designated by the governing body of the tribe and approved by the Secretary.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §16, 68 Stat. 722.)
The Secretary shall have authority to execute such patents, deeds, assignments, releases, certificates, contracts, and other instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this subchapter, or to establish a marketable and recordable title to any property disposed of pursuant to this subchapter.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §17, 68 Stat. 722.)
Upon removal of Federal restrictions on the property of the tribe and individual members thereof, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a proclamation declaring that the Federal trust relationship to the affairs of the tribe and its members has terminated. Thereafter individual members of the tribe shall not be entitled to any of the services performed by the United States for Indians because of their status as Indians and, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, all statutes of the United States which affect Indians because of their status as Indians shall no longer be applicable to the members of the tribe, and the laws of the several States shall apply to the tribe and its members in the same manner as they apply to other citizens or persons within their jurisdiction.
Nothing in this subchapter shall affect the status of the members of the tribe as citizens of the United States.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §18, 68 Stat. 722.)
Effective on the date of the proclamation provided for in section 564q of this title, all powers of the Secretary or other officer of the United States to take, review, or approve any action under the constitution and bylaws of the tribe are terminated. Any powers conferred upon the tribe by such constitution which are inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter are terminated. Such termination shall not affect the power of the tribe to take any action under its constitution and bylaws that is consistent with this subchapter without the participation of the Secretary or other officer of the United States.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §19, 68 Stat. 722.)
The Secretary is authorized to set off against any indebtedness payable to the tribe or to the United States by an individual member of the tribe or payable to the United States by the tribe, any funds payable to such individual or tribe under this subchapter and to deposit the amounts set off to the credit of the tribe or the United States as the case may be.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §20, 68 Stat. 723.)
Nothing contained in this subchapter shall deprive the tribe or its constituent parts of any right, privilege, or benefit granted by the Act of August 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 1049) [25 U.S.C. 70 et seq.].
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §21, 68 Stat. 723.)
Act of August 13, 1946, referred to in text, is act Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 959, 60 Stat. 1049, as amended, known as the Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946, which was classified generally to chapter 2A (§70 et seq.) of this title and was omitted in view of the termination of the Indian Claims Commission on Sept. 30, 1978. See Codification note set out under former section 70 et seq. of this title.
Nothing in this subchapter shall abrogate any valid lease, permit, license, right-of-way, lien, or other contract heretofore approved. Whenever any such instrument places in or reserves to the Secretary any powers, duties, or other functions with respect to the property subject thereto, the Secretary may transfer such functions, in whole or in part, to any Federal agency with the consent of such agency and may transfer such functions, in whole or in part to a State agency with the consent of such agency and the other party or parties to such instrument.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §22, 68 Stat. 723.)
The Secretary is authorized to issue rules or regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter, and may in his discretion provide for tribal referenda on matters pertaining to management or disposition of tribal assets.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §23, 68 Stat. 723.)
Prior to the issuance of a proclamation in accordance with the provisions of section 564q of this title, the Secretary is authorized to undertake, within the limits of available appropriations, a special program of education and training designed to help the members of the tribe to earn a livelihood, to conduct their own affairs, and to assume their responsibilities as citizens without special services because of their status as Indians. Such program may include language training, orientation in non-Indian community customs and living standards, vocational training and related subjects, transportation to the place of training or instruction, and subsistence during the course of training or instruction. For the purposes of such program the Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements with any Federal, State, or local governmental agency, corporation, association, or person. Nothing in this section shall preclude any Federal agency from undertaking any other program for the education and training of Indians with funds appropriated to it.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §26, 68 Stat. 723.)
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 564d and 564e of this title, and all Acts amendatory thereof—
The tribal lands that comprise the Klamath Indian Forest, and the tribal lands that comprise the Klamath Marsh, shall be designated by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, jointly.
The portion of the Klamath Indian Forest that is selected for sale pursuant to section 564d(a)(3) of this title to pay members who withdraw from the tribe shall be offered for sale by the Secretary of the Interior in appropriate units, on the basis of competitive bids, to any purchaser or purchasers who agree to manage the forest lands as far as practicable according to sustained yield procedures so as to furnish a continuous supply of timber according to plans to be prepared and submitted by them for approval and inclusion in the conveyancing instruments in accordance with specifications and requirements referred to in the invitations for bids: Provided, That no sale shall be for a price that is less than the realization value of the units involved determined as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The terms and conditions of the sales shall be prescribed by the Secretary. The specifications and minimum requirements to be included in the invitations for bids, and the determination of appropriate units for sale, shall be developed and made jointly by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture. Such plans when prepared by the purchaser shall include provisions for the conservation of soil and water resources as well as for the management of the timber resources as hereinbefore set forth in this section. Such plans shall be satisfactory to and have the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture as complying with the minimum standards included in said specifications and requirements before the prospective purchaser shall be entitled to have his bid considered by the Secretary of the Interior and the failure on the part of the purchaser to prepare and submit a satisfactory plan to the Secretary of Agriculture shall constitute grounds for rejection of such bid. Such plans shall be incorporated as conditions in the conveyancing instruments executed by the Secretary and shall be binding on the grantee and all successors in interest. The conveyancing instruments shall provide for a forfeiture and a reversion of title to the lands to the United States, not in trust for or subject to Indian use, in the event of a breach of such conditions. The purchase price paid by the grantee shall be deemed to represent the full appraised fair market value of the lands, undiminished by the right of reversion retained by the United States in a nontrust status, and the retention of such right of reversion shall not be the basis for any claim against the United States. The Secretary of Agriculture shall be responsible for enforcing such conditions. Upon any reversion of title pursuant to this subsection, the lands shall become national forest lands subject to the laws that are applicable to lands acquired pursuant to the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961), as amended.
Within sixty days after August 23, 1958 the Secretary of the Interior shall contract by negotiation with three qualified appraisers or three qualified appraisal organizations for a review of the appraisal approved by the Secretary pursuant to section 564d(a)(2) of this title. In such review full consideration shall be given to all reasonably ascertainable elements of land, forest, and mineral values. Not less than thirty days before executing such contracts the Secretary shall notify the chairman of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the names and addresses of the appraisers selected. The cost of the appraisal review shall be paid from tribal funds which are made available for such purpose, subject to full reimbursement by the United States, and the appropriation of funds for that purpose is authorized. Upon the basis of a review of the appraisal heretofore made of the forest units and marsh lands involved and such other materials as may be readily available, including additional market data since the date of the prior appraisal, but without making any new and independent appraisal, each appraiser shall estimate the fair market value of such forest units and marsh lands as if they had been offered for sale on a competitive market without limitation on use during the interval between the adjournment of the Eighty-fifth Congress and the termination date specified in section 564e(b) of this title. This value shall be known as the realization value. If the three appraisers are not able to agree on the realization value of such forest units and marsh lands, then such realization values shall be determined by averaging the values estimated by each appraiser. The Secretary shall report such realization values to the chairman of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs not later than January 15, 1959. No sale of forest units that comprise the Klamath Indian Forest designated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be made under the provisions of this subchapter prior to April 1, 1959.
If all of the forest units offered for sale in accordance with subsection (b) of this section are not sold before April 1, 1961, the Secretary of Agriculture shall publish in the Federal Register a proclamation taking title in the name of the United States to as many of the unsold units or parts thereof as have, together with the Klamath Marsh lands acquired pursuant to subsection (f) of the section, an aggregate realization value of not to exceed $90,000,000, which shall be the maximum amount payable for lands acquired by the United States pursuant to this subchapter. Compensation for the forest lands so taken shall be the realization value of the lands determined as provided in subsection (c) of this section, unless a different amount is provided by law enacted prior to the proclamation of the Secretary of Agriculture. Appropriation of funds for that purpose is authorized. Payment shall be made as soon as possible after the proclamation of the Secretary of Agriculture. Such lands shall become national forest lands subject to the laws that are applicable to lands acquired pursuant to the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961), as amended. Any of the forest units that are offered for sale and that are not sold or taken pursuant to subsection (b) or (d) of this section shall be subject to sale without limitation on use in accordance with the provisions of section 564d of this title.
If at any time any of the tribal lands that comprise the Klamath Indian Forest and that are retained by the tribe are offered for sale other than to members of the tribe, such lands shall first be offered for sale to the Secretary of Agriculture, who shall be given a period of twelve months after the date of each such offer within which to purchase such lands. No such lands shall be sold at a price below the price at which they have been offered for sale to the Secretary of Agriculture, and if such lands are reoffered for sale they shall first be reoffered to the Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to purchase such lands subject to such terms and conditions as to the use thereof as he may deem appropriate, and any lands so acquired shall thereupon become national forest lands subject to the laws that are applicable to lands acquired pursuant to the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961), as amended.
The lands that comprise the Klamath Marsh shall be a part of the property selected for sale pursuant to section 564d(a)(3) of this title to pay members who withdraw from the tribe. Title to such lands is taken in the name of the United States, effective the earliest date after September 30, 1959, when the Secretary of the Interior determines that funds for the payment of the purchase price are available from the sale of stamps under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of March 16, 1934, as amended [16 U.S.C. 718 et seq.]. Such lands are designated as the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, which shall be administered in accordance with the law applicable to areas acquired pursuant to section 4 of the Act of March 16, 1934 (48 Stat. 451), as amended or supplemented [16 U.S.C. 718d]. Compensation for said taking shall be the realization value of the lands determined in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, and shall be paid out of funds in the Treasury of the United States, which are authorized to be appropriated for that purpose.
Any person whose name appears on the final roll of the tribe, and who has since December 31, 1956, continuously resided on any lands taken by the United States by subsections (d) and (f) of this section, shall be entitled to occupy and use as a homesite for his lifetime a reasonable acreage of such lands, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to such regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture may issue to safeguard the administration of the national forest and as the Secretary of the Interior may issue to safeguard the administration of the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
If title to any of the lands comprising the Klamath Indian Forest is taken by the United States, the administration of any outstanding timber sales contracts thereon entered into by the Secretary of the Interior as trustee for the Klamath Indians shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.
All sales of tribal lands pursuant to subsection (b) of this section or pursuant to section 564d of this title on which roads are located shall be made subject to the right of the United States and its assigns to maintain and use such roads.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §28, as added Pub. L. 85–731, §1, Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 816; amended Pub. L. 86–247, Sept. 9, 1959, 73 Stat. 477; Pub. L. 105–312, title II, §205, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2957; Pub. L. 105–321, §4(e), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 3025.)
Act of March 1, 1911, referred to in subsecs. (b), (d), and (e), is act Mar. 1, 1911, ch. 186, 36 Stat. 961, as amended, popularly known as the Weeks Law, which is classified to sections 480, 500, 513 to 519, 521, 552, and 563 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 552 of Title 16 and Tables.
The adjournment of the Eighty-fifth Congress, referred to in subsec. (c) of this section, took place on Aug. 24, 1958.
The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, referred to in subsec. (f), subsequently renamed the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, is act Mar. 16, 1934, ch. 71, 48 Stat. 451, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter IV (§718 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 718 of Title 16 and Tables.
1998—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 105–312 and Pub. L. 105–321 amended subsecs. (f) and (g) identically, substituting “Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge” for “Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge”.
1959—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 86–247 changed date for Federal acquisition of Klamath Indian Marsh from April 1, 1961, to earliest date after September 30, 1959, that funds are available to pay for property from sale of stamps.
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate abolished and replaced by Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, effective Feb. 11, 1977. See Rule XXV of Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended by Senate Resolution No. 4, Ninety-fifth Congress (popularly cited as the “Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977”), approved Feb. 4, 1977. Section 105 of Senate Resolution No. 4 established a temporary Select Committee on Indian Affairs having jurisdiction over matters relating to Indian affairs (such matters previously having been within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs). Senate Resolution No. 127, June 6, 1984, Ninety-eighth Congress, established the Select Committee on Indian Affairs as a permanent committee of the Senate, and section 25 of Senate Resolution No. 71, Feb. 25, 1993, One Hundred Third Congress, redesignated the Select Committee on Indian Affairs as the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Third Congress.
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to acquire by condemnation all of the Klamath Indian forest lands which the trustee for the Klamath Indian Tribe is required to sell by the terms of its trust agreement, and the lands so acquired shall become a part of the Winema National Forest.
The condemnation action may be initiated either before or after the lands are offered for sale by the trustee, and for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $70,000,000.
The homesite provisions of section 564w–1(g) of this title shall apply to the lands acquired by the Secretary pursuant to this subchapter.
(Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, §29, as added Pub. L. 93–102, Aug. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 349.)
Nothing in this subchapter shall affect the authority to make timber sales otherwise authorized by law prior to the termination of Federal control over such timber.
(Pub. L. 85–132, §2, Aug. 14, 1957, 71 Stat. 348.)
This section was not enacted as a part of act Aug. 13, 1954, ch. 732, 68 Stat. 718, which comprises this subchapter.