54 STAT.] 76TH CONG., 3D SESS. - CH. 460-JUNE 29, 1940 [CHAPTER 460] AN ACPI 703 June 29, 1940 For the acquisition of Indian lands for the Grand Coulee Dam and Reservoir, and [H. R. 9445] for other purposes. [Public, No. 690] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in aid of the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam project, authorized by the Act of August 30, 1935 (49 Stat. 1028), there is hereby granted to the United States, subject to the provisions of this Act, (a) all the right, title, and interest of the Indians in and to the tribal and allotted lands within the Spokane and Colville Reservations, including sites of agency and school buildings and related structures and unsold lands in Klaxta town site, as may be designated therefor by the Secretary of the Interior from time to time: Provided, That no lands shall be taken for reservoir purposes above the elevation of one thousand three hundred and ten feet above sea level as shown by General Land Office surveys, except in Klaxta town site; and (b) such other interests in or to any of such lands and property within these reservations as may be required and as may be designated by the Secretary of the Interior from time to time for the construction of pipe lines, highways, rail- roads, telegraph, telephone, and electric-transmission lines in con- nection with the project, or for the relocation or reconstruction of such facilities made necessary by the construction of the project. The Secretary of the Interior, in lieu of reserving rights of hunt- ing, fishing, and boating to the Indians in the areas granted under this Act, shall set aside approximately one-quarter of the entire reservoir area for the paramount use of the Indians of the Spokane and Colville Reservations for hunting, fishing, and boating purposes, which rights shall be subject only to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife: Provided, That the exercise of the Indians' rights shall not interfere with project operations. The Secretary shall also, where necessary, grant to the Indians reasonable rights of access to such area or areas across any project lands. SEC. 2. As lands or interests in lands are designated from time to time under this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall determine the amount of money to be paid to the Indians as just and equitable compensation therefor. As to the tribal lands, the amounts so determined shall be transferred in the Treasury of the United States from the funds now or hereafter made available for the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam project to the credit of the appropriate tribe pursuant to the provisions of the Act of May 17, 1926 (44 Stat. 560). The amounts due individual landowners or their heirs or devisees shall be paid from funds now or hereafter made available for the construction of said project to the superintendent of the Colville Indian Agency or such other officer as shall be designated by the Secretary of the Interior for credit on the books of said agency to the accounts of the individuals concerned. SEC. 3. Funds deposited to the credit of allottees, their heirs or devisees may be used in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, for the acquisition of other lands and improvements, or the relocation of existing improvements or construction of new improvements on the lands so acquired for the allottees or heirs whose lands and improve- ments are acquired under the provisions of this Act. Lands so acquired shall be held in the same status as those from which the funds were derived, and shall be nontaxable until otherwise provided by Congress. SEC. 4. As to any Indian cemetery lands required for the project, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, in lieu of requiring payment therefor, to establish cemeteries on other lands Grand Coulee Dam project. Acquisition of In- dian lands. Proviso. Restriction; excep- tion. Construction of pipe lines, etc. Use of reservoirland for hunting, etc., by Indians. Proviso. Noninterference with project oper- ations. Compensation to In- dians. Credit of funds to appropriate tribe. 25U.S.C. 15. Payments to Indi- vidual landowners. Use of funds for ac- quisition of other lands, etc. Relocation ofIndian cemeteries.
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