SB 1513, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act, would transfer approximately 1,082.63 acres of specified federal land in Washington State into trust for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. The land would become part of the Tribe’s reservation, and the Secretary of the Interior would be directed to survey the boundaries, make minor boundary adjustments if needed, and correct minor map or acreage errors after enactment.
The bill also provides that the transferred land is not subject to federal valuation, appraisal, or equalization requirements, and it expressly prohibits the land from being treated as Indian lands for purposes of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. In addition, it directs that a portion of the Elwha River on the transferred land continue to be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers framework, with necessary modifications tied to existing Elwha River restoration law. The bill further states that nothing in it affects treaty rights under the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change the legal status of the identified federal parcels by placing them in trust for the Tribe and incorporating them into the Lower Elwha Indian Reservation. That would shift land management and jurisdictional treatment for the affected acreage from federal ownership to trust land held for tribal benefit, while preserving existing rights and limiting administrative disputes through survey and boundary-correction authority. The bill also preserves the non-gaming status of the land and leaves treaty rights unchanged, reducing the likelihood that the transfer would be used to expand gaming or alter existing treaty-based claims.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment. The bill was ordered to be reported without amendment by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which indicates committee support and no recorded opposition in the materials provided. No votes or hearing transcripts are included, so there is no evidence here of broader floor debate or organized opposition, but the committee action points to a positive reception.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the transfer of federal land into tribal trust status, the effect on land management in and around Olympic National Park and the Elwha River, and whether the land could be used for gaming. The bill addresses the gaming issue directly by prohibiting treatment of the land as Indian lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which appears designed to preempt that concern. Another possible issue is the interaction with existing federal land and river management rules, but the bill limits that by tying management of the river segment to existing Wild and Scenic Rivers and Elwha restoration provisions. No specific objections are documented in the provided materials.