Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act
Summary
SB 2796, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act, would authorize a direct land exchange in San Bernardino County, California between the United States and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, a federally recognized tribe. Under the bill, if the Nation offers to transfer its approximately 1,460 acres of non-federal land to the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture must accept the offer and convey to the Nation approximately 1,475 acres of National Forest System land identified on specified maps. The exchange would include easements and subsurface rights, and the Secretary would retain an easement for Forest Service access and use of portions of roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25.
The bill also sets out procedures for surveying the lands, resolving minor mapping or boundary errors, and keeping the relevant maps on file for public inspection. As a condition of the exchange, the Nation must enter into an agreement to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site identified on the maps. Land acquired by the federal government would become part of the San Bernardino National Forest and be managed under applicable forest laws and regulations. The bill further exempts the exchange from section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, meaning the exchange would proceed under this specific statutory authority rather than the usual FLPMA exchange process.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would change federal ownership and management of roughly 3,000 acres combined by transferring selected National Forest System lands to tribal ownership and transferring tribal lands into the San Bernardino National Forest. It would affect the U.S. Forest Service, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, and local land records in San Bernardino County, while also creating a preservation obligation for the Arrowhead landmark site. The bill would operate as a special-purpose land exchange statute and override the normal FLPMA land-exchange framework for this transaction.
Sentiment
Based on the available context, the bill appears to have a generally favorable and procedural reception rather than a controversial one. It was introduced by Senator Padilla with Senator Schiff and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where hearings were held, suggesting active consideration and interest in advancing the measure. No votes or recorded opposition are provided in the available materials, and the text itself frames the exchange as mutually agreed and administratively structured.
Contention
The main points that could draw scrutiny are the transfer of federal forest land out of the National Forest System, the special exemption from the usual FLPMA exchange process, and the preservation condition tied to the Arrowhead landmark site. Potential concerns may involve public access, Forest Service road easements, the accuracy of maps and boundary descriptions, and whether the cultural preservation agreement is sufficiently protective. The bill’s structure suggests these issues are being managed through negotiated terms between the Secretary and the Nation rather than through a broader contested process.