Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act

This legislation directs the federal government to take approximately 1,082.63 acres of federal land in the State of Washington into trust for the benefit of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe . These specific parcels, generally depicted on a December 2021 map, will become an integral part of the Tribe's existing Lower Elwha Indian Reservation . Importantly, these lands will not be subject to federal requirements for valuation, appraisal, or equalization, streamlining the transfer process. A specific portion of the Elwha River within these newly acquired trust lands will be managed in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act , with necessary modifications from the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act. The Secretary of the Interior is mandated to conduct a survey to define the boundaries of these lands and may make minor adjustments or correct errors. Crucially, the bill explicitly states that none of the land taken into trust under this Act shall be considered Indian lands for the purpose of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act , thereby prohibiting gaming. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that its provisions do not affect the treaty rights of the Tribe under the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point.