H.R. 226
Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
Sponsor: Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann · 0 cosponsors
Follow this billOfficial summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
This bill takes specified lands and easements in Monroe County, Tennessee, into trust for the use and benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. These lands include the Sequoyah Museum, the Chota Memorial, the Tanasi Memorial, and land to provide support for these properties and cultural programs.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) maintains its right to carry out river control and development on these lands, including temporarily and intermittently flooding certain lands. The bill specifies the structures that may be constructed with the TVA's written consent on certain lands subject to flooding. Additionally, the TVA must be compensated for lost hydropower capacity from future development of these lands.
Further, the bill specifies that the United States is not liable for loss or damage resulting from certain activities, such as the permanent flooding of adjacent lands.
In addition, the bill outlines the TVA's continuing responsibilities, including those related to environmental remediation.
Finally, the bill prohibits gaming on these lands.Text of the bill
(a) Permanent easements. The following permanent easements for land below the 820-foot (MSL) contour elevation for the following Federal lands in Monroe County, Tennessee, on the shores of Tellico Reservoir, are declared to be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians:
(1) Chota Peninsula. Approximately 8.5 acres of land generally depicted as Chota Memorial 2 on the map titled Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Map 3 and dated April 30, 2015.
(2) Chota-Tanasi Trail. Approximately 11.4 acres of land generally depicted as Chota-Tanasi Trail on the map titled Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Map 3 and dated April 30, 2015.
(b) Revised Maps. Not later than 1 year after the date of a land transaction made pursuant to this section, the Tennessee Valley Authority, after consultation with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate revised maps that depict the lands subject to easements taken into trust under this section, including any corrections necessary to the maps described in this section.
(c) Conditions. The lands subject to easements taken into trust under this section shall be subject to the use rights and conditions described in section 5.