Federal Land Transfer: 700 Acres to the Sandia Pueblo (S. 611)

What is S. 611?

(Updated November 14, 2014)

This bill was enacted on June 9, 2014

This is a technical corrections bill that transfers roughly 700 acres of land from the U.S. Forest Service to the Sandia Pueblo of New Mexico. This transfer was supposed to occur via the 2003 T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act, but valuations concerns stopped the transfer from occurring. A provision in the bill requires that the land remain “an open space in a natural state.” The bill also requires that the Sandia transfer the Pueblo La Luz land tract to the Forest Service and pay an amount equal to the difference in value between the two pieces of land. Senate passed the bill in March 2014. 

Argument in favor

Preserves land of spiritual and cultural importance to the Pueblo for future generations.

Argument opposed

Some lingering concern that the acres in question have failed to receive an accurate valuation.

Impact

The bill would give the Sandia Pueblo ownership rights of 700 acres in the Sandia Mountains while transferring Pueblo-owned land to the U.S. Forest Service.

Cost of S. 611

The CBO estimates the cost of the land transfer would be minimal, and therefore have no significant impact on the federal budget.

Additional Info

Media: 

House Committee on Natural Resources Report

Pueblo of Sandia Website