Bill would place Albuquerque school land in trust for 19 Pueblos

The Secretary of the Interior would place the United States’ interest in the land in trust for the 19 Pueblos. The land is three Albuquerque tracts totaling about 9.89 acres. They were part of the Albuquerque Indian School and are under the General Services Administration’s control on the date of enactment. The General Services Administration must transfer control within 90 days after enactment. The Secretary must place the land in trust within 90 days after that transfer.

The Secretary would give the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center ownership of federal buildings and other improvements on the land. The Cultural Center is a nonprofit owned and run by the 19 Pueblos, or a successor they choose. The conveyance covers federal buildings, structures, improvements, and related property on the three tracts. The federal government would lease Tract 2 to the Cultural Center so federal tenants there on the date of the conveyance can continue to use it. The first lease term may not exceed 24 months. The parties may extend it by written agreement, and a tenant may leave early under the lease terms. The Secretary must convey the buildings and other improvements within 90 days after control transfers to the Secretary.

The land would be used for the Pueblos’ listed purposes and could not be used for certain kinds of gaming. These rules apply to the federal land placed in trust under the bill. The land would remain subject to federal laws for Indian trust land and to existing private or local rights, restrictions, easements, and utility agreements. The gaming restriction covers Class II and Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.