In committee
Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
This bill transfers roughly 76 acres of federal land and nearly 20 acres of trail easements along Tennessee's Tellico Reservoir into trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe will manage the sites to preserve Cherokee history, operate the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, and maintain memorials at the historic capitals of Chota and Tanasi. Casino gaming is strictly prohibited on the property, and the Tennessee Valley Authority will continue to manage water levels and flood control in the reservoir.
People affected—The text names the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians as the beneficiary but does not state population figures or the number of people impacted.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach16provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Federal lands & resources+20Native American affairs+30
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Eastern Band of Cherokee IndiansReceives approximately 76 acres of federal land and approximately 20 acres of permanent shoreline easements held in trust by the United States for cultural, memorial, educational, and recreational uses, along with ownership of existing memorials and improvements (Sec. 2(a)-(b), Sec. 3(a), Sec. 5(a)).
- Tennessee Valley AuthorityRetains operational authority to adjust water levels, intermittently flood low-lying trust areas, access the lands for river management, maintenance, and public health tasks, and receive compensation for any loss of hydropower capacity caused by tribal development (Sec. 5(b), Sec. 5(d)-(f)).
Who it burdens
- Eastern Band of Cherokee IndiansSubject to strict land-use limitations restricting activities to cultural, educational, and memorial purposes, a ban on Class II and Class III gaming, requirements to obtain written consent from the Tennessee Valley Authority for shoreline water facilities, and duties to allow agency access and compensate for any lost hydropower capacity (Sec. 5(a)-(f), Sec. 7).
- Tennessee Valley AuthorityMust transfer land and easements to be held in trust, consult and submit revised maps to congressional committees within one year, assess properties for hazardous materials prior to acquisition, and retain sole federal responsibility and liability for required environmental cleanups (Sec. 2(a), Sec. 2(c), Sec. 3(a)-(b), Sec. 5(h)).
Who backs it
- Tennessee Valley AuthorityRequired to fund any environmental remediation and assessments for hazardous substances required under federal or state law on the transferred lands (Sec. 5(h)(1)).