Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 2.djvu/312

 104 STAT. 1292 PUBLIC LAW 101-503—NOV. 3, 1990 Public Law 101-503 101st Congress An Act Nov. 3, 1990 To provide for the renegotiation of certain leases of the Seneca Nation, and for other [H.R. 5367] purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Seneca Nation United States of America in Congress assembled. Settlement Act of 1990. SECTIONl. SHORT TITLE. ^JGW xorlt 25 USC 1774 This Act may be cited as the "Seneca Nation Settlement Act of note. 1990". 25 USC 1774. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) CITY OF SALAMANCA AND CONGRESSIONAL VILLAGES.—The Congress finds and declares that: (1) Disputes concerning leases of tribal lands within the city of Salamanca and the congressional villages, New York, have strained relations between the Indian and non-Indian communities and have resulted in adverse economic impacts affecting both communities. (2) Some of the significant historical events which have led to the present situation include— (A) beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, several railroads obtained grants or leases of rights of way through the Allegany Reservation without Federal authorization or approval and on terms which did not adequately protect the interests of the Seneca Nation; (B) after construction of these railroads, Allegany Reservation lands were leased to railroad employees, persons associated with the railroads, residents of the city and farmers without Federal authorization or approval and on terms which did not adequately protect the interests of the Seneca Nation; (C) none of these leases had Federal authorization or approval and, after the courts ruled these leases invalid. Congress enacted the Act of February 19, 1875 (18 Stat. 330), confirming existing leases of Allegany Reservation lands, authorizing further leasing by the Seneca Nation, and making the confirmed leases renewable for a twelve year period; (D) the Act of September 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 558), amended the 1875 Act by substituting a renewal term of "not exceeding ninety-nine years" for the original renewal term of twelve years; and (E) in 1952 the Seneca Nation filed a claim with the Indian Claims Commission against the United States for use of improper lease fees, and in 1977 a settlement was reached regarding such claim, providing for the payment of $600,000 to the Seneca Nation covering the period beginning in 1870 to the end of 1946.

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