Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 1.djvu/901

 PUBLIC LAW 102-339—AUG. 11, 1992 106 STAT. 869 Public Law 102-339 102d Congress An Act To provide additional time to negotiate settlement of a land dispute in South Aug. 11, 1992 Carolina. [H.R. 5566] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Indians. SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) Suits on possessory land claims may be commenced against tens of thousands of citizens in York, Lancaster, and Chester Counties, South Carolina, within the area claimed in the suit Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina against State of South Carohna, et al., Civil Action No. 80-2050 (D.S.C.). (2) Tens of thousands of such suits would be costly to all parties, including the Federal judicial system, and would create a burden upon interstate commerce. (3) The filing of such suits may be averted by settlement if additional time is made available for the parties to negotiate and implement the terms of settlement. . ,,. (4) The Congress has authority to enact this legislation under the Indian Commerce Clause and the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution; and the Department of Justice concurs in this construction of Article I of the Constitution. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to prevent the social, economic, and judicial disruption that would result from the commencement of law suits against tens of thousands of citizens in York, Lancaster, and Chester Counties, South Carolina, and the burden on interstate commerce that such suits would impose. The parties to the above referenced suit require additional time in which to negotiate and implement the terms of settlement; and if such time is made available, it may avert the necessity of thousands of law suits. The purpose of this Act is not to revive, renew, or extend any claim barred by any period of limitation, repose, or time bar as of the effective date of this Act. SEC. 3. STATUTE OP LIMITATION. (a) If any period of limitation or repose, or any other defense based wholly or partly on the passage of time, bars any claim brought by or on behalf of any Indian, Indian nation, or tribe or band of Indians claiming or asserting damages or an interest in land in York, Lancaster, or Chester Counties, South CaroUna, under section 2116 of the Revised Statutes (25 U.S.C. 177; commonly known as the Indian Non-Intercourse Act), the Constitution of the United States, common law, or any treaty, as of the date of enactment of this Act, such period of limitation or repose, or other defense based wholly or partly on passage

�