The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, referred to in subsec. (a), are act Feb. 25, 1920, ch. 85, 41 Stat. 437, as amended, known as the Mineral Leasing Act, which is classified generally to chapter 3A (§ 181 et seq.) of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 181 of Title 30 and Tables.

The Mining Law of 1872, referred to in subsec. (a), is act May 10, 1872, ch. 152, 17 Stat. 91, as amended. That act was incorporated into the Revised Statutes as R.S. §§ 2319 to 2328, 2331, 2333 to 2337, and 2344, which are classified to sections 22 to 24, 26 to 28, 29, 30, 33 to 35, 37, 39 to 42, and 47 of Title 30. For complete classification of R.S. §§ 2319 to 2328, 2331, 2333 to 2337, and 2344 to the Code, see Tables.

The first year of enactment of this subsection and the second year of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (d), probably mean the first and second year after the date of enactment of this subsection, which was July 8, 1980.

Subsection (a)(2) of this section, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), (3), means the first paragraph (2) of subsec. (a), relating to acceptance of title to private lands.

In subsec. (e), “chapter 69 of title 31” substituted for “the Act of October 20, 1976 (90 Stat. 2662; 31 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)” on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance.

1988—Subsecs. (c), (d), (f)(2). Pub. L. 100–666, § 4(b), substituted “Commissioner” for “Commission” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–666, §§ 4(b), 8, substituted “by the Commissioner” for “by the Commission” and “December 22, 1974: Provided, That the sole authority for final planning decisions regarding the development of lands acquired pursuant to this subchapter shall rest with the Commissioner until such time as the Commissioner has discharged his statutory responsibility under this subchapter” for “July 8, 1980, who are awaiting relocation under this subchapter”.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 100–666, § 4(b), substituted “Commissioner” for “Commission” in two places.

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–603, § 106(2), inserted provisions relating to transfer without cost to the Navajo Tribe with title taken by the United States in trust for the benefit of the Navajo Tribe as part of the Navajo Reservation of all rights, title, and interests of the United States in the lands described in par. (1), subject to existing leaseholds.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–603, § 106(1), struck out provisions requiring transfer of lands without cost to the Navajo Tribe with title taken by the United States in trust for the benefit of the Navajo Tribe as part of the Navajo Reservation.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–603, § 106(3), added the par. (2) relating to interests in lands acquired in New Mexico.

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–305 substituted provision authorizing the Secretary to transfer not more than 250,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management to the Navajo Tribe, at no cost to the Navajo Tribe, and in order to facilitate this transfer, exchange Bureau of Land Management land, at equal valuation, for State and private land, and to accept title to not more than 150,000 acres of private lands acquired by the Navajo Tribe, with title to both the transferred and privately acquired lands to be held by the United States in trust for the benefit of the Navajo Tribe for provision authorizing the Secretary to transfer not more than 250,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management to the Navajo Tribe providing the Navajo Tribe pay the fair market value of the land transferred and providing that title to the transferred land be held by the United States for the benefit of the Navajo Tribe.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–305 substituted provision requiring a border of any parcel of land transferred or acquired to be within 18 miles of the present boundary of the Navajo Reservation and providing that, with the exception of the lands unavailable for transfer, any Bureau of Land Management lands within Arizona and New Mexico be available for exchange for lands within 18 miles of the present boundary of the reservation for provision authorizing the United States to take in trust for the benefit of the Navajo Tribe any private lands acquired by the Navajo Tribe which are contiguous or adjacent to the Navajo Reservation and restricting the total acreage of lands transferred or acquired to not more than 250,000 acres.

Subsecs. (c) to (i). Pub. L. 96–305 added subsecs. (c) to (i).

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, 1993, by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Third Congress. Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Resources of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress.

Select Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate redesignated Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate by section 25 of Senate Resolution No. 71, Feb. 25, 1993, One Hundred Third Congress.