A water settlement for the Navajo Nation, a trust acquisition for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians and a road for an Alaska Native village are part of the omnibus lands bill that passed the House on Wednesday.

The three projects are among the thousands of provisions in the 1,218-page bill that passed the Senate in January. President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law next week.

The bill authorizes $870 million for the Navajo settlement, which clarifies the tribe's rights to the San Juan River in New Mexico. A major component is a pipeline that will serve communities on and off the reservation.

The Tuolumne transfer involves 65 acres in Tuolumne County, California. The bill bars the land from being used for gaming purposes.

The road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge will benefit the village of King Cove in Alaska. The bill starts the planning process for the project.

Get the Story:
Congress passes Navajo water bill (The Farmington Daily Times 3/26)
Navajos elated with passage of settlement bill (AP 3/26)
Congress approves massive public lands bill (The Santa Fe New Mexican 3/26)
Navajos Stand To Gain Water Windfall (The Albuquerque Journal 3/26)
House approves Valley river funds (The Sacramento Bee 3/26)
U.S. House OKs lands bill that permits refuge road planning (The Anchorage Daily News 3/26)

Omnibus Lands Bill:
H.R.146 | S.22

Related Stories:
Senate approves road for Alaska Native village (03/20)
Alaska Native road included in omnibus lands bill (1/12)
Navajo Nation water rights settlement in Congress (02/17)