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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002

President Bush on Thursday signed into a law a measure returning 67,710 acres of mineral rights to Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico.

The land and the subsurface rights were taken from the tribe in the late 1880s. Although the tribe later bought some of the land back and the Department of Interior added land to the reservation, the rights were still owned by a private company.

The bill resolves the issue and directs the Interior to purchase or bid for the rights and return them to the tribe. The tribe says this will prevent development of sacred land.

Get the Story:
Congress Approves Measure To Give Acoma Pueblo Mineral Rights (AP 2/7)

Get the Bill:
To require the valuation of nontribal interest ownership of subsurface rights within the boundaries of the Acoma Indian Reservation (H.R.1913)

Related Stories:
Pueblo bill ready for Bush signature (1/31)