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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 635. Disposition of lands
(a) Lease of restricted lands; renewals
Any restricted Indian lands owned by the Navajo Tribe, members
thereof, or associations of such members, or by the Hopi Tribe,
members thereof, or associations of such members, may be leased by
the Indian owners, with the approval of the Secretary of the
Interior, for public, religious, educational, recreational, or
business purposes, including the development or utilization of
natural resources in connection with operations under such leases.
All leases so granted shall be for a term of not to exceed
twenty-five years, but may include provisions authorizing their
renewal for an additional term of not to exceed twenty-five years,
and shall be made under such regulations as may be prescribed by
the Secretary. Restricted allotments of deceased Indians may be
leased under this section, for the benefit of their heirs or
devisees, in the circumstances and by the persons prescribed in
section 380 of this title. Nothing contained in this section shall
be construed to repeal or affect any authority to lease restricted
Indian lands conferred by or pursuant to any other provision of
law.
(b) Lease, sale, or other disposition of lands owned in fee simple
by Navajo Tribe
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, land owned in fee
simple by the Navajo Tribe may be leased, sold, or otherwise
disposed of by the sole authority of the Navajo Tribal Council, in
any manner that similar land in the State in which such land is
situated may be leased, sold, or otherwise disposed of by private
landowners, and such disposition shall create no liability on the
part of the United States.
(c) Transfer of unallotted lands to tribally owned or municipal
corporations
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to transfer, upon
request of the Navajo Tribal Council, to any corporation owned by
the tribe and organized pursuant to State law, or to any municipal
corporation organized under State law, legal title to or a
leasehold interest in any unallotted lands held for the Navajo
Indian Tribe, and thereafter the United States shall have no
responsibility or liability for, but on request of the tribe shall
render advice and assistance in, the management, use, or
disposition of such lands.
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