Bill > HR8940

This bill provides for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in Northeastern Arizona. The key provisions of the bill include: - Ratifying and executing the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, which allocates and assigns Colorado River water to the Tribes and authorizes the Secretary to enter into water delivery contracts with the Tribes. - Confirming the water rights of the Tribes and requiring the United States to hold those water rights in trust for the Tribes, Tribal members, and allottees. The bill also addresses the rights of Navajo allottees. - Authorizing the planning, design, and construction of the iiná bá - paa tuwaqat'si pipeline to deliver potable water to the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and establishing related trust funds and accounts to fund the pipeline and Tribal water projects. - Providing for the waiver and release of certain water rights claims by the Tribes and the United States in trust for the Tribes and their members/allottees, in exchange for the benefits provided under the settlement. - Establishing the enforceability date for the settlement agreement and providing for the potential repeal of the act if certain conditions are not satisfied. - Addressing various other provisions related to Colorado River accounting, limited waivers of sovereign immunity, ratification of the Treaty between the Navajo Nation and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and savings provisions.