[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 228 (Monday, November 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 72968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30440]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Statement of Findings: Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians 
Settlement Act of 2008

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is publishing this notice as 
required by section 10(a) of the Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians 
Settlement Act of 2008, Public Law 110-297, 122 Stat. 2975, 2983 
(Settlement Act). The publication of this notice causes certain waivers 
and releases of claims to become effective as required by the 
Settlement Act.

DATES: Effective Date: In accordance with section 10(a) of the 
Settlement Act, the waivers and releases of claims described in section 
8(a) of the Settlement Act, as well as those described in article 5 of 
the Settlement Agreement ratified by the Settlement Act, are effective 
on November 28, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address all comments and requests for 
additional information to Robert Laidlaw, Senior Policy Analyst, United 
States Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Room 3517, 
Washington, DC 20240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Settlement Act approves, ratifies, and 
confirms the Settlement Agreement entered into by the settlement 
parties, including the United States on behalf of the Tribe, the Tribe, 
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Eastern 
Municipal Water District, and Lake Hemet Municipal Water District. The 
Settlement Act, which Congress enacted on July 31, 2008, determines the 
Tribe's water rights; resolves the Tribe's claims for interference with 
the water resources of, and damages to, the Tribe's Reservation; 
provides for construction of certain water projects to facilitate 
exercise of the Tribe's water rights secured by the Settlement Act; and 
resolves outstanding litigation.
    Section 10(b) of the Settlement Act and article 3.3 of the 
Settlement Agreement provide that the Settlement Act and the Settlement 
Agreement shall be null and void if certain conditions are not 
fulfilled on or before March 1, 2012. The publication of this notice 
and the Statement of Findings below confirm that the conditions 
required by section 10(a) of the Settlement Act and article 3 of the 
Settlement Agreement have been fulfilled. Accordingly, the waivers and 
releases executed pursuant to section 8(a) of the Settlement Act and 
article 5 of the Settlement Agreement are effective as of November 28, 
2011.

Statement of Findings

    In accordance with section 10(a) of the Settlement Act and article 
3.1 of the Settlement Agreement, I find as follows:
    1. The Settlement Act was enacted on July 31, 2008.
    2. To the extent that the Settlement Agreement conflicted with the 
Act, the Settlement Agreement has been revised to conform to the Act.
    3. The Settlement Agreement, revised as necessary, and the waivers 
and releases described in article 5 of the Settlement Agreement and 
section 8(a) of the Settlement Act have been executed by the parties 
and by the Secretary.
    4. Warranty deeds for the property to be conveyed to the Tribe 
described in article 4.6 of the Settlement Agreement have been placed 
in escrow and, in accordance with the Settlement Agreement, shall be 
delivered to the Tribe on the first business day following the 
Effective Date (i.e., publication of this notice).
    5. The Tribe and the Secretary have approved the Water Management 
Plan developed pursuant to article 4.8.A of the Settlement Agreement.
    6. A judgment and decree substantially the same as Exhibit H to the 
Settlement Agreement has been approved by the United States District 
Court, Eastern Division of the Central District of California, and that 
judgment and decree has become final and non-appealable.

    Dated: October 27, 2011.
Ken Salazar,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2011-30440 Filed 11-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P