Congress transfers 72 acres to Quinault Nation—but leaves pollution behind
H.R. 2389 — Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act · Filed by Emily Randall (D-WA) · Introduced Mar 26, 2025 · Passed chamber
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill transfers approximately 72 acres of federal forest land in Washington State to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the Quinault Indian Nation, making it part of their reservation. The land cannot be used for gaming under federal Indian gaming law, and the transfer does not affect the tribe's existing treaty rights, though the federal government is not required to clean up any hazardous materials already on the property.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is the administrative transfer of federal forest land into trust status for a federally recognized Indian tribe, a standard Indian law procedure that expands reservation territory and tribal jurisdiction.
What the text implies
- The hazmat non-remediation clause (section 2(e)(2)) means the federal government discloses existing contamination but assumes no cleanup obligation—the Quinault Nation inherits the land with any existing pollution, a potential long-term liability and public-health risk if the tribe lacks resources for remediation.
- Gaming prohibition under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act limits the tribe's economic development options on this parcel, reducing potential revenue streams compared to other tribal lands where gaming is permitted.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Quinault Indian Nation (land acquisition and expanded reservation territory)