Land Acquisitions; Hopi Tribe, Coconino County and Navajo County, Arizona

Issuing agencies

Abstract

Under the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996 (Act), Congress approved a final settlement of multiple claims the Hopi Tribe had against the United States. Under the Act, Congress authorized the Hopi Tribe to acquire up to 500,000 acres of land in northern Arizona to be taken into trust, including private land purchased from willing sellers and interspersed State trust land held by the State of Arizona located within the exterior boundaries of the purchased private land. The Hopi Tribe purchased 161,423.58 acres of private land from willing sellers, which are held in trust by the United States. Additionally, together with the State of Arizona, the Hopi Tribe has identified for acquisition an additional 110,759.17 acres of interspersed State trust lands. At the request of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice has initiated proceedings to condemn the interspersed State trust lands identified by the Hopi Tribe and the State of Arizona under the authority of section 6 of the Act and applicable Federal law. The parcels to be condemned and then taken into trust are described below.