S. 239 — Crow Revenue Act

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) Bull Mountains Lease (Bureau of Land Management Lease MTM-97988 dated June 1, 2012); (2) Bull Mountains Tracts (approximately 4,530 acres of U.S.-owned subsurface mineral interests and 940 acres of U.S.-owned surface interests in Musselshell County, Montana, as depicted on a specified map); (3) Hope Family Tracts (approximately 4,660 acres of subsurface mineral interests owned by the Hope Family Trust in Big Horn County, Montana, within the Crow Reservation boundaries, as depicted on a specified map); (4) Hope Family Trust (Joe and Barbara Hope Mineral Trust); (5) Lessee (lessee under the Bull Mountains Lease); (6) Secretary (Secretary of the Interior); (7) State (State of Montana); and (8) Tribe (Crow Tribe of Montana).

This section requires, not later than 60 days after enactment and in a single transaction, (1) acceptance by the Secretary of the relinquishment of the Bull Mountains Lease if offered by the lessee, notwithstanding specified regulations; (2) conveyance by the Hope Family Trust to the Tribe of all mineral interests in the Hope Family Tracts; and (3) conveyance by the Secretary to the Hope Family Trust of all U.S. mineral interests and surface land in the Bull Mountains Tracts, subject to valid existing rights. The section further (1) directs that the Tribe's mineral interests be held in trust by the United States upon tribal request; (2) exempts those interests from state and local taxation; (3) requires the Tribe to notify the Secretary, prior to the conveyances, of an agreement with the Hope Family Trust on revenue sharing from any future development of the Bull Mountains Tracts; and (4) withdraws the Hope Family and Bull Mountains Tracts, subject to valid existing rights, from all forms of entry, appropriation, disposal under public land laws, mining laws, and mineral leasing laws pending the conveyances.

This section ensures that no amounts or benefits provided to the Tribe under this Act reduce or deny any other federal services, benefits, or programs for which the Tribe or its members are eligible due to (1) the Tribe's status as a federally recognized Indian tribe or (2) a member's status as a tribal member.