Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act facts for kids
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| Full title | To clarify authority granted under the Act entitled An Act to define the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah, and for other purposes. |
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| Introduced in | 113th United States Congress |
| Introduced on | January 23, 2013 |
| Sponsored by | Rep. Rob Bishop (R, UT-1) |
| Number of co-sponsors | 3 |
| Citations | |
| Public Law | Pub.L. 113-133 |
| Effects and codifications | |
| Act(s) affected | "An Act to amend the Act extending the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah so as to authorize such State to exchange certain mineral lands mineral in character"; "An Act to define the exterior boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the State of Utah, and for other purposes"; Mineral Leasing Act |
| U.S.C. section(s) affected | 30 U.S.C. § 171 et seq., 30 U.S.C. § 181 et seq. |
| Agencies affected | United States Department of the Interior |
| Legislative history | |
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The Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act is a United States law. It was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on January 23, 2013. Representative Rob Bishop from Utah first proposed this law.
This law set up a trade of land ownership in Utah. It specifically dealt with who owned the rights to minerals found underground. The U.S. federal government, Utah's School and Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA), and the Ute Indian Tribe were all part of this exchange.
Contents
What is the Hill Creek Act?
The Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act allowed the state of Utah to give up some of its land. This land was for the benefit of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. These lands were located south of the border between Grand County and Uintah County, Utah.
In return, Utah received federal land located north of that same border. This law created a clear plan for this land swap to happen. About 18,000 acres of land were exchanged for another 18,000 acres.
Trading Land and Resources
The main part of this law was about trading "mineral rights." Mineral rights mean who owns the valuable resources like oil, gas, or coal found deep under the ground.
The law made sure that the Department of the Interior kept a special interest in some of the land given to Utah. This interest applied to minerals that could be leased under the Mineral Leasing Act.
Utah also kept a similar special interest in the mineral lands it gave to the federal government. This was for the benefit of its school trust, which helps fund public education.
How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act started as a bill, H.R. 356. Representative Rob Bishop introduced it in the House of Representatives on January 23, 2013.
The bill was then sent to special groups called committees. These included the United States House Committee on Natural Resources and two of its smaller groups. These committees studied the bill carefully.
From the House to the President
On April 24, 2013, the House Committee on Natural Resources approved the bill. They did this by a "unanimous consent" vote, meaning everyone agreed.
The House of Representatives then voted on the bill on May 15, 2013. They passed it with a "voice vote," which means members say "aye" or "no" out loud.
After passing the House, the bill went to the United States Senate. It was sent to the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. On July 9, 2014, the Senate also passed the bill with "unanimous consent."
Finally, on July 25, 2014, President Barack Obama signed the bill. This made it a public law.
Why Was This Law Important?
Many people supported the Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act. Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah believed it would help Utah manage its lands better. He also thought it would create new chances for energy development in the state.
The Wilderness Society, a group that works to protect wild places, also supported the law. They said it would help protect important natural and cultural areas in the country.
Learn More
- Ute people
- Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation
- List of bills in the 113th United States Congress
- Mineral rights
