sometimes take. I remember the case of the one of the land claims that had been a controversy for some 25 years before it settled. I would hope and I am confident that the chairman would agree with me that this should not be allowed to languish for any lengthy period of time. This is a matter that has been well reviewed already by the Department of the Interior. They know what the issues are. They now have the appraisal figures from the appraisers of their own choosing.

What I would like to suggest is that the Congress push the Department into prompt negotiations and that will strengthen their backbone so they will face this issue and settle it in a prompt and, hopefully, equitable manner.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the tribal leaders, Chief David Gardner, of the Choctaw Nation; Chief Ross Swimmer, of the Cherokee Nation; and Gov. Overton James, of the Chicksaw Nation. These three leaders, in my opinion, have done an outstanding job of working with Congress and the Federal agencies by keeping the communication channels open and by providing the necessary information on this complicated issue.

Also, these 3 tribal leaders have also done an outstanding job in keeping their tribal members, who total 40,000 Indian citizens, informed and abreast of the Arkansas riverbed developments. This is a complex matter and I believe that you will find because of the leadership of these three tribal leaders that the tribal members do know what is going on and generally support the position that will be presented to you here today.

I believe all three leaders are committed to improving the living conditions of their tribal members. With added income, the tribes have indicated the desire of supplementing Government appropriations to finance existing or new tribal programs. They have such goals as initiating or supplementing job programs such as industrial development or manpower training.

Such jobs, the tribes indicate, would be created in manufacturing, tourism, services, or agriculture. In addition, the tribes could expand health, education, and cultural heritage programs to advance their people. Overall tribal development would be possible with the proper management of revenue derived from the Arkansas River and the tribal leaders have expressed this goal.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to urge the committee to give favorable consideration to S. 660, and furthermore to supervise the activities of the Interior Department to see that this matter stays on the front burner and that we get a decision and settlement as promptly as possible.

I see that my colleague from Oklahoma, Senator Bartlett, has arrived. I would like to compliment him for the leadership he has given in pushing this matter along. I want to say that I will continue to work with him to see that our constituents are treated as fairly as possible in this matter.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman ABOUREZK. Thank you, Senator, for an excellent state

ment.

Do you think it might be advisable to put into the legislation a time limit? I think you are right on the point when you say the Government could drag out the negotiations.

Senator BELLMON. I had not thought of that possibility, Mr. Chairman, but that does seem like at excellent idea. If we give the Department a period of time and brought it back up to see what would happen then it might help push it along.

Chairman ABOUREZK. Do you have a period of time in mind? We will take that and we will compare with what the Department has in mind.

Senator BELLMON. I have not considered it and perhaps my suggestion may not be as valid but I would say a maximum of 24 months would give them plenty of time.

Chairman ABOUREZK. That is too long, isn't it? Haven't they done the appraisals already?

Senator BELLMON. Yes; they have done those already. I would like to submit a review of those. They are not totally complete but I think it might help the committee if they had them. May I insert this in the record.

Chairman ABOUREZK. So ordered.

[The material follows:]

From:

Subject:

Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Attention: Mr. Gene Joseph, Office of Trust Responsibilities,
Code 120.

Area Director

Arkansas Riverbed Project, Summary of Evaluation Reports and
views on Senate Bill S-660.

This summary of the evaluation reports concerning the Arkansas Riverbed
and the views of this Office pertinent to Senate Bill S-660 is in reply

to your request.

The determination of the specific lands within the Arkansas Riverbed owned
by the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes have been delineated, described
and evaluated. The evaluation of the mineral reserves underlying the

Arkansas Riverbed has also been obtained. Included with these evaluation

The

studies are the Damsites, Powerhead, Recreation, Fish and Wildlife. various studies and evaluations were authorized and funded by Congress in

Fiscal Year 1973.

Due to the various phases of study and the different ownership of segments of the riverbed, it necessitates the presentation of this summary in three

Part I will be that portion of the Arkansas River from the Three Forks area near Muskogee to the confluence of the Canadian River.

This portion is wholly within and the title is vested with the Cherokee Nation. Also, included in Part I will be the north-half of the Arkansas

River from the confluence of the Canadian River to the Oklahoma-Arkansas

State line. Title to this segment of the Arkansas River is also vested in the Cherokee Nation, and so designated in the Judgement rendered by a three Judge Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma dated April 15, 1975, entitled the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations vs. The Cherokee Nation,

Civil Case No. 73-332.

Part II will pertain to the south-half of the Arkansas River from the confluence of the Canadian River to the Oklahoma-Arkansas State line.

This segment of the Arkansas River is owned by the Choctaw-Chickasaw Nations according to the recent three Judge Court decision as described

above.

Part III will be a summation of the Evaluation Reports for the Arkansas River from the Three Forks area near Muskogee to the Oklahoma-Arkansas State line. In Part III the evaluations depicted will indicate an overall view of the riverbed Project through the Cherokee, Choctaw and

Chickasaw Nations.

The evaluation that appears in the summaries were compiled by various consulting firms under contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Muskogee Area Office, as authorized by Congress with funds appropriated for the Arkansas Riverbed Project, (86 Stat. 509, 87 Stat. 431, 88 Stat. 809). These funds were made available to evaluate the Arkansas Riverbed in accordance with the Supreme Court decision in the Case entitled "Cherokee Nation vs The State of Oklahoma", and "Choctaw, Chickasaw Nations vs The State of Oklahoma", 397 U.S. 620, 90s. CT. 1328, April 27, 1970. The procurement of the Consulting Firms to perform the various services were selected by the Architectural and Engineering Selection Board of the Muskogee Area Office in strict accordance with Sub-part 14-55.2, Section 205 (c), 63 Stat. S-30; 40 U.S.C. 486 (c).

The evaluation reports were compiled by qualified Consulting Firms very competent in their respective disciplines. The values depicted in the various reports appear to be fair and just according to the premises upon which they are based. It is therefore the recommendation of this Office that the evaluation reports be accepted with the value affixed thereto.

The agreement drafted and submitted by the Cherokee, Choctaw-Chickasaw Tribes in which they proposed to lease the Arkansas Riverbed to the United States Government, plus a lump sum amount for the depleting minerals contained therein was reviewed by this Office in Fiscal Year 1976, when the Senate Bill (S-3525) was introduced in the 94th Congress. It is the