The Department of the Interior today announced the addition of two new sections to the Code of Federal Regulations to provide for leasing of lands on the Colorado River Indian Reservation within the State of Arizona and the leasing of lands on the Navajo Reservation for periods up to a maximum of 99 years.
Both changes are in line with laws recently enacted by Congress.
On the Colorado River Reservation, where beneficial ownership of the lands has not been determined, the Department was given authority to lease the lands under a 1955 law which expired in 1957. Under a more recent enactment, approved June 11, 1960, authority was provided for leasing the lands in the Arizona portion of the reservation but not the much smaller acreage which lies in California. The new section of the Code will make the leasing of these lands subject to the same regulations which apply in other Indian areas.
Under previous law and regulations, leasing of lands on the Navajo Reservation of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah has been permitted for a maximum of 25 years with a 25-year renewal on nonagricultural leases, Leasing for 8S long as 99 years for nonagricultural purposes will be permitted under the new law and regulation. Authority for 99-year leasing of Indian lands has been provided only on the Navajo Reservation and the Palm Springs Reservation of California.
The new regulations will be published in the Federal Register shortly and will become effective 15 days after the date of publication.
