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Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982

Public Law 97-382 · S. 1894 · 97th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 22, 1982 · Native Americans

Sponsor: Sen. John Melcher (D-MT)

Cosponsors (3): Sen. Spark Matsunaga,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

(Senate agreed to House amendment with an amendment)

Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982 - Allows Indian tribes to enter into agreements (Minerals Agreements) for the development of their energy and non-energy mineral resources. Subjects such agreements to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior and any provision in the tribes' constitution or charter. Permits individual Indians to include their mineral resources in a tribal Minerals Agreement with the concurrence of the other parties and a finding by the Secretary that such participation is in the best interest of the Indian.

Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove a Minerals Agreement within 180 days of submission or, if an environmental impact statement is required, 60 days after compliance, whichever is later. Sets forth procedures for notifying the affected Indian tribe of the Secretary's decision.

Sets forth criteria the Secretary shall use in evaluating Minerals Agreements.

Provides that the Secretary's authority to disapprove Minerals Agreements may only be delegated to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.

Grants parties to Minerals Agreements standing to bring a cause of action in Federal district court to review a disapproval action. Directs the court to determine the matter de novo and places the burden on the Secretary to sustain the disapproval action.

Declares that, where the Secretary has approved a Minerals Agreement in compliance with applicable law, the United States shall not be liable for losses sustained by a tribe or individual Indian under such agreement. Provides that the Secretary shall continue to have a trust obligation to ensure that the rights of a tribe or an individual Indian are protected if there is a violation of the term of any Minerals Agreement by any other party to such agreement. Provides that nothing in this Act shall absolve the United States from any responsibility to Indians.

Sets forth the procedure for reviewing Minerals Agreements which were approved after January 1, 1975, but prior to enactment of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to ensure that tribes and individual Indians are provided, to the extent of available resources, necessary advice and assistance in the negotiation of a Minerals Agreement.

Directs the Secretary, to: (1) promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate implementation of this Act, within 180 days of enactment; and (2) consult, to the extent practicable, with national and regional Indian organizations and tribes with mineral development expertise to formulate, revise, or amend such rules and regulations.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.

  1. Dec 22, 1982Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-382.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 15, 1982PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 10, 1982Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. Dec 8, 1982Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate concurred in House amendment with an amendment. By Voice Vote.
  6. Aug 17, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  7. Aug 13, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  8. Aug 11, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  9. Jul 27, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Natural Resources Committee
  10. Jul 12, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  11. Jun 30, 1982FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  12. Jun 10, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  13. May 13, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  14. Mar 16, 1982CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  15. Nov 30, 1981CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
  16. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.