§ 1776h. Escrow funds

(a) In general

As soon as practicable after November 2, 1994, the Secretary shall make distributions from the 107th meridian escrow fund as follows:

(1) One-half of the fund shall be distributed to the Crow Tribe.

(2) One-half of the fund shall be distributed to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

(3) The receipt and acceptance by a tribe of funds distributed under this section shall be deemed to be—

(A) a disclaimer, relinquishment and waiver by such tribe of all right, claim or interest in the 107th meridian escrow fund; and

(B) a release by such tribe of all persons and entities, including the United States, from any liability arising from, or related to, the establishment and administration of the 107th meridian escrow fund.

(b) Establishment of Suspension Accounts

As soon as practicable after the Settlement Agreement is executed and approved pursuant to this subchapter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish in the Treasury of the United States two interest bearing accounts to be known respectively as the “Crow Tribal Suspension Account” and the “Northern Cheyenne Tribal Suspension Account” (collectively referred to in this section as the “Suspension Accounts”), consisting of—

(1) such amounts as are transferred to the Suspension Accounts under subsection (c) of this section; and

(2) any interest earned on investments of amounts in the Suspension Accounts under subsection (e) of this section.

(1) In general

Beginning with fiscal year 1995, and ending on the date on which the total amount deposited pursuant to this subsection into the Suspension Accounts is equal to $200,000 for each such account (as specified in subsection (d) of this section), the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury shall make necessary and proper arrangements for the monthly payment, transfer, or deposit (or any combination thereof) into each of the Suspension Accounts of an amount equal to one-half of the royalties received and retained by the United States for the immediately preceding month, as determined in accordance with section 1776d (b)(1) of this title, by the date specified under section 1776d (b)(3) of this title.

(2) Subsequent deposits

At such time as the amount deposited pursuant to this subsection into the Suspension Accounts is equal to $200,000 for each such account (as specified in subsection (d) of this section), in accordance with section 1776d (b)(1) of this title, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury shall thereafter deposit any remaining amounts determined under section 1776d (b)(1) of this title in the Crow Tribal Trust Fund established under section 1776d (a) of this title.

(d) Limitation

The Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury shall not transfer more than a total amount equal to $200,000 to each of the Suspension Accounts from the amounts determined under section 1776d (b)(1) of this title.

(e) Investment

All sums deposited in, accruing to and remaining in the Suspension Accounts shall be invested by the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury in interest bearing deposits and securities in accordance with the Act of June 24, 1938 (52 Stat. 1037, chapter 648; 25 U.S.C. 162a).

(f) Withdrawals and termination

(1) In general

(A) Beginning on the date that is 5 years after November 2, 1994, the Crow Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe may each submit a duly authorized request to the Secretary for the withdrawal of all of the funds from the Suspension Account of the tribe established under subsection (b) of this section.

(B) Not later than 60 days after receiving a request for the distribution of funds from a Suspension Account made by a tribe under subparagraph (A)—

(i) the Secretary shall, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Treasury, withdraw and distribute such funds in accordance with such request; and

(ii) the Secretary of the Treasury shall terminate the Suspension Account.

(2) Other means of termination

With respect to a Suspension Account established under subsection (b) of this section that is not terminated pursuant to paragraph (1), at such time as the corpus and the accrued interest of the Suspension Account of the Crow Tribe or the Northern Cheyenne Tribe is approximately equal to the amount specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall terminate the Suspension Account and the Secretary of the Interior shall distribute the funds from the Suspension Account to the tribe.

U.S. Code

§ 1776h. Escrow funds