---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 539m–8"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "539m–8"
heading: "Extinguishment of claims"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/539m-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Forests"
  - "Subchapter I — Establishment and Administration"
---

# §539m–8. Extinguishment of claims

- (a) **In general—** Except for the rights and interests in and to the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) specifically recognized in sections [539m–2](/usc/16/539m–2.md), [539m–3](/usc/16/539m–3.md), [539m–5](/usc/16/539m–5.md), [539m–6](/usc/16/539m–6.md), and [539m–7](/usc/16/539m–7.md) of this title, all [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) claims to right, title and interest of any kind, including aboriginal claims, in and to land within the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), any part thereof, and property interests therein, as well as related boundary, survey, trespass, and monetary damage claims, are permanently extinguished. The United States’ title to the [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) is confirmed.
- (b) **Subdivisions—** Any [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) claims to right, title and interest of any kind, including aboriginal claims, in and to the [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) and property interests therein (except for land owned in fee by the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) as of February 20, 2003), as well as related boundary, survey, trespass, and monetary damage claims, are permanently extinguished.
- (c) **Special use and crest facilities areas—** Any [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) right, title and interest of any kind, including aboriginal claims, and related boundary, survey, trespass, and monetary damage claims, are permanently extinguished in and to—
  - (1) the land described in the [special use permit](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=13); and
  - (2) the land on which the [crest facilities](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=2) are located.
- (d) **Pueblo agreement—** As provided in the [Settlement Agreement](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=12), the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10) has agreed to the relinquishment and extinguishment of those claims, rights, titles and interests extinguished pursuant to subsection[^1] (a), (b), and (c).
- (e) **Consideration—** The recognition of the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10)’s rights and interests in sections [539m](/usc/16/539m.md) to [539m–12](/usc/16/539m–12.md) of this title constitutes adequate consideration for the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10)’s agreement to the extinguishment of the [Pueblo](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=10)’s claims in this section and the right-of-way grants contained in [section 539m–7 of this title](/usc/16/539m–7.md), and it is the intent of Congress that those rights and interests may only be diminished by a future Act of Congress specifically authorizing diminishment of such rights, with express reference to sections [539m](/usc/16/539m.md) to [539m–12](/usc/16/539m–12.md) of this title.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “subsections”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–7, div. F, title IV, § 410, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 290.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title, referred to in subsec. (e), was in the original “this title”, meaning title IV of div. F of Pub. L. 108–7, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 279, which is classified generally to sections 539m to 539m–12 of this title. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 539m of this title and Tables.