---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3712"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3712"
heading: "Indian participation in land management activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3712"
units:
  - "Chapter 39 — American Indian Agricultural Resource Management"
  - "Subchapter I — Rangeland and Farmland Enhancement"
---

# §3712. Indian participation in land management activities

- (a) **Tribal recognition—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15) shall conduct all [land management activities](/usc/25/3703.md?p=12) on [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) agricultural land in accordance with goals and objectives set forth in the approved [agricultural resource management plan](/usc/25/3703.md?p=4), in an [integrated resource management plan](/usc/25/3703.md?p=11), and in accordance with all tribal laws and ordinances, except in specific instances where such compliance would be contrary to the trust responsibility of the United States.
- (b) **Tribal laws—** Unless otherwise prohibited by Federal law, the [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15) shall comply with tribal laws and ordinances pertaining to [Indian agricultural lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=1), including laws regulating the environment and historic or cultural preservation, and laws or ordinances adopted by the tribal government to regulate land use or other activities under tribal jurisdiction. The [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15) shall—
  - (1) provide assistance in the enforcement of such tribal laws;
  - (2) provide notice of such laws to persons or entities undertaking activities on [Indian agricultural lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=1); and
  - (3) upon the request of an [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3703.md?p=10), require appropriate Federal officials to appear in tribal forums.
- (c) **Waiver of regulations—** In any case in which a regulation or administrative policy of the Department of the Interior conflicts with the objectives of the [agricultural resource management plan](/usc/25/3703.md?p=4) provided for in [section 3711 of this title](/usc/25/3711.md), or with a tribal law, the [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15) may waive the application of such regulation or administrative policy unless such waiver would constitute a violation of a Federal statute or judicial decision or would conflict with his general trust responsibility under Federal law.
- (d) **Sovereign immunity—** This section does not constitute a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the United States, nor does it authorize tribal justice systems to review actions of the [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–177, title I, § 102, Dec. 3, 1993, 107 Stat. 2015.)