(a) Liability

Subject to section 5614 of this title and this section, nothing in this subchapter or an Indian trust asset management plan approved under section 5613 of this title shall independently diminish, increase, create, or otherwise affect the liability of the United States or an Indian tribe participating in the project for any loss resulting from the management of an Indian trust asset under an Indian trust asset management plan.

(b) Deviation from standard practices

Terms Used In 25 USC 5615

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See 1 USC 8
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

The United States shall not be liable to any party (including any Indian tribe) for any term of, or any loss resulting from the terms of, an Indian trust asset management plan that provides for management of a trust asset at a less-stringent standard than the Secretary would otherwise require or adhere to in absence of an Indian trust asset management plan.

(c) Effect of termination of plan

Subsection (b) applies to losses resulting from a transaction or activity described in that subsection even if the Indian trust asset management plan is terminated under section 5613(d) of this title or rescinded under section 5614(h) of this title.

(d) Effect on other laws

(1) In general

Except as provided in sections 5613 and 5614 of this title and subsection (e), nothing in this subchapter amends or otherwise affects the application of any treaty, statute, regulation, or Executive order that is applicable to Indian trust assets or the management or administration of Indian trust assets.

(2) Indian Self-Determination Act

Nothing in this subchapter limits or otherwise affects the authority of an Indian tribe, including an Indian tribe participating in the project, to enter into and carry out a contract, compact, or other agreement under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) 1 (including regulations).

(e) Separate approval

An Indian tribe may submit to the Secretary tribal regulations described in section 5614(b) of this title governing forest land management activities for review and approval under this subchapter if the Indian tribe does not submit or intend to submit an Indian trust asset management plan.

(f) Trust responsibility

Nothing in this subchapter enhances, diminishes, or otherwise affects the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes or individual Indians.