Mr. HALEY. You are recognized for that purpose. Dr. TAYLOR. Have both of these centers been laid out and plann Mr. WILLIAMS. As far as the engineering part on paper, but 1 not think they are all staked out. Dr. TAYLOR. Is any of this land so-called in lieu land? Mr. WILLIAMS. No, it is not. None of these resettlement areas in lieu land. Dr. TAYLOR. Does any of this land have to be purchased f anyone? Mr. WILLIAMS. These relocation areas are under ownership of lottees and are being purchased by the nation. Dr. TAYLOR. Will the lands in these two relocation areas be acc ble so that one can reach the land on which the individual is goin build his home? Mr. WILLIAMS. They would be providing that the corps builds r to make the land accesible. As you see, the maps show there are no roads in there, it is just in the planning area. Dr. TAYLOR. Is the construction of roads into the area one o points of controversy at the present time? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, it is. I think we have a colleague comin after me that has been in that controversy personally, and I w prefer that you ask him. That is Mr. Billy. Dr. TAYLOR. Good. We will ask him those questions. Thank Dr. TAYLOR. Mr. Billy. STATEMENT OF DeFORREST BILLY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. Mr. BILLY. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my 1 is DeForrest Billy. I am clerk of the Seneca Nation. Mr. HALEY. You may proceed, Mr. Billy. Mr. BILLY. First of all, I would like to submit some figures o direct damage caused to the Seneca Nation of Indians by the cons tion of the reservoir project. The indirect damage comes under three classifications: Reimbursement for removal, relocation, and reestablishment o proximately 130 families in the taking area; Reimbursement for loss of feed, medicinal herbs, wildlife and material in the taking area; and third. Reimbursement for administrative expenses due to the Alleg River Reservoir project. I would like at this time to go into the loss of timber, wildlife natural products and craft material in the taking area. The flooding of the reservoir area will destroy a substantial of the resources from which such products are derived. In add the localities available to the Senecas for relocation probably w less accessible to such products than our present location. Loss accessibility of such products will necessitate changes in living h Under the new circumstances, cash will be needed to buy food place game, fruits, and wood products used in the household addition, loss of wood for fuel will make it necessary for some fa to purchase new equipment for heating, because their present e ment is not suitable for burning oil or gas. 60 Mr Dr. Mr not th Dr. Mr in lie Dr any o lottee Dr. ble sc to ma no ro Dr point Mr after prefe Dr. Mr Ca Mr is De Mr Mr direc tion c Th Re proxi Re matei Ιν natur Th of th the l less a acces Ur place addit to pl ment Other The value of timber, wildlife, fish, and natural products reported as having been used in Seneca households within the taking area during 1961 amounted to $30,665. These values are only for products obtained by Seneca families residing in the taking area. Seneca families also obtained some such products from reservation lands. This was estimated at around 10 percent of the amount obtained by persons residing in the taking area. In addition, individuals in the taking area reported income of $20,471 from the sale of pulp wood, building logs, posts, furs and other natural products. The above values represent total value of products ready for market or household use. Since no cost of gathering, harvesting, or preparing the products was deducted, they are gross rather than net values. During the 5-year period from 1957 to 1961 the Seneca Nation received an average annual income of approximately $1,400 from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses on the Allegany Reservation. The charge for a hunting and fishing license is $3.25. Brush and timber will be cleared only from land below the 1,333foot elevation which comprises about half-I think there is a little over in here which comprises about one-third or one-fourth of the 10,000 acres in the taking area. The other half of the reservoir land will continue to support the production of timber and wildlife and wild products. The taking area comprises approximately 60 percent of the reservation land, and the area to be cleared about 15 percent. The area to be cleared is considered to be generally more productive of timber, wildlife, and other natural products per acre than most other parts of the reservation. Flooding the reservoir is expected to affect production of some products more than others. These estimates were made by the MRBI staff on the basis of experience in other takings and information from various sources. Particularly helpful were data furnished by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife through Mr. Yates and Mr. Barber of Washington, D.C. office, and Mr. C. W. Severinghaus, supervising wildlife biologist, State of New York Wildlife Research Laboratory, Delmar, N.Y. The total amount shown below on this report, the Seneca Nation is asking reimbursement for loss of food, medicinal herbs, and craft material in the taking area, the total amount being $691,625. There is another part of why I am appearing before you today and that is consideration in H.R. 1794 for the resurvey of Indian lands held under lease in the Congressional villages as authorized by Congress. In order to protect non-Indians found by the courts to be illegal residents within the Seneca Reservation, Congress, at the request of the New York Legislature, passed an act of February 19, 1875. It governs the Seneca leasing within the territories designated as congressional villages. Two years before the Seneca leases were scheduled to expire, Congress approved the act of September 30, 1890, authorizing their renewal for another 99 years. Until 1949 the Bureau of Indian Affairs maintained an agent in Salamanca and the Federal Government controlled the execution and management of the Salamanca long-term leases. But by administrative order in 1949 the Bureau summarily closed its office in New York. The bulk of the records pertain leases on the Seneca Reservation were removed to Washingto those few papers relating to Salamanca leases turned over to th tion were in chaotic condition. The Nation, therefore, has v inadequate data for determining what lands within the so-calle gressional villages are under lease and what the proper rent shou At least once a year the Seneca Council receives a petition new lease from a non-Indian in Salamanca who, as a result of search, finds that he is living on property for which he has no p valid lease. The Nation has reason to believe that there are many other in Salamanca, both vacant and occupied, which are not covered long-term lease, but from which, because of lack of informati derives neither use or revenue. In this regard section 4(g) of H.R. 1794 provides for the appro tion of Federal funds to conduct a resurvey of the boundaries o villages established pursuant to the act of February 19, 1875, tog with a title search to determine the current status and extent leases issued by the Seneca Nation therein. This job is essential if the nation is to realize the maximum be from its land in Salamanca and the other congressional villages in order for the nation to be prepared for negotiations on the re of the 99 year leases, on which negotiations have to start long b 1991. The nation feels, in light of the foregoing historical backgr that the obviously inadequate level of its income from Salan leases and the equally inadequate state of its records in relation th are directly due to acts and omissions on the part of the United S and that clearly the cost of the necessary resurvey and title s should be borne by the Government. I would like to add one more thing on taxes. We heard about taxes this morning. We heard about the town of Salam losing certain revenue from the Pennsylvania Railroad which through the town of Salamanca. But, incidentally, that railroad directly through the reservation. The Seneca Nation of Indian not derived a cent of taxation from that railroad directly, ye town of Salamanca says they are losing their taxes from the rail And it seems negligent to me on the part of the Nation itself these taxes were not turned over directly to the Seneca Nation much as the railroad runs through Seneca Nation land. Mr. HALEY. Does that conclude your testimony? Mr. BILLY. Yes, sir. Mr. HALEY. Are there any questions? If not, thank you very much. Dr. Taylor, call the next witness unless you have questions. Dr. TAYLOR. You perhaps, Mr. Billy, would be good enoug comment on the questions that I asked Mr. Williams before you the stand. Mr. BILLY. I would be glad to. Dr. TAYLOR. My questions referred to the accessibility of the ings in the rehabilitation area. Mr. BILLY. As this committee must know, we have been condu negotiations with the Corps of Engineers and in previous negotia |