§ 3051 — Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are— (1) to authorize the reburial of human remains and cultural items on National Forest System land, including human remains and cultural items repatriated under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); (2) to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information regarding reburial sites, including the quantity and identity of human remains and cultural items on sites and the location of sites; (3) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure access to National Forest System land, to the maximum extent practicable, by Indians and Indian tribes for traditional and cultural purposes; (4) to authorize the Secretary to provide forest products, without consideration, to Indian tribes for traditional and cultural purposes; (5) to authorize the Secretary to protect the confidentiality of certain information, including information that is culturally sensitive to Indian tribes; (6) to increase the availability of Forest Service programs and resources to Indian tribes in support of the policy of the United States to promote tribal sovereignty and self-determination; and (7) to strengthen support for the policy of the United States of protecting and preserving the traditional, cultural, and ceremonial rites and practices of Indian tribes, in accordance with Public Law 95–341 (commonly known as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act; 42 U.S.C. 1996).