Wanna bet ?
Regarding the properties in question, the Territory of the Navajo Nation is reasonably under Congress’s exclusive legislative control. And although Lake Mead is a part of the Hoover Dam Recreational Area, I don’t know if the land was properly purchased from the state or a private owner through the Constitution’s Clause 17 of Section 8 of Article I or the 5th Amendment respectively.
But regardless of possible problems with Lake Mead, my intial impression is that this a constitutionally proper settlement.
A little bit of the history:
(this is my paraphrase and not a quote involving copyright)
Some of Kerr-McGee’s manufacturing sites had contamination such as: rocket fuel that had polluted Lake Mead; radioactive wastes; and creosote from wood-treating plants.
Kerr-McGee shifted the clean-up liabilities to a spin-off company called Tronox.
Anadarko acquired Tronox in 2006.
This settlement resolves a legal battle and claims against Kerr-McGee.
The stock price for Anadarko rose 15%t, to $99.43 after the announcement of the settlement.