[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION CONCERNING ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT 
                              ACT OF 1971

                                 ______


                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to 
amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 at the request of 
the Alaska Federation of Natives. This bill is the result of the work 
of the Legislative Council of the Alaska Federation of Natives to 
correct existing technical problems with the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act [ANCSA] and the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act [ANILCA]. I am introducing an identical version of 
that which passed the House during the 103d Congress. It is my 
intention to move this bill early this year based on agreements reached 
last year.
  This bill makes a number of technical changes to ANCSA and ANILCA. It 
also makes a number of substantive additions which address issues not 
anticipated at the time of passage of ANCSA. Because of Alaska's 
relative youth as a State of the Union and the unprecedented amount of 
Alaska-specific Federal legislation passed since statehood, it is 
imperative that we respond to occasional oversights and/or quirks in 
the overlapping laws to ensure that unintended consequences do not 
occur. This effort is designed to rectify such instances.
  The legislation is designed to resolve specific problems. To offer a 
flavor of the nature of the legislation, a few illustrations are in 
order.
  For example, the bill would make it possible for the Caswell and 
Montana Creek Native groups to receive approximately 11,520 acres of 
land pursuant to a February 3, 1976, agreement and subsequent March 26, 
1992, letter of agreement with Cook Inlet Region Inc. [CIRI]. This will 
fulfill their land entitlement from CIRI under the ANCSA.
  Another provision would relieve ANCSA corporations of liability for 
hazardous wastes or contaminants left in, or on, ANCSA lands prior to 
their conveyance to Native corporations. It also directs the Secretary 
of the Interior to remove all contaminants left by the United States, 
an agent of the United States, or lessees prior to conveyance of these 
lands to the Native corporations. In some instances, the Government has 
conveyed lands and property interests to Alaska Natives which have been 
rendered valueless because of such contamination. It was clearly not 
the intention of ANCSA to extinguish Native claims by conveying 
contaminated property to recipients.
  The Chugach Alaska Kageet Point land selection provision would allow 
Chugach Alaska Native Corp. to select a specific tract of land at the 
edge of its own current boundaries.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope the spirit of cooperation which was reached last 
year will continue so we can move this noncontroversial piece of 
legislation early in this session.


                          ____________________