[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9080-S9081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 1158. A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 
regarding the Huna Totem Corp. public interest land exchange, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


          the huna totem corporation land exchange act of 1997

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation today 
on behalf of the Huna Totem Corp. and the residents of Hoonah, AK.
  This bill would require the Huna Totem Corp. to convey ownership of 
approximately 1,999 acres of land needed as a municipal watershed to 
the U.S. Forest Service. This will ensure that the residents of Hoonah, 
AK, have a reliable source of clean water. In exchange for these lands 
the Huna Totem Corp. will be allowed to select other lands readily 
accessible to Hoonah in order to fulfill their ANCSA entitlement. This 
legislation also requires the exchange of lands to be of equal value 
and provides for additional compensation if needed. Lastly, the 
legislation requires that any potential timber harvested from land 
acquired by Huna Totem Corp not be available for export.
  Mr. President, the city of Hoonah is located in southeast Alaska on 
the northeast part of Chichagoff Island.

[[Page S9081]]

Hoonah has been the home of the Huna people since the last advance of 
the great ice masses into Glacier Bay, forcing the Huna people to look 
for new homes. Since the Huna people had traditionally used the Hoonah 
area each summer as a subsistence harvesting area, it was natural for 
them to settle in the area now called Hoonah. The community has a 
population of approximately 918 residents and is located 40 miles from 
Juneau; Alaska's capital city.
  Within the city of Hoonah is located the Huna Totem Corp., an Alaska 
Native Corp. formed pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
[ANCSA]. Huna Totem is the largest Tlingit Indian Village Corp. in 
southeast Alaska. Under the terms of ANCSA each village corporation had 
to select lands within the core township or townships in which all or 
part of the Native village is located.
  In 1975, Huna Totem filed its ANCSA land selections within the 2 mile 
radius of the city of Hoonah as mandated by ANCSA. Since the community 
of Hoonah is located along the shoreline at the base of Hoonah Head 
Mountain, the surrounding lands are steep hillsides, cliffs, or are 
designated watershed for the municipal water sources. Most of the 
acres, approximately 1,999, of this land are not conducive to logging 
or development due to the topography and watershed limitations.
  Therefore in order for the Huna Totem Corp. to receive full economic 
benefit of the lands promised to them under ANCSA, and for the city of 
Hoonah to protect its watershed, alternative lands must be sought for 
Huna Totem to seek revenue from.
  The legislation I am offering today would achieve these goals. By 
authorizing a land exchange between the Huna Totem Corp. and the U.S. 
Forest Service the residents of Hoonah will be assured a safe supply of 
drinking water. Additionally, Huna Totem Corp. will be able to fully 
recognize the benefits promised under the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By. Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 1159. A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 
regarding the Kake Tribal Corp. public interest land exchange, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                       THE KAKE LAND EXCHANGE ACT

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the Kake 
Tribal Land Exchange Act. This legislation would amend the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act which authorized the transfer of 23,040 
acres of land from the U.S. Government to Kake Tribal Corp. The land 
was transferred to Kake to recognize an immediate need for a fair and 
just settlement.
  Unfortunately, Kake has not received the full beneficial use of its 
23,040 acres because the city's watershed--over 2,400 acres--rest 
within Kake Tribal's lands. In order to protect the city's watershed 
and still receive beneficial use of their 23,040 acres we are proposing 
land exchange. This will assist the people of Kake, AK, as they move 
toward a safer, cleaner, and healthier future.
  Under this proposal, Kake Tribal would exchange the watershed for 
other acres in southeast Alaska--thereby allowing Kake to receive its 
full entitlement under ANCSA. This legislation is of great importance 
to the residents of the community of Kake, AK.
  This legislation will ensure protection of the Gunnuk Creek watershed 
which is the main water supply for the city of Kake as well as protect 
critical habitat for the Gunnuk Creek hatchery.
  The legislation has received wide support in Alaska from diverse 
groups such as: the city of Kake, AK, the organized village of Kake, 
the Kake nonprofit fishery, the Alaska Federation of Natives, and 
Sealaska Corp. Additionally, the Governor of Alaska has written to me 
in support of this exchange.
  This legislation is similar to legislation I introduced last year and 
held hearings on in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. During 
these hearings the Forest Service objected to the bill for four 
reasons, all of which have been addressed in the legislation I now 
introduce.
  The first issue was the potential selection of Berners Bay/Slate Lake 
Parcel. Kake has made it clear as evident in the maps that they have no 
intention of selecting that area. Second, was the potential that Kake 
would select established log transfer facilities. Again it is clear 
from the maps that these areas will not be selected. Third, was 
regarding subsurface issues with Sealaska which are not addressed in 
this current version of the bill. And finally, the USFS objected to 
this exchange because they did not want to manage the watershed. Since 
the hearing the city of Kake has said they want to enter into a 
cooperative agreement with the Forest Service to manage the watershed 
themselves.
  Additionally, Mr. President there is a provision in this bill that 
assures Kake Tribal will receive appropriate compensation for the 
watershed lands to be exchanged. This is important because this 
legislation would require Kake Tribal to process any timber derived 
from the newly acquired lands in State, potentially reducing the value 
of lands received. Therefore, in order to provide for a fair 
compensation, under the terms of this legislation Kake Tribal could be 
eligible for additional compensation should the value of the newly 
acquired lands be deemed less than their original lands. Likewise, the 
United States could also benefit from this provision should a 
determination be made that the lands they are receiving are less 
valuable then those they are conveying.
  I introduce this legislation with the confidence that it is the best 
interest of not only the citizens of Kake but with the knowledge that 
it is in the best interest of all Alaskans and Americans to protect 
drinking water for our communities. Lastly, this legislation will help 
fulfill out commitment to the Natives of Alaska that they will be 
treated fairly and justly under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DASCHLE (for himself and Ms. Moseley-Braun):
  S. 1160. A bill to provide for educational facilities improvement; 
read the first time.

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