[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S13186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 1797. A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, to 
provide for a land conveyance to the City of Craig, Alaska, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


       alaska native claims settlement act amendments legislation

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I introduce a bill to solve a 
problem unique to Alaska. The city of Craig is located in the far 
southeastern part of Alaska on Price of Wales Island, the third largest 
island in the country. Craig is unlike any other small town or village 
in Alaska. It has no land base upon which to maintain its local 
services, and no ability to utilize many federal programs which are 
dependent upon a large Alaska Native population for eligibility.
  Nevertheless, the community has grown from a mostly Native population 
of 250 in 1971 to over 2,500 residents, most of whom are not Alaska 
Natives. Despite this, the town is surrounded by land selections from 
two different Alaska village corporations. In fact, 93 percent of the 
land within the Craig city limits is owned by these village 
corporations. Under federal law passed in 1987, none of the village 
land is subject to taxation so long as the land is not developed. The 
city of Craig has only 300 acres of land owned privately by individuals 
within its city limits to serve as it municipal tax base. It can annex 
no other land because the entire land base outside its municipal 
boundaries is owned by the federal government as part of the Tongass 
National Forest or other Alaska Native corporation.
  Craig's demands for municipal services increase every year as costs 
go up and population increases. According to the State of Alaska, Craig 
is the fastest growing first class city in the state. Since its large 
non-Native majority population make the town and its residents largely 
ineligible for federal programs which service virtually all other ANSCA 
villages, it has requested a small conveyance of 4,532 acres of federal 
land located not far from the town. That land entitlement would permit 
the city to develop a land base upon which it could support its 
increasing demand for municipal services.
  The land base which is included in this bill has been carefully 
chosen. It is less than 20 miles from the city and abuts the existing 
road system. It is the first available land from the city limits not 
owned by an Alaska native corporation. The land will complete a sound 
management system by providing municipal ownership of land adjacent to 
both existing private and state owned land. It will be a good use of 
this land which is nowhere near any environmentally sensitive lands 
such as wilderness areas. This part of Prince of Wales Island has 
roads, communities and other developed sites near it. There will be no 
land use conflicts created by this conveyance.
  Mr. President, my bill provides a direct grant of 4,532 acres to the 
city. While I looked at a land exchange, the city has no land to trade. 
The city received no municipal entitlement because the Forest Service 
never agreed to any land selection by the State of Alaska in this part 
of Prince of Wales Island. The only substantial land near Craig besides 
the actual 300 acres on which Craig sits is owned by the federal 
government in the national forest or by Alaska Native corporations.
  I intend to hold a hearing on this bill early in the next session, 
and begin the process to move the bill through the Senate to final 
passage in the Congress.

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