[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1314-E1315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ADAK ISLAND TRANSFER LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2001

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation which will facilitate and promote the successful commercial 
reuse of the former Naval Air Facility on Adak Island, Alaska. At the 
same time, this legislation will allow the Aleut people of Alaska to 
reclaim the island and to make use of its modern developments and 
important location.
  The legislation I introduce today ratifies an agreement between The 
Aleut Corporation, an Alaska Native Regional Corporation, the 
Department of the Interior, and the Department of the Navy. ``The 
Agreement Concerning the Conveyance of Property at the Adak Naval 
Complex, Adak,'' Alaska was signed last September and is the result of 
more than four years of discussions and negotiations among the three 
parties.
  The bill and the Agreement also further the conservation of important 
wildlife habitat. A portion of Adak is within the Aleutian Islands 
subunit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The Agreement 
facilitates the Department of the Interior's continued management and 
protection of the Refuge lands on Adak and even adds some of the Navy 
lands to the Refuge. Moreover, in exchange for the developed Navy 
lands, which are not suitable for the Refuge, but are commercially 
useful, The Aleut Corporation will convey environmentally sensitive 
lands it holds elsewhere in the Refuge to the Department of the 
Interior.
  For many years the Navy was an important constituent in Alaska's 
Aleutian Chain. Its presence was first established during World War II 
with the selection and development of the island because of its 
combination of ability to support a major airfield and its natural and 
protected deep water port. The Navy's presence there contributed 
greatly to the defense

[[Page E1315]]

of our Pacific coast during World War II and throughout the Cold War. 
Through the Navy's presence, Adak became the largest development in the 
Aleutians as well as Alaska's sixth largest community. With the end of 
The Cold War our defense needs changed, however, and Adak was selected 
for closure during the last base closure round.
  Those very same features that made Adak strategically important for 
defense purposes also make it important for commercial purposes. Adak 
is a natural stepping stone to Asia and is at the crossroads of air and 
sea trade between North America, Europe, and Asia. With the ability to 
use Adak commercially, the Aleut people, through The Aleut Corporation 
can establish it as an important intercontinental location with 
enterprise enough to provide year round jobs for the Aleut people. 
These goals are consistent with the promises and the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act, the legislation that created the corporation.
  This rebirth of Adak is already well underway. The Aleut people 
assumed responsibility for the operation of the Island from the Navy 
last October and there are a number of new commercial enterprises and 
endeavors. At the same time a new community has begun to take shape. 
Just last month the new City of Adak was established as a result of a 
public referendum and is in the process of taking over responsibility 
for the many public facilities.
  The Agreement resolves a number of important issues related to the 
transfer of this former military base and the establishment of the new 
community on Adak, including responsibility for environmental 
remediation, institutional controls, indemnification, required public 
access, and reservation of lands for government use.
  This legislation furthers this country's objectives of conversion of 
closed defense facilities into successful commercial reuse, it benefits 
the Aleut people and restores them to their ancestral lands and it 
benefits the National Wildlife Refuge System. I believe everyone will 
agree that such legislation is important and worthy of our support.

                          ____________________