[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9233-S9234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself and Mr. Stevens):
  S. 3003. A bill to authorize a land conveyance between the United 
States and the City of Craig, Alaska, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce an important 
bill that will facilitate Forest Service land management on Prince of 
Wales Island and help community expansion and development. The City of 
Craig is one of the fastest growing cities in the State of Alaska. It 
is the economic center of Prince of Wales Island, the third largest 
island in the United States and home to a vibrant population of rural 
Alaskans. The only clinic or hospital on the island is located in 
Craig. The town contains the major retail shopping and service outlets 
on the island and Prince of Wales residents drive up to a hundred miles 
round trip to come to town for medical services and shopping.
  One of the Forest Service's main administrative facilities, the Craig 
Ranger District Office is located in Craig and the Craig District 
Ranger has management authority over much of the island. It is critical 
that the Forest Service has the tools it needs to provide good 
management for that part of the island. One of these tools is the 
presence of some Federal land near the Craig Ranger Station. Right now, 
there is no Forest Service land near the Ranger Station. In an unusual 
situation for Alaska, the Ranger Station is an inholding in private, 
State, and City owned land. This legislation would provide for a three-
way conveyance process which would result in a parcel of land now owned 
by the City being conveyed into the National Forest and a private 
inholding now owned by a private owner being acquired by the City.
  This is one of those situations people like to describe as ``win-
win.'' Providing a new recreational opportunity in the Tongass National 
Forest at Craig benefits the public, and the residents of Craig would 
obtain land vital to future community development.
  What this legislation does, is authorize the Federal Government to 
accept conveyance of land from the City of Craig which will enable the 
City to acquire a private inholding near the City. The City would 
convey to the Federal Government up to 348.68 acres of land it now owns 
to the National Forest. This land is highly prized for local recreation 
and would provide the Craig Ranger District with a missing piece of its 
management scheme by providing a recreation site within short walking 
distance of the Ranger Station.
  Right now, visitors to the Forest come to the Craig Ranger Office to 
orient themselves to the Forest. One of the things they look for is 
onsite recreation in the Forest from the Ranger Station. But presently 
there is no such opportunity. Because of the land conveyance status 
directly around Craig, there is no Forest land in that area. Visitors 
are disappointed that they must arrange transportation for at least a 
20 mile trip before they can take even a short walk on the Forest.
  However, the City of Craig owns almost 350 acres of prime 
recreational land including a dedicated trail from the Ranger Station. 
The object of this legislation would be for that land to be conveyed by 
the City to the Forest and for the City to obtain a much smaller 10 
acres site in the town now owned by a private party. That property is a 
cannery site dating from the early 1900's which has not been used since 
the early 1980's. It is prime land for the city to develop to improve 
its community management plan and to provide economic development in 
Craig. The parcel include both uplands and tidelands and could be used 
by Craig to develop a good port and harbor and to provide first class 
locations for retail merchants and other community services.

  I strongly support meeting the needs of Craig in developing its local 
economy. The entire island is in transition. When I was first elected 
to the Senate in 1980, Craig and Prince of Wales Island were the center 
of a vibrant timber based economy that provided thousands of direct and 
indirect jobs to the Island. Much of that is now gone as a result of 
unfortunate Federal policies which have devastated the timber economy 
on Prince of Wales Island and much of Southeastern Alaska.
  The Congress must help Craig in its transition to another economy. 
The City leaders are dynamic and visionary people who have provided 
real leadership on the island. They have worked hard to help maintain 
the remaining timber plant at Klawock which provides year round 
employment to city and island residents. They have organized, along 
with their neighbors, the Prince of Wales Community Council, an 
association of municipalities and Native and non Native communities to 
work as a team on islandwide projects.
  The most recent product of this effort is the InterIsland Ferry 
Authority composed of members from Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan, 
Craig, Throne

[[Page S9234]]

Bay, and Coffman Cove. The Authority has built and put into service a 
day ferry from Hollis, a neighboring community to Craig, and my home 
town of Ketchikan. This ferry replaces the State ferry, which has been 
forced to cut back its service. The InterIsland Ferry service will 
increase to twice a day during the summer and will provide a terrific 
boost to the local economy of Craig and the island.
  Passage of this legislation is critical to the future of the City of 
Craig. It will increase recreational opportunities for the local and 
visiting public. I urge my colleagues to join me in moving forward on 
this legislation. All the conveyances will be subject to appraisals as 
required by this Act. The Federal Government will receive equal value 
in land from the City for any funding which it provides under this Act. 
The passage of this Act is good for the public and for the residents of 
Craig. I yield the floor.
                                 ______