[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO RATIFY AN AGREEMENT AMONG THE UNITED 
 STATES, THE STATE OF ALASKA AND THE BERING STRAITS NATIVE CORPORATION

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                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce 
legislation today to assist the Bering Straits Native Corporation, an 
Alaska Native Regional Corporation established under the authority of 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), in fulfilling its land 
entitlement under ANCSA. This Alaska Native Regional Corporation has 
requested the bipartisan assistance of Congress to achieve the 
enactment of this legislation on behalf of the Inupiat people in the 
region. I look forward to working with Chairman Rahall and others on 
the Natural Resources Committee to obtain passage of this meritorious 
legislation.
  An equitable agreement has been worked out by the State of Alaska, 
the Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) and the United States that 
would finalize BSNC's entitlement under the ANCSA and help fulfill the 
State's entitlement to certain lands under the Statehood Act.
  As an Alaska Native Regional Corporation, BSNC received entitlement 
under ANCSA to 145,728 acres of land under Section l4(h)(8) of that 
landmark Act. This Agreement will fulfill a critical component of that 
entitlement by conveying to BSNC 1,009 acres of land in the Salmon Lake 
area while Bering Straits relinquishes 3,084 acres of land from its 
original Salmon Lake selections which would be conveyed to the State. 
In addition, in furtherance of fulfilling its land entitlement under 
the Settlement Act, 6,132 acres of land at Windy Cove and 7,504 acres 
of land at Imuruk Basin that were either not prioritized or not 
selected by the State or that were low priority for the State will be 
conveyed to BSNC. The tracts at Windy Cove and Imuruk Basin are long-
standing BSNC 14(h)(8) selections and had been submitted to BLM by BSNC 
as prioritized lands. Salmon Lake is located about 38 miles north of 
Nome, Alaska.
  This agreement avoids further administrative appeals or litigation 
and is a sensible, fair and amicable resolution to some thorny land 
issues that have faced the parties for many years, caused in part by 
the competing land selections of the State of Alaska and BSNC.
  BSNC's interest in the lands is primarily for subsistence and 
recreation purposes. With the harsh climate of the Bering Straits 
Region through many months of the year, the Salmon Lake area provides a 
place for families to engage in subsistence and recreation activities. 
It receives substantial use by local residents and this agreement 
preserves that ability for them to continue such uses.
  Under the Agreement, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) retains 
ownership and administration of a 9-acre campground located at the 
outlet of Salmon Lake, and within those lands to be conveyed to BSNC 
under this agreement. This BLM campsite provides road accessible public 
camping opportunities. An additional easement is granted to the public 
through lands to be conveyed to BSNC to access Salmon Lake. The 
agreement also preserves access to BLM managed lands in the Kigluaik 
Mountain Range.
  The agreement completes the previously submitted priorities for land 
BSNC is entitled to receive under ANCSA. The lands included in the 
agreement are lands that were validly selected by BSNC pursuant to the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. It does not provide BSNC with any 
additional land beyond the amount of its entitlement. It will greatly 
assist the BSNC in its mission of assisting members of the regional 
corporation to be able to engage in subsistence activities in an area 
where recreation opportunities are also available. For people who live 
in such challenging weather and economic conditions, places such as 
Salmon Lake provide unique and important opportunities to participate 
in traditional subsistence and cultural activities that are crucial to 
a rural subsistence way of life.
  It is important to the people of the Bering Straits Region that this 
agreement be completed. There are many challenges that the people of 
the region face. Ratifying this agreement will certainly lessen some of 
those challenges in a positive and constructive way. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation that is so important for the 
Inupiat people of the Bering Straits Region.

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