[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 186 (Monday, December 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7148-H7149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CALLING FOR CONSERVATION OF BERING RIVER COALFIELD

  (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a piece of 
property in Alaska. Southeast Alaska is called the Copper River Delta. 
There is a coalfield there called the Bering River coalfield.
  Mr. Speaker, this goes back to Teddy Roosevelt's days as a 
conservation effort. The United States Government

[[Page H7149]]

has an opportunity to purchase the coal rights of this field. I thank 
the gentleman, Joo Shin, and the KADCO board of directors for staying 
at the table. The appraisal came in at $6 million. The Korean owner, 
Joo Shin, wants $8 million for the property.
  We have an opportunity, and I believe that Members on both sides of 
the aisle could agree by acclamation with this conservation effort. The 
United States Government cannot pay more than the appraised value 
unless we, in Congress, authorize them to do that. The difference is 
between $6 million and $8 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, either now or in the future, to 
help the United States of America set aside the Copper River Delta 
area, the Bering River coalfield, in perpetuity for this conservation 
effort.

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