[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2349-H2352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHUGACH ALASKA LAND EXCHANGE OIL SPILL RECOVERY ACT OF 2025
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3903) to exchange non-Federal land held by the Chugach
Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land in the Chugach Region, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3903
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chugach Alaska Land Exchange
Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to authorize, direct, and expedite the exchange of land
and interests in land between Chugach Alaska and the United
States; and
(2) to consolidate Federal ownership of the surface and
subsurface estate of Federal land and interests acquired
under the Program.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ANSCA terms.--The terms ``Native Corporation'',
``Regional Corporation'', and ``Village Corporation'' have
the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
(2) Chugach alaska.--The term ``Chugach Alaska'' means the
Chugach Alaska Corporation, a Regional Corporation.
(3) Chugach region land study report.--The term ``Chugach
Region Land Study Report'' means the report and
recommendations submitted to Congress by the Secretary
pursuant to section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-
9; 133 Stat. 614).
(4) Federal exchange land.--The term ``Federal exchange
land'' means the approximately 65,374 acres of fee simple
land located in the Chugach Region as described in section
4(e).
(5) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means
the parcels of subsurface land comprising approximately
231,000 acres--
(A) owned by Chugach Alaska and conveyed to Chugach Alaska
pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
(B) described in section 4(f); and
(C) for which--
(i) the United States has acquired fee title to the surface
estate or a conservation easement on the surface estate
pursuant to the Program; or
(ii) the State has acquired fee title to, and the United
States has acquired a conservation easement in, the surface
estate pursuant to the Program.
(6) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Exxon Valdez
Oil Spill Habitat Protection and Acquisition Program of the
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Alaska.
SEC. 4. LAND EXCHANGE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, if Chugach Alaska offers to convey to
the Secretary all right, title, and interest in and to the
non-Federal land, the Secretary shall accept the offer and
convey, pursuant to section 22(j)(1) of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1621(j)(1)), all right,
title, and interest of the Federal Government in and to the
Federal exchange land subject to the reservation of public
easements required under section 17(b) of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)).
(b) Condition on Acceptance.--Title to the non-Federal land
exchanged in subsection (a) shall be in a form that is
acceptable to the Secretary.
(c) Treatment of Land Conveyed.--Except as otherwise
provided, any land conveyed to Chugach Alaska under
subsection (a) shall be considered to be land conveyed by the
Secretary under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(d) Valid Existing Rights.--The conveyances under
subsection (a) shall be subject to any valid existing rights,
reservations, rights-of-way, or other encumbrances of third
parties in, to, or on the Federal exchange land or the non-
Federal land as of the date of enactment of this Act.
(e) Conveyance of Federal Exchange Land.--The Secretary
shall, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of
this Act, convey to Chugach Alaska--
(1) all right, title, and interest in and to the National
Forest System land of the Forest Service identified in the
Chugach Regional Land Study and Report, comprising
approximately 63,414 total acres, comprising--
(A) T. 3 N., R. 10 E., Seward Meridian, Drier Bay Parcel,
comprising approximately 2,996 acres of surface estate;
(B) T. 17 and 18 S., R. 7 and 8 E., Copper River Meridian,
Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately 7,876 acres of
surface and subsurface estate;
(C) T. 2 N., R. 1 and 2 E., Seward Meridian, Snow River
Parcel, comprising approximately 11,462 acres of surface and
subsurface estate;
(D) T. 17 and 18 S., R. 8 W., Copper River Meridian,
Hinchinbrook Island Parcel, comprising approximately 2,617
acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(E) T. 17 S., R. 7 E., secs. 5, 8, 18, 19, and 30 through
33, Copper River Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising
approximately 6,375 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(F) T. 18 S., R. 7 E., secs. 6 and 7, Copper River
Meridian, Kushtaka Lake Parcel, comprising approximately
1,280 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(G) T. 16 S., R. 5 E., secs. 24 through 26 and 36, Copper
River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately
2,240 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(H) T. 16, S., R. 6 E., secs. 16, 19 through 21, and 25
through 36, Copper River Meridian, Martin River Parcel,
comprising approximately 8,305 acres of surface and
subsurface estate;
(I) T. 17 S., R. 6 E., secs. 1 through 4, and 10, Copper
River Meridian, Martin River Parcel, comprising approximately
3,170 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(J) T. 16 S., R. 4 E., secs. 1 through 4, 9 through 13, and
24, Copper River Meridian, Johnson River Parcel, comprising
approximately 5,200 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
(K) T. 16 S., R. 5 E., secs. 5 through 9, and 15 through
22, Copper River Meridian, Johnson River Parcel, comprising
approximately 6,165 acres of surface and subsurface estate;
and
(L) T. 19 S., R. 15 E., secs. 12 through 14, 23, 24, 26,
27, 33, and 34, Copper River Meridian, Robinson Mountains
Parcel, comprising approximately 5,728 acres of surface and
subsurface estate; and
(2) all right, title, and interest in and to the Federal
land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and
National Park Service identified in the Chugach Regional Land
Study and Report, comprising approximately 1,960 total acres,
comprising--
(A) T. 21 S., R. 24 E., Copper River Meridian, Taan Fjord
Parcel, comprising approximately 450 acres of surface and
subsurface estate;
(B) T. 21 and 22 S., R. 24 E., Copper River Meridian,
Kageet Point Parcel, comprising approximately 310 acres of
surface and subsurface estate; and
(C) T. 9 S., R. 2 W., secs. 5 and 6, Copper River Meridian,
Thompson Pass Parcel, comprising 1,200 acres of surface and
subsurface estate.
(f) Conveyance of Non-Federal Land.--
[[Page H2350]]
(1) Conveyance.--The non-Federal land to which Chugach
Alaska may convey to the Secretary all right, title, and
interest, that the Secretary determines to be applicable,
includes--
(A) the approximately 130,469.93 subsurface acres, which
comprises--
(i) T. 13 S., R. 1 W., sec. 19, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 467 acres;
(ii) T. 13 S., R. 2 W., secs. 23 through 27, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 2,627 acres;
(iii) T. 15 S., R. 2 W., secs. 3 through 9, 17 through 19,
and 29 through 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 8,277.36 acres;
(iv) T. 16 S., R. 2 W., secs. 1 through 4, and 6, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,373.34 acres;
(v) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 32 and 33, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 240 acres;
(vi) T. 15 S., R. 3 W., secs. 3 through 7, portions of
secs. 8 and 9, and secs. 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25, 35, and 36,
Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,486.36
acres;
(vii) T. 16 S., R. 3 W., secs. 1, 11, and 15, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 962 acres;
(viii) T. 13 S., R. 4 W., secs. 26, 27, and 32 through 34,
Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,494.05
acres;
(ix) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 1 through 11, 15 through 21,
25, 30, and 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 6,750.98 acres;
(x) T. 15 S., R. 4 W., secs. 8 through 12, 16 through 22,
and 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately
5,839.15 acres;
(xi) T. 13 S., R. 5 W., secs. 3, 9 through 11, 14 through
20, a portion of sec. 21, and secs. 31 and 36, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 4,216.36 acres;
(xii) T. 14 S., R. 5 W., sec. 1, a portion of sec. 2, secs.
6 through 12, 14 through 21, 29, and 30, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 9,057.6 acres;
(xiii) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 23 and 24, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 292.97 acres;
(xiv) T. 12 S., R. 6 W., secs. 11, 13, 14, 23, and 24,
Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,980.69
acres;
(xv) T. 12 S., R. 7 W., secs. 32, 34, 35, and 36, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 343 acres;
(xvi) T. 13 S., R. 7 W., secs. 1 through 22, 24, 25, and 27
through 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately
17,234.88 acres;
(xvii) T. 14 S., R. 7 W., secs. 2, 3, and 6, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 203 acres;
(xviii) T. 13 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 9 through 11, 13
through 29, and 32 through 36, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 9,282.25 acres;
(xix) T. 14 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 5, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 629.25 acres;
(xx) T. 13 S., R. 9 W., sec. 24, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 10 acres;
(xxi) T. 10 S., R. 10 W., sec. 32, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 1.19 acres;
(xxii) T. 3 N., R. 7 E., secs. 1 through 4, 8 through 17,
20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 29, Seward Meridian, comprising
approximately 9,314 acres;
(xxiii) T. 4 N., R. 7 E., secs. 11, 14, 15, 21 through 28,
and 33 through 36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately
8,684.96 acres;
(xxiv) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 4 through 7, 18, and 19,
Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,120.50 acres;
(xxv) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., secs. 29 through 32, and 36, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 1,404.25 acres;
(xxvi) T. 1 N., R. 10 E., secs. 5 and 8, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 743 acres;
(xxvii) T. 3 S., R. 2 W., secs. 22, 23, 25, 26, 33, 35, and
36, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 2,125 acres;
(xxviii) T. 4 S., R. 2 W., secs. 2, 3, 4, and 11, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 1,225 acres;
(xxix) T. 5 S., R. 3 W., secs. 18, 19, 20, 23, 26 through
29, and 32 through 36, Seward Meridian, comprising
approximately 3,670 acres;
(xxx) T. 5 S., R. 4 W., sec. 13, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 380 acres;
(xxxi) T. 6 S., R. 4 W., sec. 7, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 613 acres;
(xxxii) T. 5 S., R. 5 W., sec. 33, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 620 acres;
(xxxiii) T. 6 S., R. 5 W., secs. 4, 9, 28, 29, 32, and 33,
Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 3,205 acres;
(xxxiv) T. 7 S., R. 5 W., sec. 4, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 230 acres;
(xxxv) T. 8 S., R. 6 W., secs. 7 through 12, 14 through 22,
and 27 through 34, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately
6,797.39 acres;
(xxxvi) T. 7 S., R. 7 W., secs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11
through 14, 16, 17, 23, and 24, Seward Meridian, comprising
approximately 6,031.78 acres;
(xxxvii) T. 8 S., R. 7 W., secs. 24, 25, 35, and 36, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 705.65 acres; and
(xxxviii) T. 7 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16,
17, 20, 21, 23, 26 (lots 1 through 4), 27, 28, and 29, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 6,831.97 acres;
(B) the approximately 24,911.65 subsurface acres in which
the fee title to the surface estate has been acquired by the
State, and a conservation easement in the surface estate has
been acquired by the United States, pursuant to the Program,
which comprises--
(i) T. 16 S., R. 4 W., sec. 6, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 157.49 acres;
(ii) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 35 and 36, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 1,280 acres;
(iii) T. 16 S., R. 5 W., secs. 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,479 acres;
(iv) T. 11 S., R. 8 W., secs. 4 and 9, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 579 acres;
(v) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., sec. 1, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 130 acres;
(vi) T. 9 S., R. 9 W., secs. 26, 27, 33, 34, and 35, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,524.26 acres;
(vii) T. 10 S., R. 10 W., secs. 15, 16, 22, 23, 27, 28, 32,
and 33, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately
2,183.65 acres;
(viii) T. 4 N., R. 7 E., secs. 12 and 13, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 1,145 acres;
(ix) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 12 and 13, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 304 acres;
(x) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., secs. 1 through 5, 7 through 30, and
33 through 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately
14,712.25 acres; and
(xi) T. 4 N., R. 9 E., secs. 6, 7, 17, 18, and 19, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 1,417 acres; and
(C) the approximately 75,655.4 subsurface acres in which a
conservation easement in the surface estate has been acquired
by the United States pursuant to the Program, which
comprises--
(i) T. 13 S., R. 2 W., secs. 33 and 34, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 1,131.75 acres;
(ii) T. 14 S., R. 2 W., secs. 4 through 8, and 31, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,104.92 acres;
(iii) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 12 through 16, 21 through
23, and 28 through 31, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 5,319.37 acres;
(iv) T. 14 S., R. 3 W., secs. 6 through 8, and 17 through
20, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 3,899.44
acres;
(v) T. 15 S., R. 3 W., secs. 8 and 9, and the southern part
of sec. 13, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately
125 acres;
(vi) T. 16 S., R. 3 W., secs. 1, 11, 12, 14, and 15, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 506 acres;
(vii) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 28 and 29, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 660.15 acres;
(viii) T. 14 S., R. 4 W., secs. 1, 5 through 8, 10 through
15, 22 through 27, and 34 through 36, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 3,516 acres;
(ix) T. 15 S., R. 5 W., secs. 27, 28, 33, and 34, Copper
River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,455.63 acres;
(x) T. 11 S., R. 6 W., secs. 25, 26, and 34 through 36,
Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 2,088.26
acres;
(xi) T. 12 S., R. 6 W., secs. 1 through 3, 8 through 10,
and 16 through 19, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 2,777.5 acres;
(xii) T. 11 S., R. 7 W., sec. 31, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 577.8 acres;
(xiii) T. 12 S., R. 7 W., sec. 5 through 7, 10 through 15,
and 18 through 24, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 6,596.93 acres;
(xiv) T. 13 S., R. 7 W., secs. 18 and 19, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 700 acres;
(xv) T. 10 S., R. 8 W., secs. 33 and 34, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 1,197 acres;
(xvi) T. 11 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 4, 10 through 16,
21 through 26, 31, 35, and 36, Copper River Meridian,
comprising approximately 7,647.41 acres;
(xvii) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1, 12 through 14, and 24,
Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 591.75 acres;
(xviii) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 1 through 3, 10, 11, 14
through 16, 21 and 22, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 2,112 acres;
(xix) T. 12 S., R. 8 W., secs. 5 through 8, 18, and 19,
Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately 1,220.5
acres;
(xx) T. 13 S., R. 8 W., secs. 13, 14, 17, 19 through 21,
23, 24, and 28 through 30, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 1,400 acres;
(xxi) T. 11 S., R. 9 W., secs. 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35,
and 36, Copper River Meridian, comprising approximately
1,157.75 acres;
(xxii) T. 12 S., R. 9 W., secs. 1 through 4, 9 through 15,
22, 23, 24, 26, and 27, Copper River Meridian, comprising
approximately 6,445.71 acres;
(xxiii) T. 13 S., R. 9 W., secs. 24 and 25, Copper River
Meridian, comprising approximately 345.33 acres;
(xxiv) T. 2 N., R. 7 E., sec. 1, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 64.16 acres;
(xxv) T. 3 N., R. 7 E., secs. 24, 25, and 36, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 385.75 acres;
(xxvi) T. 1 N., R. 8 E., secs. 11, 14, 15, 22, 23, 26, and
27, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,667.65 acres;
(xxvii) T. 2 N., R. 8 E., secs. 2 through 11, 26, 30, 31,
32, and 35, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately
4,339.84 acres;
(xxviii) T. 3 N., R. 8 E., secs. 1 through 4, 8 through 11,
14 through 17, 19 through 23, and 26 through 35, Seward
Meridian, comprising approximately 11,339.4 acres;
(xxix) T. 4 N., R. 8 E., sec. 35, Seward Meridian,
comprising approximately 1.5 acres;
(xxx) T. 1 N., R. 9 E., secs. 1, 2, 11 through 14, and 24,
Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 1,560.25 acres; and
(xxxi) T. 1 N., R. 10 E., secs. 6, 7, 17 through 20, 29 and
30, Seward Meridian, comprising approximately 2,720.65 acres.
(2) Management.--Land acquired by the Secretary under this
subsection shall--
(A) become part of the unit of Federal land in which the
land acquired by the Secretary is located; and
(B) be administered in accordance with that unit of Federal
land.
(3) Exclusion of village corporation development and
shareholder sites.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), Chugach
Alaska shall
[[Page H2351]]
exclude from the conveyance of non-Federal land all right,
title, and interest in any land, not to exceed a total of 209
acres, that--
(A) a Village Corporation has retained development rights,
other than timber development rights; or
(B) has been designated for a shareholder homesite program.
SEC. 5. MAPS, ESTIMATES, AND DESCRIPTIONS.
(a) Minor Errors.--The Secretary and Chugach Alaska may
correct, by mutual agreement, any minor errors in any map,
acreage estimate, or description of any land conveyed or
exchanged under this Act.
(b) Conflict.--If there is a conflict between a map, an
acreage estimate, or a description of land in this Act, the
map shall control unless the Secretary and Chugach Alaska
mutually agree otherwise.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 3903, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903, the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill
Recovery Act of 2025, sponsored by Congressman Begich, would authorize
the exchange of 231,000 subsurface acres currently held by the Chugach
Alaska Corporation for approximately 65,374 acres of Federal land in
the Chugach region.
Following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound,
extensive conservation land acquisitions created split-estate ownership
in which the Federal Government holds surface ownership while the
Chugach Alaska Corporation holds subsurface ownership.
The split-estate ownership precluded the Chugach Alaska Corporation
from exercising its property rights, restricted shareholder economic
opportunities, and complicated Federal land management by dividing
subsurface and surface ownership.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 authorizes a negotiated exchange to
consolidate Federal ownership of surface and subsurface estate, while
conveying culturally significant, economically viable, and accessible
lands to the Chugach Alaska Corporation.
The bill will streamline Federal land management and reduce
checkerboard land ownership while promoting self-determination and
economic development for Alaska Natives.
Ms. Sheri Buretta, chairman of the board of the Chugach Alaska
Corporation, testified last year to the Committee on Natural Resources
that this bill is ``. . . a solution rooted in fairness, parity, and
respect. It is the fulfillment of a promise made half a century ago:
that Alaska Native Corporations like Chugach would be able to use our
lands as a foundation for economic growth and cultural preservation.''
She went on to say: ``For Alaska Native peoples, land is not a
commodity--it is our identity, our history, and our future.''
I appreciate Ms. Buretta and the Chugach people for their work to
address this matter. I also applaud Mr. Begich for working diligently
with his constituents to develop and move this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3903, a bill to address the
longstanding split-estate challenges in the Chugach region of Alaska.
Under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Alaska Native
corporations, including the Chugach Alaska Corporation, were promised
lands of cultural and economic importance. However, Chugach only
received a fraction of their traditional lands along with the
subsurface rights beneath lands conveyed to the village corporations.
Following the devastating Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, which
released more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's
coastline, the Federal Government established the Trustee Council to
manage settlement funds. These funds were used to purchase surface
lands from the village corporations for conservation purposes.
While the Federal Government acquired surface rights, the Chugach
retained the subsurface rights for approximately 230,000 acres,
creating a split estate that has complicated land management and
restricted Chugach's ability to manage their resources and land.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 would authorize a land exchange between
Chugach and the United States, allowing Chugach to exchange their
current subsurface rights for surface and subsurface rights to
approximately 65,000 acres of Federal lands within the region.
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was enacted to resolve Alaska
Native land claims and support self-determination. This bill would
advance these goals by consolidating land ownership, improving
conservation management, and providing Chugach greater control over
their lands and resources.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor on this bill.
Mr. BEGICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3903, the
Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act, a bill I
introduced to right a historic wrong that has gone unresolved for more
than three decades.
Nearly 40 years ago, an oil tanker ran aground in Prince William
Sound, spilling over 11 million gallons of crude oil across 1,300 miles
of pristine Alaskan coastline. In the aftermath, the Federal Government
used settlement funds to acquire roughly 231,000 acres of surface land
for conservation, but it never acquired the subsurface rights
underneath. Those belong to Chugach Alaska Corporation under the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act.
The result was a split estate. The Federal Government owned the
surface. Chugach owned the subsurface, and neither side could act.
Conservation goals were incomplete, and Chugach's Alaska Native
shareholders were locked out of their lands.
This bill fixes that. Under H.R. 3903, Chugach trades its
approximately 231,000 acres of unusable subsurface estate, land beneath
Federal conservation holdings that cannot be practically developed, in
exchange for approximately 65,000 acres of fee simple land identified
by the Bureau of Land Management as economically viable and culturally
significant.
Through this action, the Federal footprint in Alaska is actually
reduced by approximately 65,000 acres. Not 1 acre is added to the
Federal estate. This is a true win-win. It perfects the conservation
purpose of the original oil spill recovery program by unifying the
surface and subsurface estates, and it finally gives Chugach Alaska
Corporation and its Native shareholders the opportunity for the
foundation that ANCSA intended.
Congress recognized this problem in 2019, when it directed the
Department of the Interior to study this issue. BLM delivered its
report in 2022, confirming the conflict and identifying lands for
exchange.
This legislation is built on those findings, the product of years of
work by Chugach Alaska Corporation, by the Alaska delegation, through
bipartisan work in the House Natural Resources Committee, and this
body.
Mr. Speaker, the people of the Chugach region have waited 36 years
for this resolution, and this bill delivers it.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3903. I thank the
House Natural Resources Committee for its unanimous bipartisan support.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3903 aligns Federal surface and
subsurface ownership of conservation lands while resolving a decades-
old program by authorizing a land exchange between the Chugach Alaska
Corporation and the Federal Government.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
[[Page H2352]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3903, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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