[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             INTRODUCTION OF THE ``RUSSIAN RIVER LAND ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 4, 2001

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce the 
proposed legislation titled ``Russian River Land Act'' on behalf of 
Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated. The purpose of this legislation is to 
ratify an agreement that settles a land ownership issue at Russian 
River on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
  The agreement that this legislation ratifies was reached on July 26th 
of this year, after three years of negotiations between the Alaska 
Native regional corporation, Cook Inlet Region, Inc. and the United 
States Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
The agreement covers lands at the confluence of the Kenai and Russian 
Rivers.
  The area surrounding the confluence of the Russian and Kenai is rich 
in archeological cultural features. It is also the site of perhaps the 
most heavily used public sports fishery in Alaska. Because of the 
archeological resources at Russian River, Cook Inlet Region, Inc. made 
selections at Russian River under the section of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act that allowed for selections of historical places 
and cemetery sites. The lands at the confluence are managed in part by 
the U.S. Forest Service and in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
  Seeking to protect the public's access to the sports fishery at 
Russian River, the two federal agencies and Cook Inlet Region, Inc. 
have reached agreement that requires federal legislation in order to 
become effective. Because this agreement provides for the continuing 
ownership and management by the two federal agencies of the vast 
majority of lands at Russian River, the public's right to continue 
fishing remains unchanged from its current status.
  Through negotiation and agreement, the two federal agencies and Cook 
Inlet Region, Inc. have found a way to fulfill the intent of the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act in a way that fully protects the interests 
of the public. I congratulate all three parties on reaching final 
accord on the long-standing unresolved issue of land ownership at 
Russian River. I urge passage of the Russian River Land Act.

                          ____________________