[House Report 119-451]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-451
======================================================================
CHUGACH ALASKA LAND EXCHANGE OIL SPILL RECOVERY ACT OF 2025
_______
January 14, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3903]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
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, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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.--
(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 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.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
The purpose of H.R. 3903 is to exchange non-Federal land
held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land
in the Chugach Region, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
H.R. 3903 resolves a landownership conflict in the Chugach
region of Alaska that originated from the Exxon Valdez oil
spill of 1989. The spill released approximately 11 million
gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, resulting in
one of the most significant environmental disasters in U.S.
history.\1\ As a result, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee
Council (EVOSTC) was established and directed approximately
$900 million in settlement funds toward environmental
restoration and conservation, including the acquisition of more
than 600,000 acres of surface estate for permanent
protection.\2\
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\1\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ``Exxon
Valdez,'' https://darrp.noaa.gov/oil-spills/exxon-valdez, last accessed
November 14, 2025.
\2\Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, ``Settlement,'' https://
evostc.state.ak.us/oil-spill-facts/settlement/, last accessed November
14, 2025.
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For the Chugach region, these acquisitions created a
``split-estate'' problem, where the federal government owns the
surface title and the Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC), an
Alaska Native Regional Corporation established under the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA),\3\ owns roughly 231,000
acres of subsurface mineral estate.\4\ This bifurcation of
title has led to a litany of issues for both sides.\5\
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\3\Chugach Alaska Corporation, ``History,'' https://
www.chugach.com/about-us/history/.
\4\U.S. Department of the Interior, Statement of Karen Kelleher
before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on S. 4310,
https://www.doi.gov/ocl/pending-legislation-78, last accessed September
2, 2025.
\5\Id.
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In 2019, Congress enacted the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which directed
the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to study the Chugach
split-estate conflict and to identify federal lands suitable
for exchange.\6\ Following that directive, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) issued a 2022 report confirming that the
split-estate arrangement undermines both Native self-
determination and sound conservation management, and
recommending legislative action.\7\
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\6\Public Law No. 116-9.
\7\Bureau of Land Management, Chugach Region Land Study Report,
https://www.blm.gov/alaska/foia/records-released-under-foia/foia-
request-doi-blm-2024-000269-chugach-region-land-study, last accessed
September 2, 2025.
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This legislation is the result of a negotiated resolution
to the split-estate arrangement. The legislation authorizes,
within one year of enactment, a land exchange whereby the
Secretary must accept CAC's offer of roughly 231,000 subsurface
acres and, in return, convey to CAC approximately 65,374 acres
of federal land in the Chugach region.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 3903 was introduced on June 11, 2025, by
Representative Nicholas Begich (R-AK). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to
the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. On September 9,
2025, the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a
hearing on the bill. On November 20, 2025, the Committee on
Natural Resources met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on
Indian and Insular Affairs was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 3903 by unanimous consent. Representative
Nicholas Begich (R-AK) offered an Amendment in the Nature of a
Substitute designated Begich_066 ANS. The Amendment in the
Nature of a Substitute was agreed to by unanimous consent. H.R.
3903, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House
of Representatives by unanimous consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held
on September 9, 2025.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 names the bill the ``Chugach Alaska Land Exchange
Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025''.
Section 4. Land exchange
Section 4 establishes that if CAC offers approximately
231,000 acres of its subsurface estate to the Secretary, then
the Secretary must accept the offer and convey about 65,374
acres of federal land in the Chugach region to CAC. This land
swap must be completed within one year of enactment. In
addition, the land received by the CAC would be treated as if
conveyed under ANCSA and remain subject to valid existing
rights.
Section 5. Maps, estimates, and descriptions
Section 5 allows the Secretary and CAC to correct, by
mutual agreement, any minor errors in any map, acreage
estimate, or description of any land conveyed or exchanged.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to
clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office a budgetary analysis and a cost estimate of this bill.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to exchange non-Federal land held by
the Chugach Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land in the
Chugach Region, and for other purposes.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
As ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources,
H.R. 3903 would make no changes in existing law.
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