Alaska legislators introduce Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – Alaska senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, as well as Rep. Mary Peltola, have introduced new legislation directing a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation for the purpose of resolving conflict.

The Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act would mitigate strife between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program which protects the ecosystems of the EVOS spill areas, and Chugach Alaska Corporation’s (Chugach) responsibilities to its Alaska Native shareholders. The responsibilities to the Alaska Native’s come from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) which protects the lands that belong to the Native corporation, the same lands the EVOS protection program is working on.

The land exchange conducted by the new legislation would mandate that Chugach trade 231,036 acres of subsurface estate for 65,403 acres of fee simple land owned by the federal government. The land traded by Chugach must be under surface fee and conservation easements on surface land owned by the federal government.

“The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill forever changed the lives of Alaskans, particularly those living in the Chugach region. Chugach’s subsurface rights were restricted and subjugated to the EVOS Program’s environmental conservation goals, which unfairly prevents Chugach from realizing the economic benefits of its mineral interests under ANCSA,” Senator Murkowski said.

“I helped set this land exchange in motion in 2019 when I authored and shepherded a major lands package, which required the land study, into law. Now we are addressing its findings, permanently conserving EVOS program lands, and providing Chugach and its shareholders a fair resolution of their ANCSA claims,” Murkowski added.

“Since its original passage in 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) has been amended many times to assist emerging needs of Alaska Native communities across the state,” Senator Sullivan stated.

“The Chugach Land Exchange Act should be no exception. This bill facilitates a land exchange for Chugach Alaska Corporation based on a congressionally-mandated study completed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service in late 2022. This legislation would provide Chugach with lands that will help create economic sustainability and cultural benefits for thousands of Alaska Native shareholders, as intended under ANCSA,” Sullivan continued.

“35 years after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the conversation on how to best serve the people, environment, and resources of Prince William Sound is still ongoing. A patchwork of conflicting surface and subsurface rights has left everyone unable to effectively use the land,” said Rep. Peltola.

Peltola went on to say, “The Chugach Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act would free Chugach Alaska Corporation to use their lands for the benefit of their shareholders and give the federal government a clearly defined area to manage. This is a commonsense solution that gives everyone in Prince William Sound a clear understanding of land use and management.”

“Introducing this bill represents a meaningful and long-awaited step on the path towards healing for the Chugach region and shareholders following the devastation of the Exxon Valdez oil spill,” said Chugach Alaska Corporation’s Chairman of the Board Sheri Buretta.

“Resolving the existing split-estate conflicts will empower Chugach to exercise self-determination for its people as intended by ANCSA. We are grateful for Senator Lisa Murkowski’s leadership, as well as the support of Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Mary Peltola, in their ongoing advocacy for a fair and just land exchange on our behalf,” Buretta added.

For background and history on the Exxon Valdez oil spill and Chugach Region, the full press release is available here.

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