WashingtonWatch.com - S. 881, The Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act

Status as of October 8, 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

10/8/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-366. 2:30 p.m.

Comment by moby dick (October 7, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Removal of restrictive covenants in Alaska in National Forests, Monuments, and Parks is the dirty little secret of the S 811. S 881 in section 18A would attack the restrictive covenant ANILCA enacted [(43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(1))] which prohibited the alteration of a historic or cultural site. Once h1 restrictive covenants are violated on the Tongass, any Native Corporation will be able to turn cutural sites now protected by the restrictive covenants into any concievable commercial venture within National Parks, Monuments, or National Forests. Congress intended for ANILCA to protect land for public use while allowing Natives the cultural use of land they held sacred, not the commerical exploitation of that land....

Comment by Myla Poelstra (October 7, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

This bill, with its current selection of almost 32,000 acres of public lands on Kosciusko Island cannot be allowed to pass. The remote community of Edna Bay stands to lose all of the public land residents have traditionally relied on to provide for their families. We have businesses dependent on continued access to these lands. The remaining acreage will not be enough for the community to survive on. Sealaska Corporation does not have to take public lands on this island to complete their land selections. Congress already provide them adequate lands to choose from. Small communities such as ours should not have to sacrifice our existence for the completion of ANCSA. Should it become necessary for them to make selections outside the withdrawal area, there are many other suitable places for them to choose from, away from remote communities....

Comment by Ma Baker (October 7, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Almost the entire communities of Pt Baker and Port Portection on Prince of Wales Island signed a petition presented to Congress which opposes S811. Half the timber has been cut on Northern Prince of Wales Island. Cutting more, and Sealaska has a history of cutting every tree from mountain top to stream bottom, would ring the death knoll for the deer, bear, and birds on the island. This is a bad bill and Congress should not waste its time on it. Only five Senators have endorsed it, including Democrat Begich and Republican Murkowski. Let it die in Committee....

Revision by webmaster (September 25, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

S. 881 would provide for the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Detailed Summary

Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act - Authorizes Sealaska Corporation, the Regional Corporation for southeast Alaska, notwithstanding specified provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and subject to conditions and restrictions, to select and receive conveyance of its remaining land entitlement under the ANCSA from federal land in southeast Alaska from each of the following categories: (1) specified economic development land; (2) sites with sacred, cultural, traditional, or historical significance; and (3) Alaska Native futures sites with traditional and recreational use value.

Authorizes the Director of the National Park Service to enter into a cooperative management agreement with Sealaska, other village corporations and urban corporations, and federally recognized Indian tribes with cultural and historical ties to Glacier Bay National Park to recognize and perpetuate National Park Service values, including those associated with the Tlingit homeland and culture, wilderness, and ecological preservation.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete the conveyance of lands to Sealaska within one year of selection.

Prohibits Sealaska from selecting or receiving any conveyance of lands under this Act from within any conservation system unit, federally designated wilderness area, or certain land use designation areas.

Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to add to the definition of "tribal lands" land held under the ANCSA by an incorporated Alaska Native group, a Regional Corporation, or a Village Corporation.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-366. 2:30 p.m.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (May 26, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

S. 881 would provide for the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Detailed Summary

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete the conveyance of lands to Sealaska within one year of selection.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (May 6, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

S. 881 would provide for the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

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Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (May 6, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

S. 881 would provide for the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

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Status as of April 23, 2009

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/23/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.