March 12, 2025
Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time
March 13, 2025
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
To provide equitable treatment for the people of the Village Corporation established for the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, and for other purposes.
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 Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Cape Fox
The term Cape Fox means the Cape Fox Village Corporation, a Village Corporation for the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, organized pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(2) Federal land
The term Federal land means the approximately 180 acres of surface land within the Tongass National Forest in the State of Alaska, as generally depicted on the Map.
(3) Map
The term Map means the map entitled Cape Fox Village Corporation Final Selection
and dated December 18, 2023.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 3. Waiver of core township requirement for certain land
(a) In general
Notwithstanding section 16(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615(b)), Cape Fox shall not be required to select or receive conveyance of the approximately 185 acres of unconveyed land described in subsection (b) located within the township in which the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, is located.
(b) Land described
The land referred to in subsection (a) is as follows:
(1)
Approximately 40 acres in T. 74 S., R.90 E., sec. 10, SWNE, Copper River Meridian.
(2)
Approximately 144.57 acres in T.75 S., R.91 E., sec. 1, lots 1, 3, and 4, Copper River Meridian.
Sec. 4. Selection outside exterior selection boundary
(a) Selection and Conveyance of Surface Estate
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, if Cape Fox submits to the Secretary a written notice of selection of the Federal land, the Secretary shall, on receiving that written notice, convey the Federal land to Cape Fox.
(b) Conveyance of Subsurface Estate
On conveyance to Cape Fox of the surface estate to the Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall convey to Sealaska Corporation the subsurface estate to that Federal land.
(c) Timing
It is the intent of Congress that the Secretary complete the conveyances to Cape Fox and Sealaska Corporation under subsections (a) and (b), respectively, as soon as practicable after the date on which the Secretary receives a written notice of the selection of Cape Fox under subsection (a), but not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives that written notice.
(d) Entitlement fulfilled
The conveyance of Federal land to Cape Fox and the subsurface interest in the Federal land to Sealaska Corporation under subsections (a) and (b), respectively, shall be considered to fulfill the entitlement of—
(1)
Cape Fox under section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615); and
(2)
Sealaska Corporation to any subsurface interest in the Federal land under section 14(f) of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(f)).
Sec. 5. Public access easement
The conveyance of the Federal land under section 4 shall be subject to the reservation of a public easement under section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)) to allow for access to National Forest System land further inland on Revillagigedo Island from the George Inlet.