Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025
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The bill would authorize a land exchange in which Chugach Alaska Corporation transfers about 231,000 acres of subsurface mineral rights to the federal government in return for roughly 65,374 acres of federal land in the Chugach region.
The exchange is meant to consolidate federal ownership of surface and subsurface land acquired after the Exxon Valdez oil spill while letting the Alaska Native corporation gain full title to specific parcels, resolving decades-old land-management overlap in the region.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would require that, if Chugach Alaska Corporation offers within one year of enactment to convey to the Department of the Interior all its interest in approximately 231,000 acres of subsurface estate, the Secretary of the Interior must accept the offer and convey in return approximately 65,374 acres of federal fee-simple land in the Chugach region, identified by specific townships and parcels managed by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. The exchanged non-federal land stems from parcels where the federal or state government previously acquired surface rights or conservation easements under the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Habitat Protection and Acquisition Program. The bill would exclude from Chugach's conveyance up to 209 acres where a village corporation retains development rights or that are designated for shareholder homesites. It also allows the Secretary and Chugach Alaska to jointly correct minor mapping or acreage errors, and specifies that maps control over acreage estimates if conflicts arise.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the Secretary of the Interior to accept Chugach Alaska's offer to convey about 231,000 acres of subsurface estate within one year of enactment, in exchange for federal land.
- 2Would require conveyance of approximately 65,374 acres of federal fee-simple land in specific Chugach region parcels to Chugach Alaska.
- 3Would subject conveyances to valid existing rights, easements, and encumbrances of third parties as of enactment.
- 4Would require newly acquired federal land to become part of, and be administered under, the existing federal land unit where it is located.
- 5Would exclude up to 209 acres with retained village corporation development rights or shareholder homesite designations from the conveyance to the federal government.
- 6Would allow the Secretary and Chugach Alaska to correct minor mapping or acreage errors by mutual agreement, with maps controlling in conflicts.
Who would be affected
Chugach Alaska Corporation and its Alaska Native shareholders, village corporations with retained development or homesite rights in the region, and the Department of the Interior agencies (Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service) that currently manage the federal parcels involved in the exchange.
Why it matters
If enacted, the exchange would give Chugach Alaska full ownership of specific surface parcels for potential development or resource use, while consolidating federal ownership of Exxon Valdez oil spill recovery lands under single management. Village corporations retain protected sites, and the Secretary gains firm land-management boundaries in the Chugach region.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1621(j)(1)) (Sec. 4(a))
Directs that the federal land conveyance to Chugach Alaska proceed under this section's exchange authority, subject to public easement reservations under 43 U.S.C. 1616(b).
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for Chugach Alaska to offer its subsurface land and for the Secretary to accept it
- Conveyance of federal exchange land to Chugach Alaska after enactment
How implementation would work
Chugach Alaska must formally offer its roughly 231,000 subsurface acres to the Secretary of the Interior within one year of enactment; the Secretary must accept and, subject to title being in acceptable form, proceed with the exchange as soon as practicable. Village corporation development sites and shareholder homesites (up to 209 acres) are carved out beforehand. Acquired federal land is folded into the management of the existing unit where it sits (national forest, BLM, or park land). The Secretary and Chugach Alaska may jointly fix minor mapping or acreage discrepancies, with maps controlling over written acreage figures if they conflict.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate.
Official CRS summary
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This bill authorizes a land exchange between the Chugach Alaska Corporation (also known as Chugach, an Alaska Native regional corporation in southcentral Alaska) and the federal government.
Specifically, if Chugach offers to convey to the Department of the Interior all right, title, and interest of Chugach in and to approximately 231,000 acres of subsurface estate within one year of the bill's enactment, then Interior must accept the offer and convey all right, title, and interest of the federal government in and to approximately 65,374 acres of fee simple land located in the Chugach region. (The Chugach region includes portions of land on the Kenai Peninsula and the coast of Prince William Sound in Alaska.)
The bill directs Chugach to exclude from its conveyance to Interior all right, title, and interest in any land, not to exceed a total of 209 acres, for which a village corporation has retained development rights (other than timber development rights) or that has been designated for a shareholder homesite program.
Legislative subjects
Alaska; Land transfers; Land use and conservation; Native Americans
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-451