NEWS RELEASE - Landless Legislation

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release: 11/14/2020 2:00 p.m.

ALASKA’S FEDERAL DELEGATION INTRODUCES LANDLESS LEGISLATION

PROPOSING LAND ENTITLEMENTS FOR FIVE SOUTHEAST COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING WRANGELL, NOT INCLUDED IN ANCSA

Wrangell, AK – On Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Senators Murkowski and Sullivan introduced Senate Bill 4889 titled the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Fulfillment Act of 2020.  As explained in the Delegation’s press release, the purpose of a portion of the Act is to allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) from which they were previously excluded.

The Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources will be holding a Public Lands, Forests & Mining Legislative Hearing on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 10:30am Alaska time on thirteen different pieces of legislation, including S. 4889. Testimony is by invitation only.  

Borough Administration has been monitoring the proposed legislation since late summer 2020. The process to approve the legislation is moving at an unexpectedly expedited pace, with all indications it could be passed into law this fall.

Public is encouraged to review the legislation (beginning on page 11) and the five attached maps showing lands being proposed for selection by the new Urban Corporation for Wrangell. Comments on the legislation should be directed to the members of Alaska’s delegation:

Senator Murkowski                         https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email

Senator Sullivan                              https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/contact/email

Congressman Young                       https://donyoung.house.gov/contact/

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Contact: Wrangell Borough Clerk, 907.874.2381, clerk@wrangell.com