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119-hr-2815119th CongressWALLET

Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

Became Law

Summary

Finalizes Cape Fox's land entitlement by conveying roughly 180 acres of Tongass National Forest surface land to Cape Fox and assigning the matching subsurface estate to Sealaska Corporation. It waives Cape Fox's core township selection requirement and sets the terms for selection and conveyance once Cape Fox provides written notice.

Show full summary
  • Cape Fox Village Corporation: Waives the core township requirement and may select about 180 acres of Federal surface land outside its original boundary. The law directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey that surface land to Cape Fox after Cape Fox gives written notice.
  • Sealaska Corporation: Receives the corresponding subsurface estate for the conveyed land, fulfilling its Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act subsurface entitlement.
  • Public access and third parties: Conveyances are subject to a public access easement under ANCSA section 17(b) to allow access inland from George Inlet and remain subject to any valid existing rights, reservations, rights-of-way, and other encumbrances unless the parties agree otherwise.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Cape Fox freed from township picks

The law drops the rule that Cape Fox must select or receive about 185 acres within the Saxman township. The parcels are about 40 acres in T.74 S., R.90 E., sec. 10 (SWNE), and about 144.57 acres in T.75 S., R.91 E., sec. 1 (lots 1, 3, and 4), Copper River Meridian. This change takes effect on enactment.

Cape Fox land transfer finalized

Cape Fox can select about 180 acres of federal surface land in the Tongass National Forest, shown on a map dated December 18, 2023. Cape Fox must send written notice within 90 days after enactment. After Interior gets the notice, it must transfer the surface to Cape Fox and, at the same time, the subsurface to Sealaska Corporation. Interior must finish the transfers as soon as possible and no later than 180 days after it gets the notice. These transfers satisfy Cape Fox’s and Sealaska’s land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Public access kept and rights preserved

The land transfer keeps a public easement so people can cross from George Inlet to National Forest land inland on Revillagigedo Island. All transfers stay subject to valid existing rights, reservations, and rights-of-way on the land at enactment, unless Interior, Agriculture, and Cape Fox agree otherwise. These limits can affect how Cape Fox or Sealaska use the land.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

AK • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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