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Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102

§1632 Statute of Limitations on Decisions of Secretary and Reconveyance of Land by Village Corporation

Title 43 › CHAPTER 33A — IMPLEMENTATION OF ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT AND ALASKA STATEHOOD › § 1632

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must file any lawsuit challenging a Secretary’s decision under this law or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in a court that can hear the case within two years after the Secretary’s decision becomes final or by December 2, 1980, whichever is later. That two‑year rule does not apply to navigability decisions about submerged lands, and you must first use any available administrative appeals. If a Village Corporation reconveys land under ANCSA §14(c), you must start a court case within one year after the official boundary map is filed under the Secretary’s rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §1632

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except for administrative determinations of navigability for purposes of determining ownership of submerged lands under the Submerged Lands Act [43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq., 1311 et seq.], a decision of the Secretary under this chapter or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.] shall not be subject to judicial review unless such action is initiated before a court of competent jurisdiction within two years after the day the Secretary’s decision becomes final or December 2, 1980, whichever is later: Provided, That the party seeking such review shall first exhaust any administrative appeal rights.
(b)Decisions made by a Village Corporation to reconvey land under section 14(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1613(c)] shall not be subject to judicial review unless such action is initiated before a court of competent jurisdiction within one year after the date of the filing of the map of boundaries as provided for in regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Submerged Lands Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Act May 22, 1953, ch. 65, 67 Stat. 29, which is classified generally to subchapters I and II (§§ 1301 et seq., 1311 et seq.) of chapter 29 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1301 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this title”, meaning title IX of Pub. L. 96–487, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2430, which enacted this chapter, amended section 1614 and 1620 of this title, and amended provisions set out as notes under section 1611 of this title and preceding section 21 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions. For complete classification of title IX to the code, see Tables. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 1632

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102