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Senator Murkowski introduced Senate Bill S3651 on September 30th which includes Native Futures (Enterprise Zones) lands selections near Sitka in Snitson Cove, Big Bay, Rodman Bay and False Island.
Link to complete Map of Native Futures Land Selections
 
Don Youngs Sealaska bill to privatize popular recreation and subsistence sites near Sitka
Are areas such as Poison Cove, Kalinin Bay, Big Bay and Crab Bay threatened by corporate development? On September 18, 2007, Don Young introduced H.R. 3560, a bill that authorizes Sealaska to select lands adjacent to these areas for the purpose of developing enterprise sites.
To read more, click here.
To TAKE ACTION on this issue click here.
Click here to hear Raven Radio's story on the City Of Sitka Assembly resolution and Sealaska's response
Click here to view Sitka Sentinels news article on Sealaska Lands Bill
Click here to listen to Raven Radio story on negotiations between the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and the City of
Sitka
regarding Sealaska selections
Don Young and Sealaskas Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act
What is it?
On September 18, 2007, Don Young introduced H.R. 3560, a bill that authorizes Sealaska to select lands adjacent to Kalinin Bay, Big Bay, Poison Cove and Crab Bay in Tenakee Inlet for the purpose of developing enterprise sites. These sites lie outside of areas authorized for withdrawal for purposes of settling the corporations land claims. The stated purpose of the bill is to redress the inequitable treatment of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska by allowing Sealaska to select its remaining land entitlement.[1]
Why are we concerned?
Part of the bill authorizes Sealaska to select lands in Southeast Alaska outside of the withdrawal areas designated in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).[2] In particular, the bill provides for the establishment of enterprise sites in areas extensively used by community members for recreational, commercial and subsistence purposes.
A native enterprise site does not appear to be defined in ANCSA, Bureau of Land Management regulations implementing ANCSA or in the bill itself. The lack of definition is disturbing because there is no indication of what types of activities may occur on an enterprise site or limitations on the scope of the activities are we talking about guided hikes, charter fishing lodges, resorts or theme parks?
Section 4(i) of the Act sets forth the broad scope of the enterprise sites and explains that the conveyance includes a nonexclusive access and use right and describes the access right in the following provision:
"Sealaska shall have a right of access from the site to all national forest lands within 15 miles perpendicular linear distance from the site exterior boundary, and a right of use on all such lands, for educational and outdoor recreational activities that are consistent with the Tongass Plan provisions applicable to such lands upon the date of enactment of this act."
Sitkans should help identify why these areas are important to local users and are inappropriate locations for poorly defined native corporation commercial enterprise sites.
The legislation also authorizes Sealaska to select another category of sites described as economic development land.[1] The bill expressly prohibits commercial timber harvest on enterprise sites but there is no similar restriction applicable to economic development land. In general, the parcels proposed for selection as economic development contain a much higher amount of productive old growth forest than lands previously authorized for selection in ANCSA. In particular, lands proposed for selection on Prince of Wales Island are some of the most productive Old Growth Forest lands remaining on the National Forest and contain some of only remaining examples of delicate Karst landforms that havent been clearcut. This emphasis on selecting lands containing a disproportionate amount of productive large tree old growth is alarming because Prince of Wales Island has already been subject to intensive timber harvesting and
because timber management practices on Sealaskas corporate lands rely heavily on clearcutting.
How are Kalinin Bay, Poison Cove and Big Bay important to the community of Sitka?
Click on the individual links below to learn more about these threatened areas and why they need to be protected:
Kalinin Bay
Poison Cove
Big Bay
To TAKE ACTION on this issue click here
Click here for an overview and more information the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act
for an overview and more information the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act for an overview and more information the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act
Click here to view a sample letter
Click here to see Significant Issues related to the Act
Click here to see more information from Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
 Map of the Sealaska Land Selection Areas of the "enterprise sites" in the Sitka Community Use Area
Map of all the proposed enterprise sites for Southeast Alaska noted in the Act
Click here to link to Bill H.R.3560 Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act
[1] Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act, H.R. 3560, 110th Cong. § 2(b) (2007).
[2] H.R. 3560 at § 3(a).
[1] H.R. 3560 at § 3(b)(1).
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