Alaska Native corporation urges Congress to finish ANCSA entitlement via land exchange
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Summary
Cape Fox Corporation and Rep. Nick Begich told a House subcommittee HR 2815 would finalize Cape Fox's ANCSA entitlement by authorizing a land exchange to connect existing parcels and support a hydropower project and other development in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Representative Nick Begich introduced HR 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025, saying that the bill would authorize a land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service to convey acreage that would connect existing Cape Fox parcels and enable development.
"Land is at the heart of Alaska's future," Begich said. He and Vice President Thomas (Tom) Harris of Cape Fox Corporation described long-standing conveyance obstacles under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and noted that Cape Fox is the only Southeast Alaska village corporation among 13 villages that has not completed its ANCSA settlement.
Begich and Harris said the Bureau of Land Management identified approximately 184.57 acres in the core township and that Cape Fox had identified about 180 acres of alternative land. Testimony also referred to an "80-acre" tract in later exchanges; witnesses described differing acre figures when discussing the proposed conveyance and alternatives. The bill would, according to witnesses, provide an access corridor to support a Mahoney Lake hydropower project and improve connections between existing Cape Fox tracts, helping stabilize the local electric grid and support tourism and subsistence access.
Harris said the BLM had previously required Cape Fox to select parcels with little economic value or access, and that HR 2815 would allow a conveyance that makes the corporation's settlement compact and contiguous. Supporters argued the exchange would honor ANCSA's intent to provide usable settlement lands and enable local economic development.
Members questioned how the access corridor could be used for roadways, utilities and a small hydropower project; Harris replied that the conveyance would facilitate a transportation and power corridor to connect Mahoney Lake with the Beaver Falls power grid and support a planned 9-megawatt small hydro installation and longer-term energy projects.
The subcommittee did not vote on the bill during the hearing. Witnesses and staff agreed to supply additional information to the record if requested.