Land Exchange

Restoring stewardship & economic opportunity.
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Overview

A congressional, bipartisan effort to resolve a decades-long split-estate land ownership issue created after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS), and to restore the intent of ANCSA for
Alaska Native self-determination.  

Split-Estate Conflict

After the EVOS, conservation purchases created split estates, where the public owns the surface and Chugach holds dominant subsurface rights. This has led to long-running conflict and regulatory barriers.  

Federal Findings

Congress directed a federal study in 2019 (Dingell Act). The 2022 report confirmed the conflicts but recommended only a partial remedy.  

Legislative Solution

S.2016 and H.R. 3903 establish the framework to fully resolve the EVOS-related split-estate conflict, supporting conservation outcomes while restoring economic opportunity and cultural stewardship.  

The Issue

After the devastating oil spill in 1989, the EVOS Trustee Council used settlement funds to purchase large areas of Native Village corporation surface estate for conservation. Those lands were deeded to federal and state agencies, or encumbered with restrictive conservation easements, while Chugach retained dominant subsurface ownership. This split-estate structure created an inherent land management conflict that continues today.  

Because Chugach’s subsurface rights are dominant, exercising those rights can require navigating extensive federal and state processes, adding complexity and cost that was not envisioned when Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) lands were conveyed.  

Why the Land Exchange Matters

A complete land exchange would:

  • Provide certainty for conservation management by removing split-estate legal uncertainty and enabling lands acquired for habitat protection to fully and permanently serve that purpose. 
  • Restore meaningful ANCSA outcomes by ensuring Chugach receives lands with economic and cultural value, supporting self-determination and long-term regional sustainability.    
  • Reduce long-standing access and development constraints tied to inholdings and nearby federal lands, including roadless-area implications in the Chugach National Forest.  

What the Land Exchange Accomplishes 

S.2016 and H.R. 3903 (Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025) continue the congressionally authorized effort initiated by the 2019 Dingell Act and responds to the federal government’s confirmation of the conflict in the 2022 study.  

The bill: 

  • Implements a complete, permanent solution by including additional affected subsurface acreage beyond what was recommended in the 2022 report.  
  • Includes formal legal descriptions consistent with federal land exchange practice; maps can be provided upon request.  
  • Uses established approaches to valuation for split-estate transactions in Alaska (subsurface often valued at roughly 20–30% of surface/full-fee), with the bill’s acreage ratio aligned to that range.  

Public Benefit 

This exchange advances the public interest by: 

  • Supporting long-term habitat protection by resolving the management uncertainty created by split ownership, and 
  • Providing Chugach with lands better suited for economic development and cultural significance, consistent with ANCSA’s intent.