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House Seeks End to Federal Land Withdrawal
Passes Kott's HJR 48 Demanding Time Limit on Land Lockups

(JUNEAU) - The House today passed legislation calling for the federal government to modify its practice of locking up vast amounts of its land in Alaska by withdrawing it indefinitely.

Rep. Pete Kott (R-Eagle River) sponsored House Joint Resolution 48, out of frustration with the longstanding practice by agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Defense, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and even the U.S. Postal Service, of withdrawing land in western states for consideration as parks and refuges, for potential multiple uses, or even for what appear to be arbitrary political purposes.

"When federal land is withdrawn it is closed until the withdrawal is removed, which in some instances requires an act of Congress," Kott said. "This creates the problem where land remains closed to entry even when the original purpose for the withdrawal has been accomplished or has lapsed."

Land in Alaska withdrawn by the federal government is unavailable for state selection as part of its allotment under the statehood act, or for transportation or utility rights-of-way; by Native corporations as part of their land entitlement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; or by individual Alaska Natives as Native allotments. Withdrawn land is often known to have high potential for mineral resources, and the endless federal withdrawals artificially deprive the state and nation of benefiting from their development, Kott said.

Quoting a letter of support for HJR 48 from the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Kott said, "An obsolete withdrawal is like a human appendix - it serves no purpose, but it has the potential to kill you."

HJR 48 asks the federal government to: establish a 10-year sunset limit on such land withdrawals unless it proves to Congress that the purpose is still viable; compile a comprehensive list of withdrawn lands, including their exact borders, to provide proof of the legal authority for the withdrawal; and to produce a plan for resolving the proposed disposition of each withdrawn tract.

"It is entirely reasonable and fair to afford the federal government the opportunity to give careful consideration as to what land in Alaska it needs for specific and reasonable purposes," Kott said. "But it is not reasonable to expect that they should not have the luxury of taking decades to do so while other potential users have to wait."

HJR 48 moves next to the Senate for consideration.

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