Juneau -- Thursday, the Alaska Senate passed Senate Bill 194, sponsored by Senator Jerry Mackie. SB 194 allows for a land exchange between a private citizen and the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.

"A gentleman in Haines purchased a plot of land in 1995 that was part of a state land disposal," said Mackie. "Unfortunately, one of the parcels had been mis-monumented when it was surveyed by the state."

The landowner relied on the errant survey marker to define the location of his property, later discovering that the recorded plat of his property was an adjacent parcel, largely taken by the Klehini River. He appealed to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to give him title to the parcel that he thought was his, but DNR was unable to do so because an earlier action had placed this land in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. SB 194 was drafted at the request of the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council, who sought a just and equitable solution for both the Preserve and the private landowner.

"SB 194 would allow the Commissioner of Natural Resources and the director of the Division of Lands to reclaim the property from the Preserve and give title to the land owner in exchange for the largely submerged parcel," said Mackie. "I am glad we were able to help a constituent out of a difficult situation."

SB 194 moves to the house for consideration.

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