H.R. 3903: Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025

The Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025 aims to authorize and facilitate an exchange of land between the Chugach Alaska Corporation (a Native corporation) and the federal government. The primary objectives of this legislation are to consolidate land ownership in the Chugach Region to resolve conflicts stemming from a split ownership of surface and subsurface rights, which arose as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.

Key Purposes

• To expedite a land exchange between Chugach Alaska and the United States.
• To consolidate federal ownership of surface and subsurface estates acquired under the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Habitat Protection and Acquisition Program.

Background

The bill acknowledges the significant impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which resulted in the spill of millions of gallons of crude oil and affected local ecosystems and communities. The cleanup and conservation efforts led to the acquisition of substantial land rights intended to protect habitats. However, complications arose because while surface land was purchased for conservation, subsurface rights remained with Chugach Alaska, leading to a conflict of interest regarding land use.

Land Exchange Details

• Chugach Alaska will convey approximately 231,000 acres of subsurface land to the federal government.
• The federal government will provide approximately 65,374 acres of non-federal lands to Chugach Alaska in return.
• The exchange is to occur within one year of the enactment of the bill, pending an acceptable transfer of rights to the Secretary of the Interior.
• This land exchange is intended to align with the goals of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which aims to ensure Native corporations can maintain economic viability while honoring significant cultural and historical lands.

Management Plans

The land acquired by the federal government through this exchange will become part of the existing federal land management framework and should be managed in accordance with federal regulations.

Exclusions

Certain land rights will be excluded from the transfer, specifically up to 209 acres designated for Village Corporation development or reserved for shareholder homesites.

Relevant Companies

• XOM (ExxonMobil) - The company was responsible for the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and this legislation relates directly to the aftermath of that event, as it seeks to address land ownership complications arising from conservation efforts linked to the oil spill recovery.