Izembek and Alaska Peninsula Refuge Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-1680
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2007-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Animals
Infrastructure
Islands
Land transfers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Road construction
Transportation and Public Works
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: 
Izembek and Alaska Peninsula Refuge and Wilderness Enhancement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the state of Alaska King Cove Road and Sitkinak Island upon: (1) conveyance by the state and other owners of specified non-federal land, including King Cove Corporation, to the Secretary of title to such non-federal land; and (2) certification by the governor of the state that the state-owned land at Kinzaroff Lagoon has been designated under state law as a state refuge. Requires the King Cove Road conveyance to be used for construction of a state road.
 
Provides, upon conveyance of the non-federal land to the Secretary, for the designation of the wilderness additions to the Izembek and Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuges as wilderness.

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 
Izembek and Alaska Peninsula Refuge and Wilderness Enhancement Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the state of Alaska federal land within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge for the purpose of constructing a single-lane gravel road between the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay, Alaska, in exchange for non-federal land owned by the King Cove Corporation. 

Instructs the Secretary to initiate the preparation of an environmental impact statement as required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Lists the entities that may participate as cooperating agencies during the preparation of the statement. 

Prohibits the conveyance of the federal and non-federal lands from being subject to any requirement under any federal law, including regulations, relating to the valuation, appraisal, or equalization of land. 

Requires the Secretary to determine that the land exchange, including the construction of a road between the city of King Cove and the Cold Bay Airport is in the public's interest. 

Bars the land exchange from being carried out before the parcel of state-owned land that is in the Kinzaroff Lagoon has been designated as a state refuge. 

Sets forth requirements relating to the use, barrier cables, and required dimensions of the road. 

Prohibits the location of support facilities for the road within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. 

Expresses the intent of Congress with respect to the issuance of any federal permits required for construction of the road. 

Requires the Secretary to develop a mitigation plan based on the impacts determined under the environmental impact statement. 

Transfers the federal land on Sitkinak Island that is withdrawn for use by the Coast Guard from the Secretary to the state upon the relinquishment or termination of the withdrawal. 

Adds the conveyed non-federal land to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge or the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, as appropriate. 

 Adds certain land to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness or Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness. 

Sets forth provisions regarding the failure to begin construction of the road.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 975.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2008-04-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-485.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8240-8241)
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8239-8240)
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate