Pribilof Islands Transition Act Amendments of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-325
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2015-01-13
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska

Alaska Natives and Hawaiians

Endangered and threatened species

Indian lands and resources rights

Land transfers

Mammals

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2015-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Pribilof Islands Transition Act Amendments of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Fur Seal Act of 1966 to revise provisions concerning the disposal of federal property on the Pribilof Islands (a group of five islands off the coast of mainland Alaska named Saint Paul, Saint George, Walrus, Otter, and Sea Lion Rock), including by: (1) authorizing the Department of Commerce to transfer or exchange specified land on the Islands to the village corporations of Saint Paul and Saint George Islands, and (2) giving those village corporations the first priority right to acquire that land on their respective islands.</p> <p>Commerce must promptly publish and submit to the Senate notice of certification that Alaska has confirmed that no further corrective action is required at sites and operable units covered by the Pribilof Islands Environmental Restoration Agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Alaska.</p> <p><br> </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 325 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2015 Mr. Young of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Pribilof Islands Transition Act to require the Secretary of Commerce to provide notice of certification that no further corrective action is required at sites and operable units covered by the Pribilof Islands Environmental Restoration agreement, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pribilof Islands Transition Act Amendments of 2015 . 2. Requirement of notice regarding certification under Pribilof Islands Transition Act (a) Lands Section 205 of the Fur Seal Act of 1966 ( 16 U.S.C. 1165 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (f)— (A) by designating the text as paragraph (1); and (B) by adding at the end the following: (2) In addition to the authority in paragraph (1), the Secretary may transfer or exchange land or interests therein on the Pribilof Islands to the village corporations identified in section 105(c), in accordance with section 22(f) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1621 ) as necessary or appropriate to facilitate the transfer of lands and related improvements not specified for transfer in the document entitled Transfer of Property on the Pribilof Islands: Descriptions, Terms and Conditions . ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (g) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the village corporations identified in section 105(c) shall have a first priority right to acquire any Federal land on their respective islands (and related improvements on such land) that is not specified for transfer in the document entitled Transfer of Property on the Pribilof Islands: Descriptions, Terms and Conditions and that, after October 31, 1983— (A) ceases to be actually used by the Federal Government in connection with the administration of any Federal installation; or (B) is in excess of the smallest practicable tract, as determined by the Secretary or the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, enclosing land actually used in connection with the administration of any Federal installation, as described in section 3(e) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602(e) ). (2) Not later than 30 days after determining that Federal land meets either of the criteria specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify the relevant village corporation of that determination. (3) Not later than 90 days after receiving notification under paragraph (2), the relevant village corporation shall notify the Secretary of the corporation’s intent to exercise the priority right to acquire property authorized under paragraph (1) with respect to the property. . (b) Notice of certification Section 105 of the Pribilof Islands Transition Act (title I of Public Law 106–562 ; 16 U.S.C. 1161 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking The Secretary and inserting Notwithstanding paragraph (2) and effective on the date the Secretary publishes the notice of certification required by subsection (b)(5), the Secretary ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking 205 and inserting 205(a) ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (5) Notice of certification The Secretary shall promptly publish and submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate notice that the certification described in paragraph (2) has been made. ; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking makes the certification described in subsection (b)(2) and inserting publishes the notice of certification required by subsection (b)(5) ; and (B) in paragraph (1), by striking Section 205 and inserting Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of section 205 .