AK HJR6

Alaska Legislature supports federal legislation recognizing that the federal government is financially responsible for remediating contaminated land conveyed to Alaska Native corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).

The December 1998 Department of Interior report identified approximately 650 contaminated sites on ANCSA lands but the department has not fully implemented any of its six proposed recommendations to identify and clean up these sites.

Alaska Native corporations face liability under federal and state law for contaminated conditions on their land and have incurred significant cleanup expenses and legal costs on a case-by-case basis.

Legislature urges the President and Congress to remediate ANCSA lands and make them free from environmental pollutants and to reimburse medical expenses of residents with health conditions resulting from living on contaminated lands.

Resolution directs copies to be sent to the President, Interior Secretary, congressional committees, and Alaska's federal delegation.