Opposition Regarding Land Conveyance Provisions in S. 2554

I am writing as a constituent to express my concerns regarding specific provisions within S. 2554, the Alaska Native Landless Equity Act. While I respect the goal of addressing long-standing claims and historical inequities under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), I am deeply concerned about the section of the bill that mandates the transfer of roughly 115,000 acres of federal public land—primarily within the Tongass National Forest—into private corporate ownership. Privatizing public lands sets a concerning precedent for public land management. When federal public lands are conveyed to private or corporate entities, several critical public protections and values are permanently compromised: Loss of Public Access and Oversight: Once public land is transferred to private corporate ownership, guaranteed public access for recreation, fishing, hunting, and general enjoyment is removed or restricted at the corporation’s discretion. Exemption from Environmental Reviews: Land in private corporate ownership is no longer subject to key federal stewardship standards, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), public notice requirements, or federal environmental impact analyses. Precedent for Public Land Transfers: Privatizing public lands—even within the context of statutory settlements—creates a model for converting shared federal natural resources into private corporate real estate, raising long-term conservation and management concerns for our national forest system. I urge you to oppose or seek amendments to the mandatory public land transfer provisions in S. 2554. Any legislation addressing these historical claims should explore alternative solutions that do not require removing federally protected public lands and natural resources from public stewardship.