Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025
Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025 would finalize and accelerate the land and subsurface entitlement process for the Cape Fox Village Corporation (the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska) under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The bill permits Cape Fox to select and receive conveyance of roughly 180 acres of Federal land inside the Tongass National Forest (with surface rights going to Cape Fox and subsurface rights (minerals, etc.) going to Sealaska Corporation). It waives a specific “core township” requirement for certain unconveyed land within Saxman’s township. The conveyances would occur within a defined timeframe after enactment, and the public would retain an access easement to nearby National Forest land on Revillagigedo Island. The action is intended to fulfill Cape Fox’s ANCSA entitlement and Sealaska’s subsurface rights for this land. In short, the bill moves to finalize a land swap and ownership arrangement, giving Cape Fox surface ownership while preserving Sealaska’s subsurface interests, and it preserves public access to certain forest lands. It also clarifies the exact parcels involved and the timeline for consummating the transfers.
Key Points
- 1Definitions and scope: Identifies Cape Fox as the Cape Fox Village Corporation (Saxman, Alaska), defines the Federal land (about 180 acres in Tongass NF), the Map describing the land, and the Secretary of the Interior as the responsible official.
- 2Waiver of core township requirement: Cape Fox is not required to select or receive conveyance of approximately 185 acres of unconveyed land within the township where Saxman is located, relaxing a standard ANCSA requirement.
- 3Specific land parcels: The land parcel described includes roughly 40 acres in T.74 S., R.90 E., sec. 10 and about 144.57 acres in T.75 S., R.91 E., sec. 1 (lots 1, 3, and 4) in the Copper River Meridian.
- 4Selection and conveyance timeline: If Cape Fox submits a written notice of selection within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary must convey the Federal land to Cape Fox.
- 5Subsurface rights to Sealaska: Upon conveyance of the surface estate to Cape Fox, the subsurface estate (minerals, etc.) is conveyed to Sealaska Corporation.
- 6Timelines for completion: Congress intends for the conveyances to be completed as soon as practicable, but no later than 180 days after the Secretary receives the selection notice.
- 7Entitlement fulfillment: The conveyances would fulfill Cape Fox’s entitlement under ANCSA section 16 and Sealaska’s subsurface entitlement under section 14(f).
- 8Public access easement: The conveyance is subject to a public easement under ANCSA to allow access to National Forest land further inland on Revillagigedo Island from George Inlet.