Bill Overview
Title: Alaska Land Conveyances and Trails Act
Description: This bill addresses issues involving Alaska lands and trails and Alaska Natives. Specifically, the bill establishes within the Bureau of Land Management a program to (1) identify and convey available state-selected land to the University of Alaska to support higher education in the state; and (2) acquire, by purchase or exchange, University of Alaska-owned inholdings (certain interests in land owned by the university) in the state. The bill provides for exclusion of certain settlement trust payments to Alaska natives for purposes of determining eligibility for certain federal programs. The bill (1) designates the Chilkoot National Historic Trail, and (2) provides for a study of the feasibility and desirability of designating the Alaska Long Trail as a national scenic trail.
Sponsors: Rep. Peltola, Mary Sattler [D-AK-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People in Alaska and Alaska Natives
Estimated Size: 700000
- The University of Alaska will likely see an impact as the conveyance of land will support higher education.
- Alaska Natives may be impacted due to the exclusion of certain settlement trust payments from federal program eligibility calculations.
- The general population of Alaska may experience changes in access to trails, particularly with the designation of the Chilkoot National Historic Trail.
- The study of the Alaska Long Trail could impact both local residents and broader populations who use the trail.
Reasoning
- The University of Alaska will have a significant impact as land conveyances can support infrastructure and programs. This affects students, faculty, staff, and indirectly, families.
- Alaska Natives might benefit from adjusted settlement trust payments, leading to better services or less financial strain during eligibility assessments.
- The designation of the Chilkoot National Historic Trail and feasibility study for the Alaska Long Trail may enhance local and tourist recreation opportunities, indirectly boosting local businesses.
- Not everyone in Alaska will be affected by higher education changes, but those connected to the University of Alaska are a substantial subset.
- Given the budget limitations, actual land acquisitions and operations will roll out over time, with initial impacts more theoretical or planning-phase.
Simulated Interviews
Undergraduate student (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems promising. Providing more land to the university might improve resources and academic programs.
- I'm hopeful that the changes will attract more students and faculty, enriching our education experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Hiking trail guide (Juneau, AK)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The designation of the Chilkoot National Historic Trail is fantastic. It will likely increase tourists, benefiting our tour business.
- I hope the policy includes funding for trail maintenance and infrastructure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
University Professor (Fairbanks, AK)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in how the land conveyance will impact our school's facilities and research capabilities.
- Any additional resources are welcome, but I hope it's implemented efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Local business owner (Barrow, AK)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy will indirectly help my business by potentially increasing local economic activities via trails.
- However, it might not directly aid small businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Nome, AK)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential scenic trail considerations are exciting, as I love hiking and nature activities.
- It will make Alaska an even bigger tourist attraction, though I'm skeptical about the sustained environmental impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Alaska Native Administrator (Ketchikan, AK)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The changes in settlement trust payments exclusions seem like they will ease the administration of some community support services.
- I'm hopeful but cautious about the implementation details.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Peace Corps Volunteer (Wasilla, AK)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Coming back to Alaska, I see a lot of potential for growth with these land policies.
- I want these strategies to translate into visible local community benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tourism Agency Coordinator (Haines, AK)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Trail designations could promote more robust tourism which benefits local businesses.
- I hope this policy brings tangible benefits quickly, rather than just talks about potential.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Environmental Scientist (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The trail designations need to come with careful research about environmental impacts.
- Balancing development and nature is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Fisherman (Seward, AK)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy doesn't negatively affect fishing rights or access.
- The land changes seem mostly beneficial but unsure how they'll impact me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The main costs are administrative and involve negotiation and legal considerations in land conveyances.
- Potential economic benefits from trail activities could offset some costs, but these are long-term and indirect.
- The exclusion of settlement trust payments may slightly increase federal assistance expenditure.