Bill Overview
Title: A bill to codify certain public land orders relating to the revocation of certain withdrawals of public land in the State of Alaska.
Description: This bill enacts into law the provisions of certain public land orders relating to the revocation of the withdrawal of certain public lands in Alaska.
Sponsors: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Target Audience
Population: People in Alaska relying on or using public lands affected by order changes
Estimated Size: 740000
- The bill concerns public land orders in the State of Alaska, indicating it affects lands located in Alaska specifically.
- Public land orders generally pertain to land use and management, affecting those who rely on public lands for livelihood, recreation, traditional activities, or resource extraction.
- Alaska Native communities may be impacted if the lands in question are traditional or significant for cultural reasons or previous treaty agreements.
- The bill may impact industries in Alaska that operate on or near public lands, such as oil, gas, mining, and logging.
- Recreational users of public lands in Alaska (e.g., hunters, hikers, fisherfolk) will be impacted by any changes in land use permissions.
Reasoning
- The population most affected will be in Alaska, where public land use and access may change due to the policy.
- Industries like oil, gas, and logging will be prominently affected, along with Native Alaskan communities who rely on traditional land rights.
- Recreational users will also be impacted, potentially losing or gaining access to hunting, fishing, and hiking areas.
- The budget constraints suggest that compensation or adjustments for economic impacts might be limited.
- We must include perspectives from unaffected individuals to compare the impact realistically.
Simulated Interviews
Oil industry worker (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone in the oil industry, changes to land orders can either spell new opportunities or sudden restrictions.
- We often hear about these land withdrawals affecting our access and projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Fisherman (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our livelihood depends on access to these lands and rivers.
- Any changes to land use could severely affect our community and income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Environmental activist (Juneau, Alaska)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could protect crucial habitats and respect Native lands, which is a win for conservation efforts.
- We hope it leads to more sustainable use of public lands.
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 | 8 | 5 |
Native Alaskan leader (Barrow, Alaska)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The revocation of withdrawals needs to respect our ancestral land rights and cultural practices.
- We view this policy as potentially respectful if it improves our legal standing over these lands.
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 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Food supply chain manager (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy is localized, it could affect out-of-state supply chains if it impacts fisheries.
- We're keeping an eye on potential resource access changes.
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 |
Teacher (Bethel, Alaska)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could positively or negatively affect our access to lands and waterways critical for food and culture.
- We need assurances that traditional activities are respected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Hiking trail guide (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our business thrives when public lands are accessible.
- Changes in public land orders might influence our routes and the safety of trails.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Student (Kodiak, Alaska)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Studying these policy changes is interesting academically, though the real-world impacts can be significant.
- The balance between nature and industry is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Sitka, Alaska)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that land changes could limit where I can fish and hike.
- It's important for me to have access to these areas for my wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Policy analyst (New York, New York)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Observing how local policies shift land management strategies is fascinating.
- The Alaskan public land situation often serves as a precursor or test case for broader federal policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1455000 (Low: $970000, High: $1930000)
Year 3: $1411500 (Low: $941000, High: $1872000)
Year 5: $1327275 (Low: $883000, High: $1758400)
Year 10: $1120177 (Low: $736000, High: $1465880)
Year 100: $552672 (Low: $363000, High: $723476)
Key Considerations
- The balance between economic benefits from increased land use and potential environmental impacts will be central to public perception and legal challenges.
- Potential opposition from indigenous and local communities if traditional lands or critical habitats are impacted.
- Long-term maintenance costs may fluctuate based on land use changes and the need for environmental monitoring and enforcement.