By MICHAEL TAVOLIERO
Taking Back Alaska Part V
I. Introduction
Alaska must critically reform and streamline its state agencies to maximize local autonomy and eliminate counterproductive collaborations with federal agencies that restrict land use, hunting, and responsible resource development.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources needs continued restructuring to simplify permitting processes, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and efficiently promote balanced land development for Alaskans.
Similarly, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game must refocus its mandate on managing fish and wildlife sustainably, prioritizing local needs over federal constraints.
Additionally, comprehensive evaluations and targeted reforms of state agencies in Alaska are critical to achieving Alaska’s goal of self-determination, economic vitality, and responsive governance. Self-examination by the state of its bureaucracy is timely and necessary.
But the unspoken reality for Alaskans is the settlement of all federal lands in Alaska. This has been languishing for decades due to political, environmental and market concerns. Alaska stands unmatched as America’s greatest untapped frontier, holding within its borders an extraordinary abundance of natural resources essential to our nation’s continued prosperity, economic security, and global competitiveness.
The following information outlines a hypothetical framework addressing historical challenges, abundant natural resources, and fostering a strong and collaborative relationship between the State of Alaska and over 200 Alaska Native Tribes. This approach honors the promises made through critical historical compacts, including the Alaska Statehood Act, ANCSA, and ANILCA, while proposing innovative solutions for managing Alaska’s vast natural wealth for the benefit of all Alaskans.
II. Historical Challenges and Context
Alaska has historically faced systemic challenges due to federal land management practices, significantly affecting resource development, economic opportunities, and local autonomy. Despite explicit statutory commitments established through the Statehood Act, ANCSA, and ANILCA, repeated federal breaches have hindered Alaska from fully benefiting from its natural resource wealth.
Critical Issues:
- Limited Access: Federal restrictions blocking access to resource-rich lands.
- Regulatory Barriers: Overly restrictive environmental regulations limiting sustainable economic growth.
- Recognition Failures: Inadequate recognition and protection of valid existing rights and traditional land uses.
- Economic Disparities: Persistent socioeconomic inequalities disproportionately affecting rural and Alaska Native communities.
Alaska has endured decades of exhaustive studies, prolonged analyses, repeated approvals and denials, bureaucratic stalling, and political inaction regarding its land and resource management. This chronic cycle of “analysis paralysis” has severely hampered the state’s economic and social progress. Alaskans have patiently awaited fulfillment of federal promises, only to face continual delays and broken commitments. The time for perpetual evaluation has passed; decisive action is now urgently needed. Alaska must finally be provided with the tools and authority necessary to fully realize its vast potential and take its rightful place as one of America’s most productive, prosperous, and strategically vital states.
III. Natural Resource Wealth
Alaska boasts extensive natural resources:
A. Oil and Gas
- National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A): Holds approximately 900 million barrels of conventional oil and over 53 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Potential for billions of barrels of untapped oil.
- Non-North Slope Federal Lands: Mandated development under ANILCA Title X remains largely unrealized.
B. Timber and Agricultural Resources
- Tongass National Forest: Historically yielded over 520 million board feet annually. Current management strategies severely limit output and employment.
- Chugach National Forest: Approximately 5.4 million acres, with timber potential and historically sustainable forestry practices.
- State and Native Corporation Forests: Vast lands managed by the state and Native corporations provide additional commercial forestry opportunities.
- Traditional Farming: Limited but growing potential for cold-tolerant crops like potatoes, carrots, barley, oats, and greens, primarily in the Mat-Su Valley, Kenai Peninsula, and Delta Junction regions.
- Livestock and Ranching: Raising cattle, reindeer, goats, sheep, and poultry adapted to Alaskan conditions.
- Specialty Agriculture: Berry production, greenhouses, controlled-environment agriculture, and niche markets (e.g., peonies, herbs) are emerging opportunities.
C. Known Mineral Resources
The above table provides an overview of Alaska’s abundant and diverse mineral resources, including strategically important metals and industrial minerals. Alaska hosts world-class deposits of gold, copper, silver, molybdenum, zinc, rare earth elements, and strategic industrial materials such as barite, limestone, gypsum, jade, and diamonds.
C. Alaska’s fish, marine life, and related activities
- Commercial Fishing: Alaska produces over 60% of the nation’s commercial seafood, including salmon, halibut, crab, pollock, and cod. This sector generates billions of dollars annually, supports thousands of jobs, and fuels local economies.
- Subsistence Fishing & Marine Harvesting: Vital to Alaska Native communities, subsistence fishing and harvesting of marine life are deeply embedded in cultural traditions and provide food security across rural areas.
- Recreational & Sport Fishing: Significant drivers of tourism, attracting visitors for salmon runs, halibut fishing, and other marine experiences, adding millions to the state’s economy each year.
- Marine Ecosystem Services: Healthy marine habitats support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and other environmental benefits.
D. Resources Yet to be Discovered or Fully Developed
- Alaska’s geology suggests vast undiscovered mineral and energy resources, including critical minerals essential for technological advancements.
- Offshore oil, gas reserves, and renewable energy opportunities (wind, geothermal, tidal) remain significantly unexplored.
- The state’s geothermal potential offers opportunities for renewable energy development, particularly in regions with volcanic activity. Certain areas in Alaska have favorable conditions for wind and solar energy projects, contributing to the state’s renewable energy portfolio.
IV. Strategic Objectives
A. Natural Resource Development
- Fully realize ANILCA mandates to responsibly develop oil, gas, timber, and minerals.
- Reinstate original intent behind NPR-A, ANWR, and Title X of ANILCA, ensuring expeditious resource exploration and development.
- Reactivate forestry operations in Tongass and other parts of the state to restore sustainable harvest levels and employment opportunities.
- Clear regulatory barriers to mineral development to promote investment and economic diversification.
B. Protection and Enhancement of Traditional Uses
- Guarantee traditional access and use of conservation system units for subsistence, recreation, and economic activities.
- Ensure agency adherence to Section 1110(a) access rights under ANILCA without imposing unauthorized restrictions or permit requirements.
C. Recognition and Protection of Valid Existing Rights
- Honor and guarantee access to private inholdings, Alaska Native lands, mining claims, and state-owned lands through simplified and streamlined processes.
- Reassert R.S. 2477 rights-of-way to facilitate efficient transportation and access infrastructure essential for rural and resource-dependent communities.
V. State and Tribal Partnership
For the first time in American history, Alaska, in collaboration with its unparalleled number of federally recognized sovereign tribal governments, is positioned to create a unified strategic partnership to fundamentally redefine state and tribal land management through the direct transfer of federal land titles. By building a powerful alliance grounded in mutual respect, shared economic goals, and recognition of tribal sovereignty, Alaska and its tribes can leverage unprecedented political and legal influence to negotiate the full transfer of federally promised lands, including parks, national monuments, preserves, and other federally controlled areas, directly into state and tribal ownership. This coordinated approach emphasizes a collective vision where both state and tribal governments hold clear, legally secured titles, cooperatively managing and operating lands to realize commitments made at statehood and reaffirmed through ANCSA and ANILCA. This historic strategy prioritizes local autonomy, economic prosperity, and sustainable management practices, positioning Alaska as a national model for state-tribal partnership, sovereign land stewardship, and genuine self-determination.
The continued federal retention of approximately 220.3 million acres in Alaska, without any explicit constitutional justification relating to national defense, transportation, or critical infrastructure, raises serious constitutional, legal, and equity concerns. Moreover, it has resulted in decades of underutilization and outright waste of abundant natural resources, depriving both Alaska and the nation of vital economic development, strategic resource independence, and sustainable prosperity.
Alaska with its tribal governments have strong grounds to argue for a timely transfer of these federally held lands into state and tribal hands.
In order to accomplish this, a robust and well-defined partnership between the State of Alaska and the 200+ Alaska Native Tribes is fundamental:
- Strengthen state-tribal collaboration frameworks, prioritizing joint decision-making in natural resource management and economic development.
- Respect tribal sovereignty and support tribal self-determination in managing tribal lands and resources.
- Foster cooperative agreements and joint ventures to ensure shared economic benefits and sustainable development practices.
- Prioritize infrastructure and economic support for rural and tribal communities disproportionately impacted by historical federal mismanagement.
VI. Proposed Remedy: Land and Resource Management Transfer
Given systemic federal failures, the plan advocates for:
- Transferring significant federal lands to State control under conditions that honor original federal mandates and promises.
- Enhanced role and explicit consent authority of Alaska and Alaska Native Tribes in future federal land-use decisions.
- Leveraging state and tribal expertise for more responsive, efficient, and locally-informed land management and economic development.
- Utilizing Alaska’s proven capacity and extensive expertise in natural resource management to immediately improve stewardship, economic outcomes, and environmental protection.
- Empowering Alaska Native Tribes to apply their considerable knowledge, cultural expertise, and management capabilities for sustainable, culturally-informed resource development and land management.
VII. Implementation and Governance
- Reinstate and empower the Alaska Land Use Council as a joint state-federal-tribal governance body, with state consent as a mandatory condition for federal land-use decisions.
- Transparent tracking, accountability, and regular reviews to ensure adherence to statutory and policy commitments.
- Strategic state investment in rural and tribal capacity-building, infrastructure, and workforce development to optimize resource-driven economic opportunities.
VIII. Conclusion
This approach marks a transformative step toward empowering Alaskans and Alaska Native Tribes with rightful stewardship over their natural resources. By rectifying historical wrongs, this settlement lays the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship—fulfilling the original promise of Alaska’s statehood compact for present and future generations.