180 Acres of Tongass National Forest Land to Be Transferred to Cape Fox Corporation, Finalizing Alaska Native Claims

The Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025 is essentially a clean-up bill that settles a long-standing land claim with the Cape Fox Village Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation. The core of the bill directs the federal government to transfer approximately 180 acres of surface land currently within the Tongass National Forest in Alaska directly to Cape Fox. This transfer is not just a suggestion; the bill mandates the Secretary of the Interior to make it happen, using a map dated December 18, 2023, as the official boundary reference (SEC. 1).

The Land Swap: Who Gets What?

This legislation is designed to finalize a land entitlement owed to Cape Fox under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). For the busy person, here’s the key takeaway: 180 acres of federal forest land are being permanently moved out of public ownership. Critically, the bill explicitly states that once conveyed, this land will no longer be considered part of the Tongass National Forest or the National Forest System, and it will be exempt from public land laws (SEC. 1). Think of it like taking a specific plot of land out of a national park and making it private property. To ensure this happens smoothly, the federal government is required to pay for all necessary land surveys and administrative costs associated with the transfer, shifting the financial burden entirely to the federal budget (SEC. 1).

Cutting the Red Tape and Subsurface Rights

To expedite the process, the bill waives a specific requirement in ANCSA that typically mandates the Cape Fox Village Corporation to select land within a specific "core township" near the Native Village of Saxman. This waiver allows them to receive the 180 acres outside that boundary instead, streamlining the finalization of their entitlement (SEC. 3). Furthermore, the legislation ensures that while Cape Fox receives the surface estate—meaning the land itself and everything on top of it—the subsurface estate (the mineral rights and everything below the surface) must be simultaneously conveyed to Sealaska Corporation, fulfilling their separate ANCSA entitlement for mineral rights (SEC. 4). This dual conveyance must occur quickly, with Congress setting a deadline of no later than 180 days after Cape Fox formally selects the land.

The Public Access Catch

While 180 acres are leaving the National Forest System, the bill includes a crucial safeguard for the public. The transfer to Cape Fox must reserve a public access easement (SEC. 5). This means that even after the land becomes private corporate property, the public retains the right to cross it to reach other National Forest System land further inland on Revillagigedo Island. For hikers, hunters, or anyone relying on that specific route to access the larger forest, this easement ensures their access isn't cut off when the land changes hands. The entire transfer, however, is subject to any “valid existing rights” already on the land, such as existing utility easements or prior claims, meaning Cape Fox receives the land as-is (SEC. 6).

Real-World Impact

For the average person who uses public lands, this bill represents a small but tangible reduction in the National Forest footprint. While 180 acres might seem small in the vast Tongass, the land is permanently removed from federal management and its associated environmental protections. The good news is that the bill resolves a long-outstanding federal obligation to the Cape Fox and Sealaska Corporations, providing them with assets they were legally entitled to decades ago. The inclusion of the public access easement prevents the transfer from creating a major headache for those who recreate or work in the area, ensuring that a route to the rest of the Tongass remains open.