Congressman Begich Applauds House Passage of the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 4, 2026 – Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) applauded the House passage of H.R. 3903, the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025, legislation he introduced to resolve longstanding resolve split estate challenges with land ownership in Chugach, Alaska.

“For more than three decades, conflicting federal actions have prevented Chugach shareholders from fully realizing the economic opportunities promised to them under ANCSA,” said Congressman Begich. “This legislation restores economic value by promoting responsible resource development. Importantly, this bill strikes the right balance - protecting critical habitat while ensuring that Alaska Native landowners have a meaningful path to economic self-determination. I am grateful for the longstanding work of Chugach Chairman Sheri Buretta, who advocated tirelessly on behalf of Alaskans in the Chugach region for decades. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get this legislation across the finish line.”

“Today is an important step forward for the Chugach people and our region,” said Sheri Buretta, Chairman of the Chugach Board. “With the House passage of the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act, we move closer to resolving a decades-long land issue stemming from the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. We are grateful to Congressman Nick Begich and the members of the House Natural Resources Committee for their leadership and bipartisan support, and we look forward to continuing this work with Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan to see this legislation signed into law.”

“Alaska natives continue to feel the impacts of past disasters on their lands and livelihoods,” said House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman. “This bill advances a practical land exchange that supports long-term recovery, improves land management and restores economic opportunity for affected communities. I thank Representative Begich for leading a thoughtful, locally driven solution that puts stewardship and recovery first.”

BACKGROUND

The bill directs a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation, correcting decades-old conflicts created in the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Under the legislation, Chugach will exchange approximately 231,000 acres of subsurface estate beneath federally owned surface lands for 65,403 acres of accessible and economically viable federal land, consistent with findings from the 2022 Chugach Region Land Study directed by Congress.

Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill which released approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council used settlement funds to acquire more than 200,000 acres of surface estate and conservation easements in the Chugach Region. While Chugach Alaska Corporation retained subsurface rights beneath many of these lands, federal conservation restrictions have effectively prevented development, limiting the corporation’s ability to generate economic returns for its shareholders.

H.R. 3903 resolves this conflict by providing Chugach with alternative lands that are accessible and economically viable, while maintaining the conservation protections on sensitive surface lands.

H.R. 3903 marks Congressman Begich’s XX bill he has passed out of the House. H.R. 3903 heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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