Federal Land Management: Chandler Lake Land Exchange Not in the Government's Best Interest
RCED-90-5
Published: Oct 06, 1989. Publicly Released: Nov 22, 1989.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Chandler Lake exchange, which gave the Department of the Interior surface rights to Alaskan native-owned lands and gave the Alaskan native corporations subsurface rights to land within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for petroleum exploration, focusing on whether the exchange was in the government's best interest.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop and issue written procedures to execute land exchanges under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Acts. At a minimum, the procedures should require: (1) the preparation of environmental assessments or environmental impact statements, when appropriate; (2) full review by the public, state, and local governments, and other affected parties, of all aspects of the proposed exchange; (3) justification for determining whether a proposed exchange is in the public interest; and (4) establishment and disclosure of the fair market value of the lands and interests to be exchanged. | No congressional action has been taken or is contemplated; therefore, because of the age of this recommendation, it should be closed out. |
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Topics
Environmental impact statementsIndian landsLand managementLand transfersLand use agreementsNational parksNative AmericansOil leasesPetroleum explorationWilderness areas