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S 4399

Geese House Site Conveyance Act

119th Congress Introduced by Lisa Murkowski and 1 co-sponsor

Conveys about 21,578 acres within Denali to Doyon, Limited under ANCSA, with boundary to exclude the land from the park and restrictions to protect cultural value and public easeme

Introduced in Senate
1
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4399

Geese House Site Conveyance Act (S.4399, 118th Congress; introduced 2026)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to authorize a specific conveyance of a defined parcel of Federal land in Alaska to Doyon, Limited, under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) framework, and to adjust related boundary and land-management effects to accommodate this conveyance.
  • Namesake: Geese House site, a culturally significant location within Denali National Park and Preserve.

Key provisions

  • Section 2 – Geese House Conveyance

    • The Secretary of the Interior must convey, as soon as practicable but no later than 1 year after enactment, all right, title, and interest in the specified Federal land to Doyon, Limited, subject to valid existing rights.
    • Land description (subsection b):
    • Conveyance targets approximately 21,578 acres selected by Doyon on September 18, 1978, within the Denali National Park and Preserve preserve area, specifically in sections 1–36, T 11, R 20 W, Fairbanks Meridian, Alaska.
    • Parcel identifiers and legacy serial numbers are provided for precise mapping (BLM records and an accompanying map dated April 14, 2026).
    • Notably excluded from conveyance: Lots 1 and 2 in sections 31 and 32, and land underlying Chilchukabena Lake and an unnamed lake within T 11, R 20 W, per a July 24, 2002 survey.
    • Easements (subsection c): The Secretary must reserve public easements required under ANCSA section 17(b) (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)).
    • Limitations (subsection d):
    • Doyon may not alienate or transfer the conveyed land to anyone other than the United States.
    • The conveyed land cannot be used for mining or mineral activities.
    • Development cannot occur in a way that derogates the cultural value or significance of the Geese House.
    • Treatment of conveyed land (subsection e): The conveyed land is treated as Federal land conveyed under ANCSA section 14(h)(8) (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)).
    • Boundary adjustment (subsection f):
    • The Interior Secretary must adjust the Denali National Park and Preserve boundary to exclude the conveyed land.
    • When practicable, align the boundary with the Denali boundary as depicted on the accompanying map (April 14, 2026), described as the “Denali National Park Preserve Boundary (Proposed).”

  • Section 3 – Miscellaneous

    • Applicable law (subsection a): The conveyance is not subject to:
    • Part 2650 of title 43 CFR (or successor regs).
    • Any past or existing withdrawal that may apply to the land.
    • Survey (subsection b): The Interior Secretary, with written approval from Doyon, Limited, may make minor corrections to the land description to fix clerical, typographical, or surveying errors.

Affected parties and scope

  • Primary beneficiary: Doyon, Limited, a regional Alaska Native corporation under ANCSA, which would receive the described Federal land.
  • Public interests and stakeholders:
    • Denali National Park and Preserve, as the land lies within the park’s preserve area; the bill requires a boundary removal of the conveyed parcel from the park boundary.
    • Public easement holders and users impacted by reserved easements.
    • Other tribal or Native entities with interests in ANCSA lands may be affected indirectly through process and use restrictions.
  • Limitations on use: No mining/mineral activities; no transfer to third parties; development must honor cultural significance of the Geese House.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2026, by Senator Murkowski, with Senator Sullivan as co-sponsor.
  • The act requires completion of the conveyance within 1 year of enactment, subject to existing rights.
  • Boundary adjustments to Denali National Park and Preserve to reflect the conveyance are required, guided by the map description dated April 14, 2026.
  • The conveyance is exempt from certain Bureau of Land Management and withdrawal-related regulations, per the miscellaneous provisions.

Summary

The Geese House Site Conveyance Act would vest ownership of a specified 21,578-acre tract within Denali National Park and Preserve to Doyon, Limited, while preserving certain public easements and prohibiting mining, third-party transfers, or development that would diminish the Geese House’s cultural significance. It would also require redrawing the park boundary to exclude the conveyed land and provide for minor corrections to the land description as needed. The measure streamlines a targeted, culturally significant land transfer under ANCSA, with safeguards to respect cultural values and public access rights.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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