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HR 8674

Geese House Site Conveyance Act

119th Congress

Conveys about 21,578 acres in Denali to Doyon, Limited within a year, with easements, cultural protections, and boundary adjustments removing the land from the Denali Park Preserve

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8674

Geese House Site Conveyance Act — Summary

This summary provides a clear overview of H.R. 8674 (119th Congress), introduced May 7, 2026 by Rep. Begich, and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill would authorize a specific conveyance of federal land to a private party and establish related provisions.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey a defined block of federal land to Doyon, Limited, within a specified timeframe (as soon as practicable, but no later than 1 year after enactment).
  • The conveyance is tied to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) framework and includes safeguards to protect cultural values and existing rights.

Key provisions and changes

  • Conveyance to Doyon, Limited (Section 2(a))
    • Doyon, Limited would receive all right, title, and interest in the specified federal land description.
    • Timing: conveyance must occur no later than 1 year after enactment, subject to valid existing rights.
  • Description of land (Section 2(b))
    • Land to be conveyed: roughly 21,578 acres located in the Denali National Park and Preserve’s preserve area, designated by public land records (sections 1–36, T11N, R20W, Fairbanks Meridian).
    • Exclusions: Lots 1 and 2 in sections 31 and 32, plus land underlying Chilchukabena Lake and an unnamed lake (per specific survey 2002).
    • The land is depicted on the map titled “Geese House Site Conveyance Act” dated April 14, 2026.
  • Easements (Section 2(c))
    • The Secretary of the Interior must reserve public easements required under ANCSA section 17(b) (43 U.S.C. 1616(b)).
  • Limitations on conveyed land (Section 2(d))
    • Doyon, Limited may not:
    • Alienate or transfer the conveyed land to anyone other than the United States.
    • Authorize mining or mineral activities on the conveyed land.
    • Permit development that would derogate the cultural value or significance of the Geese House.
  • Treatment of conveyed land (Section 2(e))
    • Conveyed federal land is to be treated as land conveyed under ANCSA section 14(h)(8) (43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8)).
  • Boundary adjustment (Section 2(f))
    • The Secretary of the Interior shall adjust Denali National Park and Preserve boundaries:
    • To exclude the conveyed federal land.
    • To the extent practicable, align with the proposed Denali Park Preserve boundary depicted on the 2026 map.
  • Miscellaneous provisions (Section 3)
    • Applicable law (Section 3(a)):
    • The conveyance is not subject to 43 C.F.R. Part 2650 requirements or to any past or existing withdrawal that might apply to the conveyed land.
    • Survey corrections (Section 3(b)):
    • The Interior Secretary, with written approval from Doyon, Limited, may make minor corrections to the survey/description to fix clerical or surveying errors.

Who is affected

  • Primary party benefiting: Doyon, Limited, a corporation representing Alaska Native interests under ANCSA.
  • Public and government interests: The land transfer includes reserved public easements and a boundary adjustment with Denali National Park and Preserve.
  • Cultural protections: Explicit limitations are placed on land use to protect the Geese House’s cultural value or significance.
  • Regulatory framework: The conveyance would occur outside certain normal regulatory requirements (as noted in Section 3), but easements and boundary changes are still required.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The conveyance target is “as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year after enactment.”
  • Boundary adjustment would occur after conveyance and be aligned with the proposed Denali boundary map.
  • Minor survey corrections may be made with Doyon’s approval to fix minor errors.
  • The bill is currently in the House Committee on Natural Resources; no Senate action is shown in the provided text.

Potential implications

  • A significant land parcel within Denali National Park and Preserve would be transferred to a private ANCSA entity, with specific protections to avoid mining, misappropriation, or actions that would diminish the Geese House’s cultural value.
  • The boundary changes would effectively remove the conveyed land from the Denali Park Preserve area and reset surrounding boundaries to reflect this conveyance.
  • Easements will ensure continued public access and rights where required under ANCSA, preserving public property interests alongside the conveyance.

If you’d like, I can add a map-reference appendix or compare this bill to similar ANCSA conveyance provisions in prior law.

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

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