Native corporation rejects land swap extension

Tuesday, March 18, 2008  

Shareholders of an Alaska Native regional corporation rejected a resolution that called for an extension to the public comment period on a controversial land swap.

More than 90 percent of Doyon Ltd. shareholders voted against the proposal, the corporation said. The issue came up a day after the Tanana Chiefs Conference passed a resolution to extend the comment period.

Doyon wants to trade 150,000 acres with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The corporation would get 110,000 acres within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, plus mineral rights on an additional 97,000 acres.

Native villages are opposing the proposal and have asked for more time to comment. They said FWS failed to consult individually with each tribe and said the draft environmental impact statement wasn't provided in Native languages.

The comment period ends March 25.

Get the Story:
Doyon shareholders reject more time to comment on land swap (The Fairbanks Daily News Miner 3/18)

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