House committee approves Alaska Native bill

The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved H.R. 2801, a bill that authorizes a road through a national refuge in Alaska.

The Alaska Native village of King Cove wants a road built from its land to an airport in Cold Bay. The road would provide an alternative to hovercraft travel through the bay.

The bill authorizes a land swap between the village, state and the federal government. The swap enables a 25-mile gravel road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia), the chairman of the committee, opposed the bill. But at least two other Democrats backed it out of deference to Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the top Republican who is sponsoring the bill.

The bill was approved by a voice vote yesterday. It was the only item on the committee's agenda.

Get the Story:
King Cove land swap bill moves forward (The Anchorage Daily News 4/24)
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