Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

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By Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. STEVENS):

S. 1548. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain Forest Service land to the city of Coffman Cove, Alaska; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I introduce a bill that is very important to a small community in my home State of Alaska. This bill will authorize the U.S. Forest Service to convey approximately 12 acres of land, which it no longer needs but continues to own in Coffman Cove, AK to the city of Coffman Cove. The bill authorizes that the land, a former administrative site, be conveyed without charge to the city which has a population of about 230 people.

Coffman Cove was founded in 1965 as a logging community to provide support for the timber industry on Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest. It operated for almost 35 years in that capacity. Due to changes in Federal policy, the timber industry on the island no longer provides the economic base necessary to sustain Coffman Cove. Attempts at economic diversification are very difficult so long as the Forest Service holds in Federal ownership these 12 acres which literally occupy the center of this small community.

Just a few years ago, the Forest Service in conjunction with the timber industry completed the environmental cleanup of the logging site and facility at Coffman Cove. That cleanup was funded by the timber industry as good corporate citizens. The result of the cleanup is that the 12 acres can now be made available for disposal to the city.

This bill, in which I am joined by my colleague Mr. STEVENS, would convey title to the City without cost so that it can begin a redevelopment plan for the community. The city of Coffman Cove needs this land if it is to hope to reorient its economy from a principally logging community to a more diversified economic community. A small town of 230 people simply does not have the funds to purchase this land and the Federal Government needs to pitch in by conveying full title without cost to the community.

This is only fair since the Federal Government's change in timber policy has created the city's dilemma. As a result of the change in timber policy with which the Senate is so familiar, the city has been set adrift to fend for itself economically. And it has done a good job. It will soon become the southern terminus for the Inter-Island Ferry Authority's new northern route which will connect Prince of Wales Island with Wrangell and Petersburg. The new route will go into service in the next few months and this should provide an economic boost to the community.

But, Coffman Cove must control the land in the heart of its community if it is to economically diversify. For the new ferry route to bring economic development to the City, the City must able to sell, rent, or develop its local land base. The 12 acres which are the subject of my bill are the 12 key acres right in the center of town. Now this is a small town and without control of this land, the City cannot ever successfully diversity and recovers from the change in its economy as a result of the change in Federal timber policy.

This Forest Service desires to retain a 3 acre site for its continued administrative purposes. My bill does not affect that site and I expect the Forest Service to have no problem with the land conveyance locations provided in this bill. I appreciate the assistance of the Forest Service in helping me to draft the legislation.

This conveyance fulfills the Federal Government's commitment that changes in Federal timber policy would be matched by Federal help to the local communities to diversify. It is absolutely appropriate and fair to offer Coffman Cove this former Forest Service administrative site that no longer has value to the Federal government but that is crucial to Coffman Cove as it plans its future.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

S. 1548

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