House Asks Gov to Fight Feds on Management of Submerged Lands & Navigable Waters

(Juneau) - The Alaska State House today passed a resolution reaffirming Alaskan's rights to access Alaskan land without interference from the federal government. House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 10, sponsored by House Finance Committee Co-Chair Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, calls on the Governor to exercise all legal options and to allocate adequate resources to defend against encroachments of Alaska's sovereign right to manage submerged lands and navigable waters.

It is imperative the Governor take proactive action to protect and preserve the management of our submerged lands and navigable waters to Alaskans, by Alaskans and for Alaskans.
~ Rep. Mike Hawker

HCR 10 passed by a vote of 37 to 1.

"House Concurrent Resolution 10 reaffirms Alaska's commitment to defending our statehood rights, which have been under attack from federal agencies over the past 12 years," Hawker said. "Our rights to access and use our lands and waters are being encroached upon, and we are increasingly at risk of losing control to aggressive federal agencies. It is imperative the Governor take proactive action to protect and preserve the management of our submerged lands and navigable waters to Alaskans, by Alaskans and for Alaskans."

Since 1996, the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Parks Service have been restricting access to submerged lands and navigable waterways within the boundaries of the state, even though the state owns and controls these resources. The state's attempt to administratively resolve this federal preemption of Alaska's authority has been unsuccessful to date.

HCR 10 now moves to the Alaska State Senate for consideration.