ALASKA MINER – 11/03
Issues Update from AMA Executive Director Steve Borell

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After more than two decades of problems for Alaskans, a situation has arisen that may provide opportunity to establish important case law regarding access to inholdings within Conservation System Units. Pacific Legal Foundation on November 3, 2003 filed a lawsuit against the federal government regarding access to inholdings. The catalyst for this suit has been the National Park Service's closure of the 15-mile-long McCarthy to Green Butte road. This road is the only overland access to property owned by Robert Hale, commonly known as Papa Pilgrim, and the 16 members of his family. The Pilgrim saga and the heavy-handed actions by the NPS have provided an opportunity to bring a suit on the issue. PLF looks for situations to protect private property rights and the facts of this case appear to be clear and strong enough to establish precedent for inholders, both under the promises of ANILCA and under Revised Statute 2477. We wish PLF all the best!!!

The situation forced upon the Pilgrim family has also been a catalyst in other ways. Firstly, many Alaska inholders that have been abused for many years by either the NPS or the USF&WS have come out of the woodwork and their stories of abuse by these agencies are disgusting to say the least. Also, the Pilgrim saga has spawned formation of an new organization to be known as Alaskans for Access (AfA). This new organization will focus on issues involving access to inholdings within conservation system units and Paula Easley, once Executive Director of the Resource Development Council is the AfA President. Over the past several months it has become apparent that the NPS and USF&WS have been slowly (?) and deliberately changing their policies and requirements, continually adding further restrictions and hurdles for people wanting access to inholdings. The Pilgrim access issue has brought out many individuals that have been harassed by these agencies but previously thought they were alone in their problems.

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Alaska Miners Association  www.AlaskaMiners.org