Federal land in Anchorage handed to Alaska Native health nonprofit at no cost

What does this do?

HR 3620 transfers approximately 3.4 acres of federally owned land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation, a nonprofit Alaska Native health care organization. The transfer must be completed within two years of the bill becoming law. The federal government relinquishes all ownership rights with no conditions attached.

Who does it affect?

The Southcentral Foundation, which serves Alaska Native and American Indian people in the Anchorage area, receives the land. The Department of Health and Human Services currently holds the property and would carry out the transfer.

Why does it matter?

SCF is expected to use the land for health and social services programs serving the broader Alaska Native and American Indian community in the Anchorage area. The bill also establishes a clear division of environmental liability, keeping the federal government responsible for any contamination that occurred before the transfer date while SCF bears responsibility for any contamination that occurs after it takes control.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Transfer price to SCF: $0
• ~3.4 acres conveyed at no charge

Where does it stand?