Chugach Alaska Corp. v. Lujan

915 F.2d 454 CHUGACH ALASKA CORPORATION; The Grouse Creek Corporation, both Alaska Corporations, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. Manuel LUJAN, JR., Secretary of the Interior of the United States of America; Department of the Interior, of the United States of America, Defendants-Appellants, State of Alaska, Defendant. No. 89-35773. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted June 6, 1990. Decided Sept. 24, 1990. Ellen J. Durkee, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., for defendants-appellants. Frederick H. Boness, Preston, Thorgrimson, Shidler, Gates & Ellis, Anchorage, Alaska, for plaintiffs-appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Alaska. Before WRIGHT, WALLACE and KOZINSKI, Circuit Judges. KOZINSKI, Circuit Judge: 1 Congress enacted the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. Secs. 1601 -1629a, (ANCSA) to settle the land claims of Alaska Natives and Native groups. 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 (a). ANCSA authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain public lands to Native groups that are incorporated under Alaska law but that do not qualify as Native villages. 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1613 (h)(2). We consider whether the…