Native objections Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

the pipeline passes underneath many smaller rivers , streams bridges longer crossings

in 1902, united states department of agriculture set aside 16,000,000 acres (64,750 km) of southeast alaska tongass national forest. tlingit natives lived in area protested land theirs , had been unfairly taken. in 1935, congress passed law allowing tlingits sue recompense, , resulting case dragged on until 1968, when $7.5 million settlement reached. following native lawsuit halt work on trans-alaska pipeline, precedent mentioned in debate, causing pressure resolve situation more 33 years had taken tlingits satisfied. between 1968 , 1971, succession of bills introduced u.s. congress compensate statewide native claims. earliest bill offered $7 million, flatly rejected.

the alaska federation of natives, had been created in 1966, hired former united states supreme court justice arthur goldberg, suggested settlement should include 40 million acres (160,000 km) of land , payment of $500 million. issue remained @ standstill until alyeska began lobbying in favor of native claims act in congress in order lift legal injunction against pipeline construction. in october 1971, president richard nixon signed alaska native claims settlement act (ancsa). under act, native groups renounce land claims in exchange $962.5 million , 148.5 million acres (601,000 km) in federal land. money , land split among village , regional corporations, distributed shares of stock natives in region or village. shares paid dividends based on both settlement , corporation profits. pipeline developers, important aspect of ancsa clause dictating no native allotments selected in path of pipeline.

another objection of natives potential pipeline disrupt traditional way of life. many natives worried disruption caused pipeline scare away whales , caribou relied upon food.