The Chugach region extends from the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula easterly to the 141st meridian near Icy Bay. Although the region comprises approximately 10 million acres and nearly 5000 miles of shoreline, about 7.4 million acres are held in public trust by the federal government and an additional 1.5 million acres are held by the State of Alaska. Chugach Alaska Corporation has entitlement to approximately 378,000 acres of full fee estate and 550,000 acres of subsurface estate. Most of Chugach's lands lie along the coast of the Prince William Sound, Gulf of Alaska or along major waterways within the region. While Chugach Alaska does allow access to and across privately owned lands through the permit process, there are reserved easements to allow access to public lands and waterways that have become isolated by private lands.

An easement is a right or interest that permits a person specific limited use of another's land. It is reserved for specific uses and can only be used for the purpose defined. Section 17 (b) of ANCSA established easements for access to public land, across Native Corporation land. In the 1982 Chugach Settlement Agreement with the United States, other easements, referred to as "CNI" easements, were also reserved. Both 17 (b) and CNI easements are reserved for specific uses and in specific locations. Using the easements for anything other than it's reserved purpose is considered trespass. No commercial activity is allowed on the easements without prior approval from Chugach Alaska Corporation. Hunting and fishing are not permitted from or on 17 (b) or CNI easements. Listed below are the most common types of easements encumbering Native lands and a description of the activities allowed on them.

· Site Easement
A site easement is typically one acre in size and can be used for: vehicle parking (e.g., aircraft, boats, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, cars, trucks), temporary camping, and loading or unloading. Temporary camping, loading, or unloading shall be limited to 24 hours.

· Trail Easement
Trails are 25 feet in width and uses are: travel by foot, dogsleds, animals, snowmobiles, two and three wheel vehicles, and small all terrain vehicles (less than 3,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight).

· Local Road Easement
60 feet in width and uses are: trail uses plus automobiles and trucks.

· Regional Road Easement
100 feet in width and uses are: local road uses.

· Airstrip Site
Aircraft landing plus uses allowed on a one acre site easement.

In the Chugach Region, some site easements and trail easements have been located and marked by the U.S. Forest Service. For further information on the location of marked easements, please contact the U.S. Forest Service. U.S. Forest Service, Region 10,

Chugach National Forest (907) 743-9500

Cordova Ranger District (907) 424-7661

Glacier Ranger District (907) 783-3242

Seward Ranger District (907) 224-3374

For more information about easements and their uses visit the Bureau of Land Management web site at: http://www.ak.blm.gov/sec_17b/index.html

Contact the Lands & Resources Department for a map and easement description of the area of interest. Call 563-8866 or email dphillips@chugach-ak.com.