Sullivan Attends Sturgeon Supreme Court Oral Arguments
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), along with other Alaskans – including Senator Lisa Murkowski – attended oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court today for Sturgeon v. Frost, a case that cuts to the heart of Alaska’s sovereignty.
Alaskan John Sturgeon is suing the National Park Service after being forced off the Nation River for using a hovercraft to hunt moose. The Park Service claimed it controlled that stretch of land, even though the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA) says otherwise. A section of ANILCA was carefully written with Alaska sovereignty in mind and clearly prohibits federal control over such lands and waters. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the Park Service in Sturgeon v. Frost, giving the Park Service expansive rights over state and Native land.
“It’s a really a simple case,” said Senator Sullivan. “The federal government, as it’s done numerous times in Alaska, is trying to usurp congressional authority to control lands that aren’t theirs to control. It’s also the story of one man—John Sturgeon—who followed the letter of the law and refused to back down when the federal government didn’t likewise follow the law. I think that point was made loud and clear during oral arguments.
“In Alaska, our land and our waters are our lifeblood. The more the federal government takes, the less control we have over our economic destiny. The people of Alaska know this. John Sturgeon knows this. Members of the Supreme Court appeared to understand this. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito went so far as to call the 9th Circuit ruling a ‘ridiculous interpretation’ of the law. Nonetheless, this interpretation is already being used by the Park Service to enact further regulation of oil and gas production on non-federal lands in Alaska.
“Mr. Sturgeon’s lawyer, Matthew Findley, argued that if the 9th Circuit decision is left to stand, ‘the hits are going to keep on coming unless this Court stops this interpretation.’
“I agree. It is time for this Court to end the federal government’s long history of wrongfully seizing power over the State of Alaska’s lands.”
A decision is expected before June. To read a transcript of the hearing, CLICK HERE.
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