Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas

The Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Federal Areas (CACFA) was initially created a year after the 1980 passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). It operated successfully to give a voice to Alaskans negotiating ANILCA’s complex management rules and regulations until 1999, when state funding was eliminated.

The Commission was re-established after Representative Mike Kelly of Fairbanks introduced and won passage of House Bill 87, which Governor Palin signed into law on September 28, 2007. The Commission is responsible for identifying and reducing potential negative impacts on Alaska and its citizens from federal actions on any of the 239 million acres of federal land in the state.

Under the terms of the reauthorizing law, the Governor (G) appoints six Alaskans to the Commission who serve for four years; while the Speaker of the House (H) and the Senate (S) President may each appoint one legislator from their bodies, and two other Alaskans all of whom may serve for two years. Citizen appointees must represent the diversity of users and uses of federal land in Alaska.