Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas
Due to Commission funding being vetoed in June 2016, staff are no longer available to maintain and monitor the CACFA website. Content will be available here for archival purposes and the commissioners may be reached at contactcacfa@gmail.com.
The History, Mission and Responsibilities of the Commission
The Citizens' 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's Bylaws were adopted 11/06/2008 and revised on 6/2/2010.
The Commission is responsible for identifying and reducing potential negative impacts on Alaska and its citizens from federal actions on any of the over 200 million acres of federal land in the state, and "...shall consider, research and hold hearings on the consistency with federal law and congressional intent on management, operation, planning, development, and additions to federal management areas in the state." (AS 41.37.220(a))
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.
The Alaska Lands Update, CACFA's Newsletter
The Alaska Lands Update is on hiatus due to budget cuts.
Correspondence
A catalog of formal comments, recommendations and appeal letters from the Commission, organized by date.
