---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3111"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3111"
heading: "Congressional declaration of findings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3111"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation"
  - "Subchapter II — Subsistence Management and Use"
---

# §3111. Congressional declaration of findings


The Congress finds and declares that—

- (1) the continuation of the opportunity for subsistence uses by rural residents of Alaska, including both [Natives](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) and non-[Natives](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16), on the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) and by [Alaska Natives](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) on [Native lands](/usc/16/3102.md?p=11) is essential to [Native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) physical, economic, traditional, and cultural existence and to non-[Native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) physical, economic, traditional, and social existence;
- (2) the situation in Alaska is unique in that, in most cases, no practical alternative means are available to replace the food supplies and other items gathered from [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) which supply rural residents dependent on subsistence uses;
- (3) continuation of the opportunity for subsistence uses of resources on public and other lands in Alaska is threatened by the increasing population of Alaska, with resultant pressure on subsistence resources, by sudden decline in the populations of some wildlife species which are crucial subsistence resources, by increased accessibility of remote [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) containing subsistence resources, and by [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) in a manner inconsistent with recognized principles of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) management;
- (4) in order to fulfill the policies and purposes of the [Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act](/usc/16/3102.md?p=5) [[43 U.S.C. 1601](/usc/43/1601.md) et seq.] and as a matter of equity, it is necessary for the Congress to invoke its constitutional authority over [Native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) affairs and its constitutional authority under the property clause and the commerce clause to protect and provide the opportunity for continued subsistence uses on the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) by [Native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) and non-[Native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) rural residents; and
- (5) the national interest in the proper regulation, protection, and conservation of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) on the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) in Alaska and the continuation of the opportunity for a subsistence way of life by residents of rural Alaska require that an administrative structure be established for the purpose of enabling rural residents who have personal knowledge of local conditions and requirements to have a meaningful role in the management of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) and of subsistence uses on the [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) in Alaska.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–487, title VIII, § 801, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2422; Pub. L. 105–83, title III, § 316(b)(3), (d), Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1592, 1595.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables.

### Amendments

1997—Pub. L. 105–83, § 316(b)(3), which directed the designation of existing provisions as subsec. (a) and the addition of subsec. (b) relating to further congressional findings as to subsistence use of public lands by rural residents of Alaska, was repealed by Pub. L. 105–83, § 316(d). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment

Until laws are adopted in Alaska which provide for definition, preference, and participation specified in sections 3113 to 3115 of this title, amendment by Pub. L. 105–83 was effective only for purpose of determining whether State’s laws provide for such definition, preference, and participation, and such amendment was repealed on Dec. 1, 1998, because such laws had not been adopted, see section 316(d) of Pub. L. 105–83 set out as a note under section 3102 of this title.