State of Alaska v. 13.90 Acres of Land

625 F. Supp. 1315, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12378
CourtDistrict Court, D. Alaska
DecidedDecember 23, 1985
DocketF81-040 CIV, F81-050 CIV and F83-037 CIV
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 625 F. Supp. 1315 (State of Alaska v. 13.90 Acres of Land) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Alaska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State of Alaska v. 13.90 Acres of Land, 625 F. Supp. 1315, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12378 (D. Alaska 1985).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

VON DER HEYDT, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE comes before the court on Alyeska’s motion to quiet title and dismiss, Alyeska’s motion for a protective order, and Esther John Etalook’s motion to compel deposit of additional funds. Although all parties are familiar with the record, the court finds that a review of the facts supported by the record will assist it in deciding the above motions.

I. Factual Background

Arctic John Etalook began to occupy the native allotment at issue in this action in July 1946. See Ex. 3, Docket# 88, F83-037. This use apparently was for at least five years’ duration and continuous prior to 1969. On July 20, 1971 Arctic John applied for a native allotment pursuant to the Alaska Native Allotment Act of 1906, Act of May 17, 1906, ch. 2469, 34 Stat. 197 (formerly codified at 43 U.S.C. § 270-1; repealed 1971). BLM received the application April 14, 1972. The allotment appears to have been recorded correctly on BLM’s Master Title Plats on or before April 13, 1972. See Interrogatory No. 3, attached to Docket #95, F83-037. But see Sullivan deposition at 22, 24-25, Docket # 80, F83037 (stating that Etalook allotment was originally misplatted). The allotment was issued August 27, 1975 and transmitted by BLM to the BIA. The BIA recorded the allotment certificate for Arctic John and then sent him the recorded Certificate of Allotment on October 29, 1975. See Exs. 7-10, Docket # 91, F83-037.

At the same time the above events were occurring, Alyeska was attempting to secure rights of way across the lands occupied by Etalook for the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Alyeska first filed right-of-way applications for the pipeline right of way with the BLM in 1969. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, 43 U.S.C. § 1651 et seq. (1982), authorizing construction of the pipeline, was enacted in 1973. Alyeska’s right-of-way application was granted in 1974. The haul road was built across Arctic John’s allotment in 1974, and the pipeline in 1975, although initial land clearing for the pipeline probably occurred in 1974.

*1318 Alyeska first became aware of the conflict between the right of way and Arctic John’s allotment application late in 1974 when John Heffle notified Frank Moolin, construction superintendent for Alyeska, that trespass was occurring. Sullivan deposition at 23. An initial meeting regarding options to resolve the conflict between Arctic John and Alyeska occurred April 8, 1975. See Ex. 4, Docket # 80, F80-037. A second meeting was held May 27, 1975. At this meeting Arctic John accepted $25,000 in return for granting Alyeska a Road Right of Way containing 13.9 acres and a Pipeline Right of Way containing 11.1 acres. 1 On the same day, the BIA sent a letter to Alyeska’s attorney, Harris Saxon, stating

These [Arctic John’s] lands are segregated from public domain by applications filed pursuant to the Act of May 17, 1906, (34 Stat. 197), as amended August 2, 1956 (70 Stat. 954; 48 U.S.C. 357). When title to the lands passes to the individual Native applicant, jurisdiction of the land will be under the Bureau of Indian Affairs. At that time, all easements for right of way and construction permits across individual restricted Native lands must be processed and approved by Secretary of the Interior in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations Title 25-Part 161. We have no objection at this time to the agreements you submitted. However, this non-objection does not imply approval now and is not to be construed as any intent for approval in the future.

Ex.D, Docket # 109, F81-050. This letter reiterates the information explained to Alyeska’s representatives at that time by Joe Donahue, then a Realty Officer for the BIA. Donahue aff., 11117-10, Docket # 104, F81-050.

After this agreement was signed Mr. Sullivan 2 became aware that Alyeska intended to place a valve site on Mr. Etalook’s property. He informed the Alyeska pipeline project management team that it either had to acquire an additional right of way or move the valve. Despite this warning, and a promise to Mr. Sullivan that the valve would be moved, Alyeska in fact placed it on the allotment. Sullivan deposition, Ex. 1, Docket # 80, F83-037. Alyeska opened negotiations for compensation for the additional property taken in August, 1976. After an exchange of letters, a meeting was held February 16, 1977. At this meeting Arctic John accepted $3,500 in return for signing a grant of .25 acres additional pipeline right of way. See, e.g., Ex. 6. Docket # 80, F83-037 (Sub-exhibits 1-3).

In Alyeska’s letter of February 11, 1977 (the Feb. 16 agreement), it requested that Arctic John “have the appropriate Bureau of Indian Affiars official review, approve and execute the enclosed copy of this letter.” The letter was “read and approved” by Katherine L. Adams, BIA Realty Specialist, on February 16, 1977. 3 Paragraph 6 of this agreement reads as follows:

Alyeska shall not use or interfere with your native allotment (USS 5199) except for the purposes and to the extent provided in that certain Road Right of Way Agreement dated May 27, 1975; and that certain Right of Way Agreement dated May 27, 1975; and the above-described Amended Right of Way agreement.

After this agreement was signed Arctic John soured to the idea of his land being used for the pipeline and haul road. On January 20, 1978, he wrote a letter indicating he did not intend to grant any further easements beyond those already entered into with Alyeska. See Donahue cronology, Ex. 4, Docket #80, F83-037; Ex. 17, *1319 Docket #91, F83-037. Another meeting regarding the Arctic John allotment was held October 12, 1978, although what instigated this meeting is not clear to the court. See Donahue chronology. In any event, on November 14, 1978, the BIA wrote both Alyeska and the State informing them that neither had an approved grant of easement over Arctic John’s property. On November 21, 1978, Alyeska for the first time formally submitted an application for a right of way over the allotment. This application eventually was refused for the reason that Arctic John withdrew his consent for the pipeline and road easements. This refusal was based on Arctic John’s apparent belief that the tenure of the easement agreements had been fraudulently misrepresented to him. See Ex. V, X, Docket # 31, F81-040.

II. Priority of Claims

Alyeska’s first argument is that their right-of-way application, filed in 1969 (F-12505), has priority over Arctic John’s native allotment application filed with the BIA in 1971 (F-18270). This argument is without merit.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
625 F. Supp. 1315, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12378, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-of-alaska-v-1390-acres-of-land-akd-1985.