Senator Lisa Murkowski last week introduced the Alaska Subsistence Structure Protection Act of 2013. The legislation would limit the fees the National Forest Service could charge owners of private cabins on National Forest land that are used primarily for subsistence purposes.

“It’s wrong for the Forest Service to charge subsistence users for owning cabins on National Forest land at the same rate as they charge commercial operators,” Murkowski said. “Subsistence is a vital part of life for many Southeast Alaska families.”

There are roughly 60 privately owned cabins in the Tongass...