Requesting Input on a Proposed Relinquishment of Selected State Entitlement Lands- GS-5444 (Chilkoot River))

Requesting Input on a Proposed Relinquishment of State Entitlement Lands Comment Period Ends 3:00 PM, October 27, 2026 The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to relinquish the State’s entitlement land selection of the surface estate while retaining oil, gas, and mineral interests on lands containing approximately 320 acres in the following areas: Township 27 South, Range 56 East, section 24 and 25. A location map showing the lands to be relinquished is attached to this notice. The lands are not currently owned by the State, they are under Federal management and ownership. The purpose of relinquishment is to facilitate conveyance of Dingell Act allotment applications 97380 and 98484. Each application parcel totals 160 acres. The 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Dingell Act) (Pub. L. 116-9) provides that eligible Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans may apply for allotments of up to 160 acres of land from vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved land that the State has selected pursuant to 6(b) of the Alaska Statehood Act. The State is under no obligation to relinquish their land selections, although it may agree to voluntarily relinquish a selection. In accordance with the Act, the State is considering relinquishing the surface estate identified above. Alaska Statute (AS) 38.05.035 allows for disposals of interests in state lands, and AS 38.05.945 provides procedures for notice of those disposals. This notice and any future decisions on this proposed action are available on the State of Alaska online public notice portal: http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/. For assistance in obtaining documents by an alternative method, to request auxiliary aids, services, or special accommodations, contact DNR’s Public Information Centers on State work days, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Anchorage at (907) 269-8400, Fairbanks at (907) 451-2705, Southeast Land Office in Juneau at (907) 465-3400, TTY: 711 for Alaska Relay or 1-800-770-8973, or go to http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/ for additional contact information. Individuals who require special assistance must request assistance from the Public Information Center in Anchorage no later than 3:00 p.m., October 15, 2026. The public is invited to submit comments. If commenting on more than one proposed action, separate comments should be submitted for each. The deadline for public comment is 3:00 PM, October 27, 2026. Only persons from whom the Department of Natural Resources receives timely, written comment during the identified comment period will be eligible to file a request for reconsideration of the decision. Written comments may be received by email or postal mail. To submit comments or for direct inquiries, contact: Aleria Knudson at aleria.knudson@alaska.gov or 907.334.2683. After public input is considered, the decision will be issued without further notice. A copy of the decision will be sent to any persons who provided input, and a copy will be posted on the States online public notice portal http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/. To subscribe to the State’s online public notice portal, visit the link and set up an email or RSS subscription using available criteria. DNR reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice.