What is this notice about?
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to give up the State's claim to the surface of about 160 acres of federal land near Ferebee Glacier Lake, while keeping the oil, gas and mineral rights. This would allow the land to be transferred to an eligible Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran who applied for it under the federal Dingell Act (application AA 97856). The public can send written comments until 3:00 PM on October 27, 2026.
Why was this notice issued?
The 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Dingell Act, Pub. L. 116-9) lets eligible Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans apply for land allotments of up to 160 acres from land the State has selected under section 6(b) of the Alaska Statehood Act. The State may voluntarily give up (relinquish) its selection. Alaska Statute (AS) 38.05.035 allows disposals of interests in state lands, and AS 38.05.945 sets the public notice procedures for those disposals.
What action is being taken?
DNR proposes to relinquish the State's entitlement land selection of the surface estate, while keeping oil, gas and mineral interests, on about 160 acres in Township 27 South, Range 58 East, sections 29 and 32. The land is currently under federal ownership and management, not owned by the State. The purpose is to allow conveyance of Dingell Act allotment application AA 97856. After considering public input, DNR will issue a decision without further notice.
Who is involved: Applicant for Dingell Act allotment application AA 97856 (an eligible Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran); Alaska Department of Natural Resources; federal land managers
How can the public respond?
Respond by
Tue, Oct 27, 2026
This deadline has passed.
“3:00 PM, October 27, 2026”
Ways to respond
- Email
aleria.knudson@alaska.gov
- Mail
Postal mail to Aleria Knudson, Department of Natural Resources (no mailing address given in the notice)
What to include
Comments must be in writing. If commenting on more than one proposed action, submit separate comments for each. Only people whose written comments DNR receives on time will be eligible to request reconsideration of the decision. A copy of the decision will be sent to anyone who provided input. People needing special assistance must ask the Public Information Center in Anchorage by 3:00 p.m., October 15, 2026.
Contact
Aleria Knudson
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
aleria.knudson@alaska.gov
907.334.2683
Will there be public meetings?
The notice does not announce any public meeting or hearing.
Key dates
- Sep 15, 2026: Notice published
- Oct 15, 2026: Deadline (3:00 p.m.) to request special assistance from the DNR Public Information Center in Anchorage at (907) 269-8400
- Oct 27, 2026: Written public comment deadline (3:00 PM)
Original notice text
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 160 acres in the following areas: Township 27 South, Range 58 East, section 29 and 32. 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 AA 97856.
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.
This summary was written by an AI model (Claude) from the official notice text.
This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm deadlines and instructions in the official notice. Legal disclaimer.