Amendment of ADL 422366 ASTAC Easement for Fiber Optic Cable to Anaktuvuk Pass

What is this notice about?

Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc. (ASTAC) has asked the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to change its existing utility easement so it can add about 3 more miles of fiber optic cable on land recently transferred to the State. The cable runs west from the Dalton Highway to Anaktuvuk Pass and would be laid on the ground during winter. The public can send written comments until 5:00 p.m. on December 7, 2026.

Why was this notice issued?

Under Alaska Statute AS 38.05.850, the Northern Regional Land Office received an application from ASTAC to amend its public utility easement. The State must ask for public input before deciding.

What action is being taken?

The Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW) is reviewing a request to amend a permanent public utility easement (the notice lists it as both ADL 422366 and ADL 422336) to add about 3 miles of fiber optic cable on lands recently conveyed to the State. The easement crossed 49 miles of State land before the conveyance; the amended route would cross a total of 52 miles of State land, from the Dalton Highway west to Anaktuvuk Pass. The new section is about 2 miles north of Toolik Lake, reached from mile 284.5 of the Dalton Highway (Umiat Meridian, Township 9 South, Range 11 East, Sections 16, 17, and 18). The cable would be installed in winter using ground lay methods. The requested term is in perpetuity (permanent). After review, the State may issue an authorization with conditions, and the project may be changed during review.

Who is involved: Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc. (ASTAC), applicant

How can the public respond?

Respond by Mon, Dec 7, 2026 29 days from today.

“Written comments must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. on December 7, 2026”

Ways to respond

Mail Division of Mining, Land and Water, 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709
Email becky.baird@alaska.gov (Becky Baird)

What to include

Comments must be in writing and received by the deadline to be considered. Refer to ADL 422366. Contact Becky Baird with questions or to request to view the full application packet. People with disabilities who need aids or special help to comment should contact Alaska Relay at 711 or 800-770-8973 for TTY services.

Contact

Becky Baird
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Northern Regional Land Office
becky.baird@alaska.gov
3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709

Will there be public meetings?

The notice does not announce any public meeting or hearing.

Key dates

Nov 5, 2026: Notice published
Dec 7, 2026: Written comments due by 5:00 p.m.

Original notice text

PUBLIC NOTICE AMENDMENT OF ADL 422366 Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc. Subject to AS 38.05.850, the Northern Regional Land Office has received an application for the following: APPLICANT: Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc. PROJECT NAME: ADL 422366 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Approximately 2 miles north of Toolik Lake accessed from 284.5 mile of the Dalton Highway. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Within Umiat Meridian, Township 9 South, Range 11 East, Sections 16, 17, and 18. REQUESTED ACTIVITY: ASTAC has requested an amendment to a public utility easement (ADL 422336) to include approximately three miles of fiber optic cable (FOC) on lands that were recently conveyed to the State of Alaska. Prior to the conveyance, ADL 422336 crossed 49 miles of State land. The amended footprint would cross a total of 52 miles of State land, traveling west from the Dalton Hwy to Anaktuvuk Pass. The FOC will be installed in the winter using ground lay techniques. REQUESTED TERM: In perpetuity DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: December 7, 2026 The public is invited to comment on this activity. The purpose of this notice is to gather input before a decision is made on this activity. To ensure consideration, written comments must be received by the Division of Mining, Land and Water at 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 on or before 5:00 p.m. on the date noted above. Comments or questions about this activity or requests to view the full application packet should be directed to Becky Baird, e-mail: becky.baird@alaska.gov. After review and adjudication, we may issue an authorization with stipulations for the activity. The activity may be modified during the review and adjudication process. DNR-DMLW complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to comment should contact Alaska Relay at 711 or 800-770-8973 for TTY services. The DMLW 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.