PUBLIC NOTICE

State of Alaska

Department of Natural Resources

Division of Mining, Land, and Water

Northern Region Lands Section

AS 38.05.945 Public Notice

GCI Communication Corporation (GCI) has applied to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land & Water (DMLW), Northern Regional Office (NRO) to lease 1600 square feet of land for the purpose of installing and operating a new communication tower and two telecommunications buildings within the Southern Miluveach Unit on the North Slope. The application has been assigned case file number ADL 420673. The tower is part of a long term plan to bring terrestrial high speed broadband services to the Village of Nuiqsut located 11 miles west of the Unit and generally improve broadband service on the North Slope. The tower will serve as a link to other towers and expand the communications service area. The proposed tower will be located on the Mustang Pad which is part of the Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation (BRPC) Mustang Development located within the Umiat Meridian, Township 10 North, Range 7 East, Section 2.

The proposed project components will be placed on constructed piling foundations and occupy an area on the northeast corner of Mustang Pad. GCI has requested a 25-year negotiated lease. The DNR/DMLW/NRO administered lease would consist of the following:

• Two 10-foot by 24-foot buildings (one would be placed immediately following lease issuance, the second would be placed in the 2019/2020 timeframe)
• One 85-foot tall, 9-foot face tapered, 3-sided self-supporting lattice tower
• Piles will be embedded to a 20-foot minimum depth to support the building corners (4 per building) and the 3 corners of the lattice tower
• All project components will be installed on an existing gravel pad

The DMLW posted a solicitation of interest for a 25-year competitive lease between September 20, 2016 and October 20, 2016 and there was no interest expressed.  The DMLW proposes to proceed with the negotiated lease process for GCI’s proposed construction, operation, and maintenance of a telecommunication tower and associated buildings.  The DMLW has written a preliminary finding and decision under AS 38.05.035(e), Written Finding for the Disposal of State Resources, proposing to issue a 25-year negotiated lease to GCI for the tower site.

The North Slope oil field gravel road system provides direct access to this pad. The oil field gravel road system is accessed via the Dalton Highway. No tundra travel will be required.

This notice serves to notify the public of the proposed lease. The public is invited to comment on the project. Copies of the preliminary decision may be obtained from the DMLW/NRO. Interested parties have the right to comment during the public notice period and the commenters who are aggrieved by the final finding and decision will have the right to appeal it. It should be noted that in order to be able to appeal the final finding and decision, a person must provide written comments during the preliminary decision comment period. A copy of the final decision will be sent to any person who comments on the preliminary decision, and will include an explanation of the appeal process.

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS:

Written comments must be received in writing by the DMLW, Lands Section on or before 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2017 in order to ensure consideration.

To submit written comments or to seek additional information about any of the above proposed actions, please contact:

Becky Baird

DNR/DMLW/Northern Regional Lands Section

3700 Airport Way

Fairbanks, AK  99709-4699

Phone (907) 451-2732

Fax: (907) 451-2751

E-mail: becky.baird@alaska.gov

DNR complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications should contact the Public Information Center in Anchorage, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, at (907) 269-8400, or pic@alaska.gov, or TDD (907) 269-8411; or the Public Information Center in Fairbanks, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, at (907) 451-2705, or fbx_pic@alaska.gov, or TDD (907) 451-2770.

The Division of Mining, Land and Water reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.

Publish Date: March 20, 2017