State of Alaska

Department of Natural Resources

Division of Mining, Land & Water

Public Notice

San Diego State University (SDSU)

Ivotuk Eddy Covariance Tower

ADL 420816 Proposed Special Land Use Permit (11 AAC 58.210)

ADL 420816 Proposed Public and Charitable Lease (AS 38.05.810(a))

ADL 420817 Proposed Public Easement (AS 38.05.850)

The Global Change Research Group at San Diego State University (SDSU) applied to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW) Northern Regional Office (NRO) to lease 6 acres of state land to conduct long-term climate research on the North Slope. SDSU is currently authorized under a Land Use Permit (LAS 31276) for an eddy covariance tower (a meteorological tower with instrumentation to measure a variety of atmosphere gas emissions and fluxes such as methane) and a power production system to support the eddy covariance tower.  Due to the long-term nature of the research and the proposed plan to add a wind turbine to the power production system, SDSU is requesting a 25-year public and charitable lease (ADL 420816). 

ADL 420816: Since the land is not currently classified and a site-specific classification cannot be undertaken during the on-going North Slope Management Plan process, DMLW is not able to issue a lease or easement at this time, per 11 AAC 55.040(i).  Therefore, DMLW proposes to initially issue a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) under ADL 420816 for construction, survey, appraisal, and use of the proposed research site.  Once the management plan process is complete and contingent upon the land being classified appropriately for lease issuance, DMLW intends to issue a negotiated lease to SDSU at 50% appraised fair market value rental for the operation and maintenance of the research site, including its remote power production system.  

The lease would encompass a total of 6 acres, and it would be located within the following lands: within the W1/2NE1/4 of Section 24, Township 11 South, Range 17 West, Umiat Meridian, containing approximately 6 acres more or less. 

ADL 420817: SDSU submitted an application for a public easement to provide legal access to the proposed lease tract for the research site. Legal access is required for the lease, and this public easement connects the lease to the nearby landing strip and section line public easement, therefore providing legal access to the lease.

The proposed public easement for the access to the lease is located within Sections 13 and 24, Township 11 S, Range 17 W, Umiat Meridian and is approximately 500 feet in length and 150 feet in width, encompassing approximately 17.2 acres.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed actions.  Copies of the Preliminary Decision, where applicable, are available at the DNR/DMLW, Northern Region Lands Section, 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK  99709.  Copies are also available at the department’s Public Information Center in Fairbanks.

This notice is meets the requirements spelled out in AS 38.050.945 for the lease (ADL 420816), as well as the requirements specified in a memo from the Director of the DMLW dated 6/28/2017, limiting appeal and reconsideration request eligibility for the easement (ADL 420817) to those who meaningfully participate during this public notice process.  Comments must be submitted in writing and received on or before 5:00 pm on Friday, July 28, 2017 to ensure consideration at one of the following: DNR/DMLW – Northern Regional Office, 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709.  Comments may also be submitted via email to kimberley.maher@alaska.gov.  Only persons who provide timely written comments during the comment period will be considered in this decision and be eligible to file an administrative appeal of the decisions AS 38.05.035(i)-(m).   Note:  This project is proposed to be authorized via three separate decisions (a Special Land Use Permit, a lease, and a public easement), each limited in scope to specific project components.  Appeal eligibility will be limited to the applicable project components for which you submitted comments during this public notice.  To ensure your comments are properly attributed to the appropriate decision, please make certain each issue raised is explicitly associated by ADL to the authorization you intended to address.

For more information or to submit comments, please contact NRO Lands at 907-451-2737, or via email at kimberley.maher@alaska.gov.  Comments must be received by 5:00pm on Friday, July 28, 2017.

If public comments in response to this notice indicate the need for significant changes in the above decision, additional public notice for the proposed area will be given on or after July 28, 2017.  If no significant change is required, a final decision will be issued without further noticed.  A notice of the decision will be sent to any person who provided timely written comment.

All programs and services provided by the State of Alaska are available to all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, social and economic status or gender, or disability.  The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The State is prepared to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing auxiliary aids when requested.  Individuals with audio impairments who wish to respond to this decision by telephone may call the DNR Public Information Center in Fairbanks between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., M-F at TDD 907-451-2770.

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

Jeanne Proulx, Northern Regional Manager

Division of Mining, Land and Water