The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Oil and Gas (DO&G), gives notice under AS 38.05.945(a)(6) that it has issued the Susitna Valley Gas Exploration Licenses Preliminary Written Finding of the Director, and that the director has preliminarily found that disposing of the Susitna Valley Gas Exploration Licenses is in the best interests of the state. The division is holding public meetings on via Microsoft Teams on Thursday February 17 at 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 5:30 pm. Additional information on joining the meetings can be viewed under the Current Notices tab at https://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Newsroom/Index. Instructions and scheduled meeting times are also attached to this notice. Please direct any questions about the meetings to Jonathan Schick at (907) 269.8776 or jonathan.schick@alaska.gov. 

The public comment deadline has been extended. The preliminary best interest finding is now available for public comment. The finding will be revised as needed and any relevant information and issues brought up during the public comment period will be incorporated in the final finding as necessary. If the director determines the proposed licenses are in the best interests of the state, DO&G may award the exploration licenses to the Alaska Natural Gas Corporation to explore gas on state-owned unencumbered lands within the License Areas (AS 38.05.132(b)). 

The Preliminary Best Interest Finding is available on DO&G’s website at

http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Services/ExplorationLicensing?page=explorationlicensing

How to Submit Comments to DO&G

Send comments to:

Best Interest Findings

500 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1100, Anchorage, AK 99501

or email to: dog.bif@alaska.gov

Comments must be received by 5:00 pm, March 14, 2022.

The DO&G complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact DO&G by electronic mail at dog.bif@alaska.gov or (907) 269-8800 not later than February 4, 2022, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided. 

A person is eligible to file a request for appeal of the director’s decision and file a subsequent appeal to the Superior Court only if the person has meaningfully participated in the process by either submitting written comment during the period for receipt of public comment or has presented oral testimony at a public hearing, if a public hearing was held, and is affected by the final written finding (AS 38.05.035(i)).