The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Oil and Gas (DO&G), gives notice that it has issued the South Augustine Island Noncompetitive Geothermal Prospecting Permit Preliminary Written Finding of the Director, and the director has preliminarily found that disposing of the South Augustine Island Geothermal Prospecting Permit is in the best interests of the state.

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 prospecting permit is in the best interests of the state, DO&G may award the prospecting permit to GeoAlaska, LLC to explore for geothermal resources on state-owned unencumbered lands within the Prospecting Permit Area.

The Preliminary Written Finding is attached to this notice and also available on DO&G’s website at: 
https://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Services/Geothermal

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, May 30, 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 May 12, 2022, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided. A person is eligible to file a request for reconsideration of the commissioner’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.