Notice of Public Scoping Under Administrative Order 266 for Possible DNR Regulation Revisions

Leasing Regulations for the Division of Mining, Land and Water

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (the Department) is considering revising its regulations as a result of Senate Bill 48 (Chapter 2, SLA 2023); that legislation authorized the Department to lease state lands for carbon management purposes. Copies of Senate Bill 48 and related legislative materials are available for review on the Alaska State Legislature’s website: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/33?Root=sb%2048

Senate Bill 48 also authorized the Department to undertake carbon offset projects on state lands. The Department will issue a separate scoping notice for potential revisions of the Department’s regulations for carbon offset projects on state lands.

Regarding the leasing of state lands, the Department is also considering revising its regulations as outlined in:
• 11 AAC 05.230 (surface shore fisheries land leasing)
• 11 AAC 58 (leasing of lands)
• 11 AAC 60 (grazing leases)
• 11 AAC 63 (aquatic farmsite permits and leases)
• 11 AAC 64 (shore fisheries leasing)

The purpose of this notice is to ask the public for their ideas and suggestions before the Department undertakes the task of drafting any specific proposed regulations for public review. Specifically, the Department is interested in ideas that will provide for more efficient, consistent, cost-effective, and reasonable leasing processes, and provide for the equitable leasing of state land in a manner that will encourage the development of state land for its highest and best use consistent with the public interest.

The Department is not currently proposing any specific regulations, and there are no draft regulations to review at this time. The Department is soliciting feedback and comments from the public on whether and how the Department should revise its regulatory framework before the formal process of drafting proposed regulations begins. Proposed regulation changes will be released for public review and comment in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act in Alaska Statutes 44.62.

Written comments received by the Department submitted through our online comment portal, or by mail, must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2023. Please send all submissions through either the comment portal at https://alaskadnr.commentinput.com/?id=rfx2YGNk9b or by mail to:

Molly Benson
Department of Natural Resources
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1070
Anchorage, AK 99501

The Department complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aides, services, or special modifications to participate in this scoping request may contact the above address or email; or dial TTY number 711 or 800-770-8973 and provide the operator with 907-269-8527.

The Department reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.

Publish date: June 15, 2023