On January 26, 2026, the Commissioner Designee of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) adopted multiple Mineral Order (MOs) in accordance with Alaska Statutes (AS) 38.05.185(a) and AS 38.05.300. The MOs close certain lands to mineral entry along the James Dalton Highway as described by Mineral Orders: 1292, 1293, 1294, 1295, 1296, 1297, 1298, 1299, 1300, 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, 1308, 1309, 1310, 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314, 1315, 1316, 1317, 1318, 1319, 1320, 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326, 1327. These orders close lands specifically described in the individual MOs and shared Commissioner’s Administrative Finding attached to this notice. The total amounts of land affected by these orders are more specifically described in the documents linked below; they affect state-owned and state-selected lands currently withdrawn under Public Land Order 5150 that will be closed to mineral entry upon conveyance to the state.
The Draft MOs were publicly noticed and available for review and comment from November 26, 2025 through December 29, 2025. The public comment period is closed.
The final Mineral Order, Commissioner’s Administrative Finding, and Issue Response Summary are linked below.
Requests for Reconsideration
An eligible person affected by this decision of the department, and who provided timely written comment or public hearing testimony to the department, may request reconsideration to the DNR Commissioner per AS 44.37.011 and 11 AAC 02. Any request for reconsideration must be received by the Commissioner’s Office within twenty (20) calendar days after issuance of the decision under 11 AAC 02.040. The Commissioner may order or deny a request for reconsideration within thirty (30) calendar days after issuance of the decision. If the Commissioner takes no action on a request for reconsideration within thirty (30) days after issuance of the decision, the request for reconsideration is considered denied. The Commissioner’s decision on reconsideration, other than a remand decision, is a final administrative order and decision of the department. An eligible person must first request reconsideration to the Commissioner before seeking relief in superior court. The Alaska Court System establishes its own rules for timely appealing final administrative orders and decisions of the department.
Reconsideration may be mailed or hand-delivered to the DNR Commissioner’s Office, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501; or faxed to (907)-269-8918 or sent by electronic mail to dnr.appeals@alaska.gov. Reconsideration must be accompanied by the fee established in 11 AAC 05.160(d)(1)(F), which has been set at $200 under the provisions of 11 AAC 05.160(a)-(b). A copy of 11 AAC 02 is available on the department’s website at https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/pdf/DNR-11-AAC-02.pdf.
The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, 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 submit a comment or participate in a meeting, should contact the person(s) indicated above or contact the state TDD number (907)269-8411 seven days (7) in advance of meetings to arrange accommodations.