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EXTENDED: Requesting Input on a Proposed Relinquishment of Selected State Entitlement Lands - Watana Creek University Selection

EXTENDED NOTICE: PUBLIC NOTICE

Requesting Input and Comment on a Proposed Relinquishment of State Entitlement Lands

Comment Period Ends 3:00 PM, April 1, 2026

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to relinquish the State of Alaska's
(State) entitlement land selection for fee estate (all surface and subsurface interests) on
approximately 37,055 acres, located in Township 32 North, Ranges 8 and 9 East and Township
33 North, Ranges 8 and 9 East Seward Meridian. The lands are located approximately 40 miles
Southeast of Cantwell and approximately 2 miles North of the Susitna River. A location map is
attached to this notice. The lands are not currently owned by the State, they are under Federal
management and ownership. The purpose of relinquishment is to facilitate conveyance of the
lands to the University of Alaska.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (CAA) (Pub. L. 117-328) created a
mechanism for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to convey Alaska Statehood Act lands to
the University of Alaska (University). The CAA enabled the University to select up to 500,000
acres of State lands for possible acquisition, with a final conveyance of up to 360,000 acres. The
State must concur with the final list of selected lands and submit conditional selection
relinquishment letters to BLM. The program terminates on December 29, 2026.

More information about the CAA and University selections can be found here: https://www.alaska.edu/ualand/about/land-grant/

Information about hunting on University lands can be found here:
https://www.alaska.edu/ualand/permits/hunting-revised.php

Information about the State’s role in the CAA program can be found here:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e796f8301c0047c4ab828b2036229c6f

The DNR is proposing to relinquish the State’s entitlement land selection of surface and subsurface estates for the lands listed below. A location map is available on page 3
of this notice. The map shows the University’s selection area in blue outline.

The land consists of parcels of Federal lands located within:

Seward Meridian, Alaska
T. 32 N., R. 8 E.,
Secs. 1-18, inclusive, ALL;
Containing approximately 11,394 acres

T. 32 N., R. 9 E.,
Secs. 1-18, inclusive, ALL;
Containing approximately 11,394 acres

T 33 N., R. 8 E.,
Secs. 13-15, inclusive, ALL;
Secs. 22-24, inclusive, ALL;
Containing approximately 3,957 acres

T. 33 N., R. 9 E.,
Sec. 13;
Sec. 18;
Secs. 22-29, inclusive, ALL;
Secs. 31-36, inclusive, ALL;
Containing approximately 10,310 acres

Aggregating approximately 37,055 acres

Alaska Statute (AS) 38.05.035 allows for disposals of interests in state lands, and AS 38.05.945
provides procedures for notice of those disposals.
This notice and any future decisions on this proposed action are
available on the State of Alaska online public notice portal:
http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/.

For assistance in obtaining documents by an alternative method, to request auxiliary aids, services, or special accommodations, contact DNR’s Public Information Centers on State work days, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Anchorage at (907) 269-8400, Fairbanks at (907) 451-2705, Southeast Land Office in Juneau at (907) 465-3400, TTY: 711 for Alaska Relay or 1-800-770- 8973, or go to http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/ for additional contact information. Individuals who require special assistance must request assistance from the Public Information Center in Anchorage no later than 3:00 p.m., March 25, 2026.

The public is invited to submit comments. If commenting on more than one proposed action, separate comments should be submitted for each. The deadline for public comment is 3:00 PM, April 1, 2026. Only persons from whom the Department of Natural Resources receives timely, written comment during the identified comment period will be eligible to request reconsideration of the decision. Written comments may be received by email or postal mail. To submit comments or for direct inquiries, contact Lacy Hamner at lacy.hamner@alaska.gov or James Ellis at james.ellis@alaska.gov
After public input is considered, the decision will be issued without further notice. A copy of the decision will be sent to any persons who provided input, and a copy will be posted on the States online public notice portal http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/. To subscribe to the State’s online public notice portal, visit the link and set up an email or RSS subscription using available criteria.
DNR reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice.

If you have questions please contact Jim Ellis at 907-269-8607 or james.ellis@alaska.gov

Attachments, History, Details

Revision History

Created 2/13/2026 11:20:03 AM by jeellis
Modified 2/17/2026 10:31:59 AM by lchamner
Modified 2/17/2026 10:34:45 AM by lchamner
Modified 2/17/2026 1:19:10 PM by lchamner
Modified 3/19/2026 1:31:36 PM by jeellis
Modified 3/20/2026 7:58:55 AM by jeellis

Details

Department: Natural Resources
Category: Public Notices
Sub-Category:
Location(s): Statewide
Project/Regulation #: University of Alaska Land Selection- Watana Creek
 
Publish Date: 2/13/2026
Archive Date: 4/1/2026
 
Events/Deadlines: