Alaska would drop its claim to 480 acres for three Native Vietnam veterans

Alaska would give up its claim to 480 acres near Haines so three Alaska Native Vietnam veterans can receive the land allotments they applied for. Comment closes at 3 pm on Oct. 27, and only those who write in by then may seek reconsideration.

The Department of Natural Resources published two notices Monday proposing to relinquish state land selections, which are claims against Alaska's statehood entitlement rather than ownership. About 320 acres sit at the Chilkoot River and 160 at Ferebee Glacier Lake. The ground is federally owned and managed; the state holds a selection on it under the Alaska Statehood Act.

A 2019 federal law lets Alaska Native Vietnam veterans apply for up to 160 acres of state-selected land. The state gives up the surface estate and keeps its oil, gas and mineral interests. Two applications cover the Chilkoot parcel and one covers Ferebee.

This is the third such round since August.

Comments go to Aleria Knudson at [email protected]. Requests for special assistance are due Oct. 15.