State opens 30-day window on nearly 1,700 acres of Petersville mining leases

Alaska DNR posted notice Aug. 20 of plans to issue or renew seven upland mining leases covering roughly 1,680 acres near Petersville. Anyone holding a conflicting mineral right has 30 days from that date to notify the state before the leases are finalized.

The notice names two applicants. Steve Sneed of Anchorage is renewing two existing leases and adding a newly created third, together covering about 160 acres across Townships 28 and 29 North, Range 8 West, Seward Meridian. The two Sneed groupings each cover 80 acres. Michelle Stevens of Trapper Creek is renewing and amending four leases totaling approximately 1,520 acres across Townships 29 North, Ranges 8 and 9 West, including Peters Creek claim blocks broken down as 480, 480, roughly 360, and 200 acres.

Under state law, DNR must publish notice and check for conflicting mineral interests before issuing any upland mining lease. If no conflicts are reported within 30 days, the leases go to the applicants. Upland mining leases run for the term it takes to mine and are renewable if necessary. Lessees hold exclusive rights to possess and extract locatable minerals on those parcels, subject to mandatory rent and production royalties.

A lease alone does not authorize mining activity. Large projects still require a Plan of Operations approval, a reclamation plan and bond approval, and associated public notice before any exploration or extraction can begin. DNR issued a similar notice in late 2024 when Below Alaska Mining applied to consolidate scattered claims into a single 817-acre upland lease in the same Seward Meridian area.

Anyone with a conflicting mineral right must notify Aleria Knudson at the Division of Mining, Land and Water's Anchorage Mineral Property Management office by mail or email at [email protected]. The 30-day window closes Sept. 19, 2026.