State proposes releasing 480 acres near Haines for Alaska Native veteran allotments

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 p.m. on October 27, and only those who write in by then may seek reconsideration.

The Department of Natural Resources published two notices September 15 proposing to relinquish state land selections, claims against Alaska's statehood entitlement: about 320 acres at the Chilkoot River and 160 at Ferebee Glacier Lake. The state does not own the ground. It is federally managed and owned, and Alaska holds a selection under section 6(b) of the Alaska Statehood Act.

The 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act allows those veterans to apply for up to 160 acres of state-selected land, with DNR giving up the surface estate while keeping oil, gas and mineral interests. Two applications cover the Chilkoot parcel, one Ferebee.

DNR has posted three similar notices since August.

Comments go to Aleria Knudson at [email protected]. Special assistance requests are due by 3 p.m. on October 15, to DNR's Anchorage Public Information Center.