State renews 25-year lease for Neets Creek salmon hatchery operation

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has renewed a 25-year lease allowing Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association to continue operating a salmon hatchery in the Neets Creek watershed on Revillagigedo Island near Ketchikan.

The renewal decision allows SSRAA to maintain its private nonprofit hatchery facility for another quarter-century. Anyone who previously submitted written comments or testified at public hearings about this lease has until April 27 to appeal the decision.

The hatchery operates under a lease designated ADL 106906, which covers land use for the salmon production facility. The Division of Mining, Land and Water issued the renewal decision on April 6.

Appeals must be submitted to the DNR Commissioner's Office at 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, or emailed to [email protected]. A $200 appeal fee is required, and only people who previously provided formal comments during the review process are eligible to appeal.

The department is not accepting new public comments on this renewal decision. Complete lease documents and the renewal decision are available as attachments on the state's online public notices website.

For questions about the renewal, contact the Division of Mining, Land and Water through the Department of Natural Resources.