The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved the conveyance of the surface estate of 0.40 acres of land within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to Cook Inlet Region, Inc., an Alaska Native regional corporation.
According to the public notice, “This decision is made under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), which allows for the transfer of land to Native corporations while the United States retains ownership of the subsurface estate.”
The decision does include considerations for public access easements, which may be reserved to the United States as per ANCSA.
The public notice adds that the BLM will publish notice of the decision in the Anchorage Daily News for four consecutive weeks to inform the public and any parties with potential property interests.
Parties with a property interest in the affected lands have the right to appeal the decision within specified time limits, with different deadlines based on how they receive notice of the decision.
As the conveyance does impact land ownership and management within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, it could potentially affect local land use and access.
To review the land conveyance, visit the public notice online on the U.S. Federal Register.