Commenting Policy:
We welcome your comments and hope that our conversations here will be courteous. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right to delete any of the following:
• off-topic comments
• violent, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist comments
• comments that threaten or defame any person or organization
• the violation of the privacy of another individual
• solicitations, advertisements, or endorsements of any financial, commercial, or non-governmental agency
• comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
• comments promoting or opposing any person who is campaigning for election to a political office or promoting or opposing any ballot proposition
• comments including phone numbers, email addresses, residential addresses, or similar information
• multiple, successive off-topic posts by a single user
• repetitive posts copied and pasted by multiple users
Communication made through this service’s e-mail and/or messaging system will in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) or any official or employee of the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) for any purpose. References to commercial entities, products, services, or nongovernmental organizations or individuals are provided solely for information. These references are not intended to reflect the opinion of U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau), the United States Government, or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization. Such references are not an official or personal endorsement of any product, person, or service and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service. Reporters or other media representatives are asked to send questions through their normal channels (the appropriate DOI/bureau office public affairs or communications office) and to refrain from submitting questions here as comments. Reporter questions may be removed. This Commenting Policy is subject to amendment or modification at any time to ensure that its continued use is consistent with its intended purpose as a limited forum. About Us:
In Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management administers more than 70 million surface acres of federal public land for present and future generations to use and enjoy. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of these diverse lands – majestic mountain ranges, vibrant wetlands, unique coastal marine environments, and vast expanses of tundra. Our focus in Alaska includes:
Energy development
BLM Alaska manages all onshore federal leases in the state, including the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and both the Kenai and Arctic National Wildlife Refuges, all of which make significant contributions to the nation’s energy portfolio. We play a significant role in facilitating oil and gas development leading to America’s energy independence. We also partner with other federal and state agencies to work with Alaska’s oil and gas industry to safely operate the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Mining and Minerals
Gold, silver, zinc, and lead are actively mined in Alaska. Placer mining, long a mainstay of Alaska’s gold mining industry, still operates today. BLM Alaska manages more than 6,000 federal mining claims, as well as 120 active mines and Mining Operation Plans on public lands. Most BLM-managed mineral material sites are for sand and gravel. Land Use Planning & Environmental Reviews
We are legally obligated to conduct environmental reviews for applications we receive for projects affecting BLM-managed public lands. As a multiple-use agency, we are also tasked with developing large-scale resource management plans (RMPs) for the public lands we manage in Alaska. These RMPs allocate resources and determine appropriate multiple uses for public lands, provide strategies to manage and protect resources, and establish systems to monitor and evaluate resource health and effective management practices. Land transfer
Alaska is a young state, and land ownership is still being settled. BLM Alaska is currently engaged in the two largest land transfer programs in the federal government. The Alaska Statehood Act, as amended, authorizes transfer of more than 105 million acres of federal land to the State of Alaska. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act authorized conveyance of approximately 45 million acres of federal land to privately-owned Native corporations. Both programs are nearing completion. We also manage land transfers under the Alaska Native Allotment Program. More than 13,000 parcels have been conveyed to individual Alaska Natives with more to process following additional entitlements to Vietnam-era Alaska Native veterans under the 2019 Dingell Act. Recreation Access
BLM Alaska manages 14 campgrounds, seven public shelter sites (Iditarod National Historic Trail and Steese National Conservation Area), and 14 public-use cabins in the White Mountains National Recreation Area. Many of our recreation sites, visitor facilities, and points of interest are open primarily during the summer season. However, the public-use cabins in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, waysides with restrooms along the Dalton Highway, and locations such as the Campbell Creek Science Center and Campbell Tract Facility are typically open year-round. Fire management
The BLM Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska. Located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, AFS employs about 340 employees during the fire season and provides wildland fire suppression services for more than 236 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation lands in the state. Federal Subsistence Management
All federal agencies, including the BLM, have responsibilities under ANILCA to manage and allow for subsistence use by rural residents on lands we manage. Subsistence use refers to the hunting, fishing, gathering, and overall harvesting of wildlife and plant resources for sustenance and cultural purposes. The BLM Alaska State Director serves on the Federal Subsistence Board.
