The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is looking for public comment on its assessment of the environmental impact of a plan that could free up federal land for development in the Haines Borough.
That land is part of 28 million acres across Alaska that were set aside under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act but have not yet been turned over to Native corporations, the state or given formal protection by the federal government.
The BLM is considering alternatives for what to do with that land, including a scenario in which all of the land it currently has withdrawn becomes available, to one in which the agency retains all of those lands.
The process has been controversial for a number of reasons, including that the potential opening of the lands could lead to a loss of federal subsistence priority impacting hundreds of tribes across the state.
Additionally, those lands are currently protected from mining or oil and gas development.
The agency held a public information session on Jan. 25 and a handful of Haines residents weighed-in, including Thom Ely who said he supports a “no-action,” alternative.
“We have a unique environment here in the Chilkat Valley,” he said. “I would not want to see any of these BLM lands opened up to mineral development or any kind of mining.”
Ely also said he’d like to see tribal residents of Klukwan, Chilkat Indian Village and Chilkoot Indian Association be given some jurisdiction over their traditional land.
Kathleen Menke echoed those comments during her testimony. She added that she does not support an alternative that would see state control of more lands.
“They do not have good community processes for public input,” she said.
Public comments are due by Feb. 14, after which the Environmental Impact Statement will be published. The Secretary of the Interior is expected to select one of its alternative plans by the summer of 2024.
Written comments related to the withdrawals can be submitted online or:
- By mail to: ANCSA 17(d)(1) EIS, BLM Anchorage District Office, Attn: Racheal Jones, 4700 BLM Road. Anchorage, Alaska 99507
- In person: BLM Alaska State Office, BLM Alaska Public Information Center, 222 West 7th Avenue (First Floor), Anchorage, Alaska.