Mining News: News Nuggets: Alaska gets lands under Tanana River

Alaska Department of Transportation April 15 reported that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has relinquished any claims to ownership of more than 550 miles of lands underlying the Tanana River. In its written decision, known as a recordable disclaimer of interest, the BLM agreed that Alaska has clear title to these submerged lands as promised under the Alaska Statehood Act. “These disclaimers represent a mutual agreement between the state of Alaska and the BLM that a river is navigable and therefore belongs to the state,” said Ed Fogels, deputy commissioner of DNR. This clarifies that Alaskans seeking authorizations to use these lands for uses such as docks or mining would obtain those from the state rather than the BLM. This is the 23rd RDI issued in Alaska, and it pertains to all but about 38 miles of lands underlying the Tanana River which remain under federal withdrawal or reservation. Other examples of past RDIs include submerged lands in the Kuskokwim, Porcupine, Chilkoot, and Klutina rivers. DNR’s Public Access Assertion and Defense Unit and the Department of Fish and Game worked with BLM to implement a successful federal RDI program that is unique in the country. “Generally speaking, this is a more cost-effective and mutually beneficial way to clear title to the state’s ownership of lands than litigation,” Fogels said. Since 2003, Alaska has cleared title to submerged lands underlying more than 2,546 river miles.

- Shane Lasley