Overview
Title
Public Land Order No. 7899; Partial Revocation of Public Land Orders No. 5169, 5170, 5171, 5173, 5179, 5180, 5184, 5186, 5187, 5188, 5353, Alaska
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government is changing some rules about a huge area of land in Alaska, making it OK for people to use and look for minerals there again. They decided this because they don't need to study the land anymore.
Summary AI
The Department of the Interior has issued an order that partially revokes 11 Public Land Orders affecting approximately 9.7 million acres of public lands in Alaska. The affected lands were previously reserved for study and classification but are no longer needed for those purposes. These lands will be open for public land use and mining claims starting February 18, 2021, following existing laws and regulations. The decision aligns with recommendations from the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula Resource Management Plan, and previous Public Land Orders No. 6477 and 6559 will be superseded by this new order.
Abstract
This order partially revokes 11 Public Land Orders (PLO) insofar as they affect approximately 9,727,730.01 acres of public lands reserved for study and classification, as appropriate, by the Department of the Interior and supersedes PLO Nos. 6477 and 6559. The purposes for which these lands were withdrawn no longer exist as described in the analysis and decisions made through the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan of 2008 (Kobuk-Seward Pen RMP).
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question is a public notice from the Department of the Interior regarding the partial revocation of 11 Public Land Orders (PLOs) that affect a substantial area of public lands in Alaska. Approximately 9.7 million acres of land are impacted by this decision. These lands were originally reserved for specific purposes, such as study and classification, but the department has determined that these purposes are no longer necessary. As a result, the lands will be made available for public use and certain types of development from February 18, 2021, onwards.
General Summary
The revocation of these land reservations allows for the lands to be open to mining claims and general public land use, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. This decision was made following recommendations from the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula Resource Management Plan, which was approved in 2008. The document serves to amend and supersede two previous land orders that further restricted these lands under PLO 6477 and PLO 6559.
Significant Issues or Concerns
A notable issue with the document is the complexity and sheer volume of information it contains, especially regarding the details of specific land parcels. The text includes extensive legal descriptions, making it difficult for individuals without expertise in land management or legal language to fully understand. Terms like "unsurveyed" and exclusions related to specific survey numbers may cause confusion. Additionally, the document largely focuses on regulatory and legal aspects without providing much detail on the environmental, community, or ecological impacts, which may concern various stakeholders and the public.
Broad Public Impact
For the general public, the opening of such a vast area of land in Alaska could have multiple implications. On one hand, it could lead to increased economic activities, such as mining and possibly other forms of land use, contributing to economic growth in the region. On the other hand, there might be concerns regarding the environmental impacts that these developments could entail, especially concerning the preserved natural landscape of Alaska.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders, such as local Native Alaskan communities, environmental groups, and mining companies, could be significantly impacted by this decision. These lands may hold cultural significance for native communities or be vitally important for local subsistence activities. However, the document does not address these considerations in detail. Furthermore, environmental groups may have concerns about the potential negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems due to increased land use activities.
Conversely, businesses and individuals involved in mining and land development may view this decision as an opportunity. The opening of these lands could mean new prospects for economic development and resource extraction, which could translate into jobs and revenue for the region.
Conclusion
Overall, while this document provides a detailed legal framework and timeline for the opening of these lands, it lacks in addressing the potential broader implications, particularly those affecting local communities and ecosystems. For a more comprehensive understanding, stakeholders and the general public may benefit from supplementary materials, such as geographic maps or stakeholder impact assessments, to better appreciate the full scope of these changes.
Issues
• The document includes an extensive list of land parcels which could be difficult to interpret without additional context or maps, leading to potential ambiguity about the precise locations affected by the revocation.
• The language used in the document, such as 'unsurveyed' or 'excepting U.S. Survey No.', may not be immediately clear to those unfamiliar with land management terminology, causing potential confusion.
• The document does not provide details on the future use of the lands once they are opened to appropriation, which might raise questions about environmental impacts or future land management.
• The document may benefit from further simplification or a summary to facilitate understanding by a broader audience, particularly individuals who are not experts in land management or legal terminology.
• The document discusses revocation of land withdrawals and subsequent availability for appropriation without mention of potential impacts on local communities, wildlife, or ecosystems, which could be a concern for stakeholders.