§1616 Joint Federal-state Land Use Planning Commission for Alaska

Summary

The Planning Commission must mark public easements across lands chosen by Village and Regional Corporations and at key spots along big rivers so treaty duties are met and the public can use and access those places for recreation, hunting, travel, utilities, docks, and other important public needs. The Commission must work with state and federal agencies, look at transportation plans, and listen to groups and people about where easements are needed. Any valid existing access rights stay the same. Before issuing any land patents to Village or Regional Corporations, the Secretary must talk with the State and the Planning Commission and keep any public easements he thinks are needed. If the Secretary withdraws a utility or transportation corridor across public lands, the State and the Corporations cannot pick lands inside that withdrawn area. Public Land Order No. 4582 is revoked. For ninety days after December 18, 1971, all unreserved public lands in Alaska are withdrawn from public land claims, including the mining laws (except locations for metalliferous minerals) and the mineral leasing laws, while the Secretary reviews which lands should be kept back under his existing authority. The Secretary is directed to withdraw, within nine months of December 18, 1971, up to, but not more than, eighty million acres that he thinks should be added to national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, or wild and scenic rivers. Every six months for two years he must report locations, sizes, values, and recommendations to Congress. Lands not recommended after two years become available for selection or appropriation. Recommended areas stay withdrawn until Congress acts, but not longer than five years from each recommendation. Withdrawn lands remain under the Secretary’s management and he keeps authority to make contracts, leases, permits, rights-of-way, and easements.