Progress despite complexities
All the programs described involve fairly complex requirements, standards, and land status issues. Often, the various applications have conflicts with one another that must be resolved.
The Alaska Land Transfer Program has been a massive undertaking, unprecedented in scope and complexity. Issuance of land patents by the BLM is critical and exacting in nature and forms the very foundation of a future chain of title.
The following are a few of the additional legislative priorities BLM has received, an average of about one new Congressional directive a year for the past 12 years, which include but not limited
Recent Legislative Priorities
The BLM has received an average of about one new congressional directive a year for the past 12 years. These directives include:
- Land transfer to Bering Straits Native Corporation
- Land transfer to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
- Land transfer to the State of Alaska within the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project Boundary
- Land transfer to James Henry Jansen & Victor Carl Jansen
- Land transfer to Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation
- Continued technical assistance for S. 3269, Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition & Compensation Act
- Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Era Veterans Land Allotment
ANCSA Entitlements Held Needing Legislative Fixes
Remedial legislation is needed to fulfill the following entitlements:
- Kaktovik
- Canyon Village
- Nagamut
- The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC), Successor in Interest to Sleetmute Limited, & Red Devil Incorporated
- Eyak
Additional Challenges
The following challenges directly impact the BLM Land Transfer Program rate of land conveyances:
- State Protest of Survey Plats
- Congressional Reports
- 2019 Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veteran Land Allotment Program
- Land Exchanges
- Workforce
- 17(b) Easements
- Title Recovery Native Allotments
There is no margin for error, and if it is not done correctly, it must be redone. Considering the scope of the task and the precision required, it is incredible that the program is as far along as it is.
| Native Allotment Land Transfer | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Act of 2019 Native Veteran Land Allotment Applications Received | 393 applications received to date |
| Act of 2019 Native Veteran Land Allotment Applications in Adjudication Process | 353 applications in process |
| Act of 2019 Native Veteran Land Allotment Applications for Survey | 48 applications with draft surveys |
| Act of 2019 Native Veteran Land Allotment Applications for Survey | 29 applications in survey |
| Act of 2019 Native Veteran Land Allotment Applications Patented | 29 applications certificated |
| Act of 1906 Alaska Native Allotment | 10 in survey process |
| Act of 1906 Alaska Native Allotment | 251 in litigation or title recovery |
| ANCSA Land Transfer | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Cantwell Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Ahtna Region) | Decision with draft confirmatory patents issued June 27, 2024. Patents will be issued in mid-late August, pending no appeals. |
| Chistochina Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Ahtna Region) | Decision issued June 4, 2024, with draft patents. Patents to be issued after appeal period, pending no appeals. |
| Tazlina Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Ahtna Region) | Actively working on project for conveyance document reviews |
| Belkofski Sec. 12(b) Entitlement (Aleut Region) | Actively working on project for conveyance document reviews |
| 18 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (Aleut Region) | 2 patents issued for 12 selections on Oct. 27, 2023, 12 case files closed of record. Publication in Federal Register for 6 TAC Sec. 14(h)(1) selections; decision issued, patents in review. |
| Sec. 12(a)(1) Regional Selection (Aleut Region) | Actively working on project for conveyance document reviews |
| St. Paul Sec. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Aleut Region) | Auditing for possible survey needs in fulfilling entitlements |
| St. George Sec. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Aleut Region) | Auditing for possible survey needs in fulfilling entitlements |
| Sand Point Sec. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Aleut Region) | Auditing for possible survey needs in fulfilling entitlements |
| Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selection (Bering Straits Region) | Decision issued on May 23, 2024, final patent to be issued after July 8th, pending no appeals. |
| Manokotak Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Bristol Bay Region) | Final draft approval decision and draft patents completed; in final review |
| Koliganek Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Bristol Bay Region) | Actively working on project for conveyance document reviews |
| Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selection (Bristol Bay Region) | COMPLETED: Corrected patent issued October 12, 2023; Case closed of record |
| Sec. 14(h)(1) Entitlement Closure (Bristol Bay Region) | COMPLETED: BBNC'S Sec. 14(h)(1) entitlement closed of record. |
| Kongiganek Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Calista Region) | Actively working on project for conveyance document reviews |
| Sec. 12(a)(1) In-Lieu (Calista Region) | Auditing interim conveyed lands for possible survey needs to issue confirmatory patents |
| Sec. 14(h)(8) Regional Selection (Calista Region) | COMPLETED: Conveyance issued February 21, 2024 |
| 16 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (Calista Region) | COMPLETED: Patent issued February 21, 2024; 16 cases closed of record |
| Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selection (Calista Region) | Decision issued June 28, 2024. Patent to be issued after appeal period, pending no appeals. |
| Oscarville Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Calista Region) | Decision issued June 28, 2024, with draft patents. Patents to be issued after appeal period, pending no appeals. |
| Kasigluk Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Calista Region) | Adjudication in progress for conveyance document reviews |
| Calista Sec. 14(f) Entitlement @ Napaskiak (Calista Region) | Decision issued June 4, 2024, with draft patent. Patent to be issued after appeal period, pending no appeals. |
| Tatitlek Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Chugach Region) | COMPLETED: Final patents issued April 11, 2024 (Village Closure); Patents are noted to the land records. |
| 8 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (Chugach Region) | COMPLETED: Patent for 8 selections issued Oct. 27, 2023, 8 case files closed of record |
| 23 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (Chugach Region) | Project added in February to 2024 ANCSA projects; adjudication in progress for conveyance document reviews |
| 6 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (Cook Inlet Region) | Adjudication in progress for conveyance document reviews |
| Eklutna Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Cook Inlet Region) | Adjudication in progress; reviewing conveyance documents |
| Chickaloon Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Cook Inlet Region) | Adjudication in progress for conveyance document reviews |
| Fire Island Lands (Cook Inlet Region) | Modification decision to be issued. In review with CIRI. |
| CIRI West Side Deficiency Lands (Cook Inlet) | Actively working on a Patent Easement and Final Easement Memorandums for conveyance/patenting of approximately 250,000 acres. |
| Beaver Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Doyon Region) | Approval decision in fulfilling Sec. 12(b) entitlement issued on April 4, 2024; awaiting appeal period; draft patents in review. Auditing Sec. 12(a) remaining entitlement selections for possible survey needs. |
| Circle Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Doyon Region) | Approval decision in fulfilling Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) entitlements issued April 18, 2024. Awaiting appeal period; draft patents in review. |
| Stevens Village Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Doyon Region) | Preparing survey request in fulfilling Sec. 12(a) entitlement (Sec. 12(b) fulfilled). |
| Tanana Village Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Doyon Region) | Preparing survey request in fulfilling Sec. 12(a) entitlement (Sec. 12(b) fulfilled); actively adjudicating. |
| 16 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (Doyon Region) | Draft conveyance documents completed, actively in review |
| Ouzinkie Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (Koniag Region) | Decision with draft corrected patent issued May 23, 2024, issuance of patent pending end of appeal period, |
| Woody Island Sec. 12(a) Entitlement (Koniag Region) | Adjudication in progress for conveyance document reviews |
| Kotzebue Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) Entitlements (NANA Region) | Issued Notice/Draft Confirmatory Patent on May 17, 2024, to KIC for 82,000 acres. Final patent to be issued in late June. Survey request submitted in finalizing Secs. 12(a) and 12(b) entitlements. |
| 2 Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selections (NANA, Inc.) | Approval decision issued May 2024, patent to be issued pending end of appeal period. |
| Sec. 14(h)(1) Regional Selection (Sealaska Region) | Adjudication in process for conveyance document reviews |
| Sec. 14(h)(8) Regional Entitlement Closure (Sealaska Region) | First of 4 patents issued on October 12, 2023; 3 draft conveyance documents completed, actively in review. |
| Sec. 14(h)(8) Regional Entitlement Closure (Sealaska Region) | Easement decision and draft confirmatory patent drafted and reviewed; Final Corrected Easement Memorandum issued June 14, 2024. |
| State of Alaska Land Transfer | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Patents issued for Tentatively Approved (TA) Lands | 92,989 acres of TA lands patented to date |
| Tentatively Approved Lands | None to date |
| Original Patented Lands | 1,148 acres of original lands patented (per State's Request) |