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DNR highlights land management revenue, continues work on Ambler access and project permitting
Summary
Officials told the House Finance Committee the Division of Mining, Land and Water generated $37.9 million in revenue and continues to process right‑of‑way and easement applications, including an active Ambler access application; the Office of Project Management and Permitting coordinates large projects and federal interactions.
The Division of Mining, Land and Water and the Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPUMP) outlined revenue, land sales and permitting activity and said an Ambler access right‑of‑way application remains active before the division.
Deputy Commissioner Brent Goodrum said the division manages more than 60 million acres of state land and reported $37.9 million in revenue from uses of state land, an 8.7 percent increase over the prior fiscal year. He said the department conveyed 733 acres to municipalities, sold almost 1,200 acres across 165 parcels that generated about $5.9 million for the land disposal income fund, and issued water permits and certificates of appropriation.
Goodrum told the committee the division is working to reduce a patent‑issuance backlog and complete planning efforts for public use areas. He said the department will finalize an easement authorization related to the Ambler Access Road and confirmed an application from a proponent (the transcript referenced an application from "ADA" for a right‑of‑way extending from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler project area) remains active.
Representative Hannan asked whether the easement crosses Native corporation land and whether section‑line easements apply. The division said it can only authorize access where the state has land interest and that other landowners must reach agreement; the division said it would follow up with specifics on whether access would cross Native corporation land.
OPUMP officials described the office's role coordinating state review and permitting for large mines, energy and infrastructure projects and said the office supports state participation in federal processes, including environmental reviews, cooperating‑agency roles and litigation when the state deems federal actions to impose restrictions that require state response.
Why it matters: land authorizations, easements and permitting affect state revenue streams, local governments, mineral and energy development and tribal and corporate landholders; the Ambler access project in particular has been the subject of prior discussion and stakeholder concern.
