Alaska Department of Natural Resources
01/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/14/2026 11:11
Noatak Airport Relocation Proposed Authorizations: ADL 422767; Interagency Land Management Assignment, ADL 422768, Material Sale Contract; ADL 422769, Material Site Designation
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Noatak Airport Relocation Proposed Authorizations: ADL 422767; Interagency Land Management Assignment, ADL 422768, Material Sale Contract; ADL 422769, Material Site Designation
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADL 422769 Designation of Material Site
ADL 422767 Interagency Land Management Assignment
ADL 422768 Material Sale Contract for the Department of Transportation (DOT)
The Noatak airport is located near the Noatak River, which has substantially eroded towards the airport property in recent decades. Typhoon Halong accelerated erosion and now imminently threatens core airport facilities and therefore also jeopardizes the Noatak community which relies on safe and reliable air transportation service. These authorizations are in support of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' (DOT&PF) ongoing effort to relocate the airport.
Material Site Designation and Material Sale Contract
The Department has issued a Preliminary Decision proposing to designate a 230 acre material site within the bed of the Noatak River. The designation under AS 38.05.550(b) would allow for the use and operation of the material site for extraction and sale of materials until closed by the DMLW. Future contracts for the sale of materials from the designated site would be issued pursuant to AS 38.05.550-.565, and materials may be sold continuously pursuant to contracts without further finding or notice once the site is designated.
The DMLW must also ensure that state land and natural resources be available for the maximum use consistent with the public interest. To that end, the DMLW will continue to carefully review individual sale requests and operation plans once sites have been designated, to ensure resource consideration and multiple use issues are appropriately evaluated.
Pursuant to the designation of this site, AS 38.05.555 and AS 38.05.810(a), the DMLW intends to issue a 5-year material sale contract from this site for 1,000,000 cubic yards at less than fair market value (FMV) to DOT&PF.
Interagency Land Management Assignment
The majority of the infrastructure associated with the new airport would be located on non-state lands, however a portion of the new access road crosses Kuchoruk Creek, a navigable waterbody managed by DMLW. Pursuant to AS 38.05.020, we are proposing to transfer management authority of a parcel to DOT&PF for a bridge. The parcel is irregularly shaped and is roughly 300 feet wide, 20 feet long, and approximately .14 acres.
Location and Legal Description
Material Site: ADL 422769 - The site is located approximately 2.5 miles downriver from Noatak, consisting of shorelands withing Sections 29 and 32, Township 25 North, Range 19 West, Kateel River Meridian, as depicted on Attachment A, excluding lands and interests transferred under Patents 50-2016-0064 and 50-2016-0065.
Bridge: ADL 422767 - This site is located approximately 1.75 miles southwest of Noatak, consisting of shorelands within Kuchoruk Creek within Section 19, Township 25 North, Range 19 West, Kateel River Meridian, as depicted as Tract III-B on Attachment B.
Public Notice
The public is invited to comment on these proposed actions. The Northern Regional Land Office (NRO) must receive, in writing, any comments or objections no later than February 13, 2026. The public is invited to comment and should submit comments to DNR, DMLW, NRO at 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, or emailed to [email protected]. DNR can be contacted for further information at 907-451-2740 or at the above email address and specify you have questions about the Noatak Airport designation and/or ILMA. Additional copies of the PD and copies of the standard material sale contract may be obtained from the NRO. Interested parties have the right to comment during the public notice period and the commenters who are aggrieved by the Final Finding and Decision will have the right to appeal it. In order to be able to appeal the Final Finding and Decision, a person must provide written comments during the PD comment period. A copy of the decision will be sent to any person who comments on the PD and will include an explanation of the appeal process.
If public comment in response to this notice indicates the need for significant change in the decision, additional public notice will be given. If no significant change is required, the decision, including any minor changes, will be issued as the final decision.
DNR-DMLW complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to comment should contact Alaska Relay at 711 or 800-770-8973 for TTY services.
The DMLW reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice.
Material Site: ADL 422769 - The site is located approximately 2.5 miles downriver from Noatak, consisting of shorelands withing Sections 29 and 32, Township 25 North, Range 19 West, Kateel River Meridian, as depicted on Attachment A, excluding lands and interests transferred under Patents 50-2016-0064 and 50-2016-0065.
Bridge: ADL 422767 - This site is located approximately 1.75 miles southwest of Noatak, consisting of shorelands within Kuchoruk Creek within Section 19, Township 25 North, Range 19 West, Kateel River Meridian, as depicted as Tract III-B on Attachment B.
Public Notice
The public is invited to comment on these proposed actions. The Northern Regional Land Office (NRO) must receive, in writing, any comments or objections no later than February 13, 2026. The public is invited to comment and should submit comments to DNR, DMLW, NRO at 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, or emailed to [email protected]. DNR can be contacted for further information at 907-451-2740 or at the above email address and specify you have questions about the Noatak Airport designation and/or ILMA. Additional copies of the PD and copies of the standard material sale contract may be obtained from the NRO. Interested parties have the right to comment during the public notice period and the commenters who are aggrieved by the Final Finding and Decision will have the right to appeal it. In order to be able to appeal the Final Finding and Decision, a person must provide written comments during the PD comment period. A copy of the decision will be sent to any person who comments on the PD and will include an explanation of the appeal process.
If public comment in response to this notice indicates the need for significant change in the decision, additional public notice will be given. If no significant change is required, the decision, including any minor changes, will be issued as the final decision.
DNR-DMLW complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to comment should contact Alaska Relay at 711 or 800-770-8973 for TTY services.
The DMLW reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice.
Attachments, History, Details
Attachments
Revision History
| Created 1/14/2026 8:03:21 AM by ajwait | |
| Modified 1/14/2026 8:09:22 AM by ajwait |
Details
| Department: | Natural Resources |
| Category: | Public Notices |
| Sub-Category: | |
| Location(s): | Kotzebue, Northern Region |
| Project/Regulation #: | |
| Publish Date: | 1/14/2026 |
| Archive Date: | 2/14/2026 |
| Events/Deadlines: | |
Alaska Department of Natural Resources published this content on January 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 14, 2026 at 17:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]