[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45604-45605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19215]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAK927000 L54200000 FR0000 LVDIL0440000; AA-086372]


Notice of Application for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest for 
Lands Underlying Aniak River and Lake in Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The State of Alaska (State) has filed an application with the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest 
from the United States in those lands underlying the Aniak River and 
Lake in southwestern Alaska. The State asserts that the Aniak River and 
Lake were navigable and unreserved at the time of statehood; therefore, 
title to the submerged lands passed to the State at the time of 
statehood (1959). This river system is partially within the exterior 
boundaries of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, created by the 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Public Law 96-487 of 
December 2, 1980, and administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.

DATES: All comments to this action should be received on or before 
October 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the State of Alaska application or the BLM Draft 
Summary Report must be filed with the Chief, Branch of Survey Planning 
and Preparation (AK-9270), Division of Cadastral Survey, BLM Alaska 
State Office, 222 West 7th Avenue, 13, Anchorage, Alaska 
99513-7504.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Frost, Navigable Waters 
Specialist, 907-271-5531; 222 West 7th Avenue, 13, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99513; e-mail [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual; or visit the BLM Recordable Disclaimer of Interest Web site 
at http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/rdi.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 10, 2006, the State filed an 
application for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest pursuant to Section 
315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the 
regulations contained in 43 CFR Subpart 1864 for the lands underlying 
the Aniak River and Lake (AA-086372). A Recordable Disclaimer of 
Interest, if issued, will confirm that the United States has no valid 
interest

[[Page 45605]]

in the subject lands. This notice is to notify the public of the 
pending application and the State's grounds for supporting it. The 
State asserts that this river system is navigable; therefore, under the 
Equal Footing Doctrine, the Submerged Lands Act of 1953, the Alaska 
Statehood Act, the Alaska Right of Way Act of 1898, and other title 
navigability law, ownership of these lands underlying the river 
automatically passed from the United States to the State at the time of 
statehood in 1959.
    The State's application, AA-086372, is for ``all submerged lands 
lying within the bed of Aniak River, below the ordinary high water 
lines of the left and right banks beginning at its source in Section 20 
of Township 3 North, Range 57 West, Seward Meridian, Alaska, northerly 
to its confluence with the Kuskokwim River in Section 7 of Township 17 
North, Range 56 West, Seward Meridian, Alaska; and the submerged lands 
encompassed by the ordinary high water line of Aniak Lake within the 
following townships and ranges in the Seward Meridian, Township 5 
North, Range 56 West; Township 4 North, Range 57 West.'' The State did 
not identify any known adverse claimant or occupant of the affected 
lands.
    A final decision on the merits of the application will not be made 
before October 27, 2011. During the 90-day period, interested parties 
may comment on the State's application, AA-086372, and supporting 
evidence. Interested parties may also comment during this time on the 
BLM's Draft Summary Report. The State's application and the BLM's Draft 
Summary Report may be viewed on the BLM Recordable Disclaimer of 
Interest Web site at http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/rdi.html, or in 
the BLM Public Room located at 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 
99513.
    Comments filed with the BLM Division of Cadastral Survey, including 
names and street addresses of commenters, will be available for public 
inspection at the BLM Alaska State Office (see ADDRESSES above), during 
regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.
    If no valid objection is received and all else is proper, a 
Disclaimer of Interest may be approved stating that the United States 
does not have a valid interest in these lands.

    Authority: 43 CFR 1864.2(a).

Craig Frichtl,
Chief, Branch of Survey Planning and Preparation.
[FR Doc. 2011-19215 Filed 7-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P