[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5802-5803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02679]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[12X.LLAK942000.L54200000.FR0000. LVDIL0490000; AA093210]


Notice of Application for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest for 
Lands Underlying the Kanektok River System Including Pegati and Kagati 
Lakes, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The State of Alaska (State) has filed an application with the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest 
(RDI) from the United States in those lands underlying the Kanektok 
River System, including Pegati and Kagati Lakes, a major drainage into 
Kuskokwim Bay in southwestern Alaska. The State asserts that the 
Kanektok River System, including Pegati and Kagati Lakes, was navigable 
and unreserved at the time of Alaska Statehood in 1959.

DATES: The BLM should receive all comments to this action on or before 
May 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail or email on the State of 
Alaska's application for an RDI or on the BLM draft ``Summary Report on 
the Federal Interest in Lands underlying the Kanektok River System 
(including Pegati and Kagati Lakes).'' To file comments by mail, send 
to: RDI Program Manager (AK-942), Division of Lands and Cadastral, BLM 
Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513. To 
submit comments by email, send to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angie Nichols, RDI Program Manager, 
222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513; 907-271-3359; 
[email protected]; or visit the BLM RDI website at https://www.blm.gov/programs/lands-and-realty/regional-information/alaska/RDI/kuskokwim.
    People who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Relay System (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the 
above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 
hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or a question with 
the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Feb. 28, 2012, the State filed an 
application (AA-93210) for an RDI pursuant to Section 315 of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and the 
regulations contained in 43 CFR Subpart 1864 for the lands underlying 
the Kanektok River System, including Pegati and Kagati Lakes. The State 
asserts that this river system was navigable at the time of Alaska 
Statehood. As such, the State contends that ownership of the lands 
underlying this river system automatically passed from the United 
States to the State in 1959 at the time of Statehood under the Equal 
Footing Doctrine; the Submerged Lands Act of 1953; the Alaska Statehood 
Act; and other title navigability law. Section 315 of FLPMA authorizes 
the BLM to issue an RDI when it determines that a record interest of 
the United States in lands has terminated by law or is otherwise 
invalid, and a disclaimer will help remove a cloud on title to such 
lands.
    The State's application is for an RDI for all submerged lands 
underlying the portion of the Kanektok River System, including Pegati 
and Kagati Lakes. Specifically, these are the submerged lands and bed 
up to, and including, the ordinary high water line of Pegati and Kagati 
Lakes within: Townships 3-4 south, range 63 west, Seward Meridian, 
Alaska and for the submerged lands and bed of the Kanektok River lying 
between the ordinary high water lines of the right and left banks of 
that river from the outlet of Pegati Lake within township 3 south, 
range 63 west, Seward Meridian, Alaska, downstream to the location 
where the river enters the Kuskokwim Bay within township 5 south, range 
74 west, Seward Meridian, Alaska, USGS 1:63,360 series topographic map 
Goodnews C-5, 6, 8, and D-3-8. The State's application for the Kanektok 
River System starting at Pegati and Kagati Lakes downstream to 
Kuskokwim Bay flows through the following area: Townships 3-4 south, 
range 63 west;

[[Page 5803]]

township 3 south, range 64 west; township 3 south, range 65 west; 
township 3 south, range 66 west; township 4 south, range 66 west; 
township 4 south, range 67 west; township 5 south, range 68 west; 
township 5 south, range 69 west; township 4 south, range 69 west; 
township 4 south, range 70 west; township 4 south, range 71 west; 
township 4 south, range 72 west; township 4 south, range 73 west; 
township 5 south, range 73 west; township 5 south, range 74 west, 
Seward Meridian, Alaska. Over time, the precise location of the 
submerged lands described above may vary between townships due to the 
ambulatory nature of these water bodies. An RDI is a legal document 
through which the BLM disclaims the United States' interest in, or 
ownership of, specified lands, but the disclaimer does not grant, 
convey, transfer, or renounce any title or interest in the lands, nor 
does it release any tax, judgment, or lien. This Notice of Application 
is to inform the public of the pending application and the State 
supporting evidence, as well as to provide the opportunity to comment 
or provide additional information to the BLM.
    The BLM will not make a final decision on the merits of the State's 
application before May 10, 2018. During this 90-day period, interested 
parties may comment on the State's application, AA-93210, and 
supporting evidence.
    During this 90-day comment period, interested parties may also 
comment on the BLM's draft ``Summary Report on the Federal Interest in 
Lands underlying the Kanektok River System including Pegati and Kagati 
Lakes'' for the State's application for a RDI, which is available on 
the BLM's RDI website (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above).
    Copies of the State application, supporting evidence, the BLM Draft 
Summary Report, and comments, including names and street addresses of 
commenters, will be available for public review at the Alaska State 
Office, Public Room, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513, 
during regular business hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, 
email address, or other personally identifying information in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personally identifying information--may be made publicly available at 
any time. While you can ask the BLM in your comment to withhold your 
personally identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    If the BLM determines the State's evidence and any additional 
information the agency receives concerning the State's application is 
sufficient to find a favorable determination, and neither the records 
nor a valid objection discloses a reason not to disclaim, the BLM may 
decide to approve the application for the RDI.

    Authority: 43 CFR 1864.2.

Erika L. Reed,
Deputy State Director, Division of Lands and Cadastral, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2018-02679 Filed 2-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P