Federal Subsistence Board to meet May 25, 2017 to discuss proposed rule on submerged public lands within Tongass National Forest

The U.S. District Court for Alaska, in its October 17, 2011 order in Peratrovich et al. v. United States and the State of Alaska, 3:92-cv-0734-HRH (D. Alaska), enjoined the United States “to promptly initiate regulatory proceedings for the purpose of implementing the subsistence provisions in Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) with respect to submerged public lands within Tongass National Forest” and directed entry of judgment.  To comply with the order, the Board must initiate a regulatory proceeding to identify those submerged lands within the Tongass National Forest that did not pass to the State of Alaska at statehood and, therefore, remain Federal public lands subject to the subsistence provisions of ANILCA.

Following the Court’s decision, the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) started a review of hundreds of potential pre-statehood (January 3, 1959) withdrawals in the marine waters of the Tongass National Forest.  In April and October of 2015, BLM submitted initial lists of submerged public lands to the Board.  This proposed rule would add those submerged parcels to the subsistence regulations to ensure compliance with the Court order.  Additional listings will be published as BLM and USFS continue their review of pre-statehood withdrawals.

The public is invited to participate in this meeting by teleconference. To participate, dial TOLL FREE (888) 455-5897, the passcode is 3344290.

The Board is committed to providing access to this meeting for all participants. Please direct requests for accommodation needs to the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3888 or by e-mail, subsistence@fws.gov.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

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