State of Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
Northern Regional Land Office
AS 38.05.945 Public Notice
ADL 421704: Negotiated Lease - AS 38.05.070
ADL 421869: Public Easement - AS 38.05.850

Shovel Creek Wind LLC (Shovel Creek Wind) submitted an application to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land, and Water (DMLW) to lease up to approximately 450 acres of land within an overall project area of approximately 3,800 acres for a wind farm. This project is located in the Shovel Creek area west of Murphy Dome, approximately 18 to 25 miles WNW of Fairbanks. The applicant has requested a 40-year lease under AS 38.05.070 and a public easement under AS 38.05.850.

The DMLW posted a solicitation of interest for a competitive lease from November 8, 2021, through December 9, 2021, and September 30, 2022, through October 30, 2022, with no interest expressed during either period. DMLW has written a preliminary decision under AS 38.05.035(e), Written Finding for the Disposal of State Resources, proposing to issue a 40-year lease and an indefinite public access easement for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a wind farm.

This notice serves to inform the public of the proposed lease and proposed easement. The public is invited to comment on each separate action, or they can comment on the project in its entirety. Copies of the preliminary decision may be obtained from DMLW. 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. It should be noted that in order to be able to appeal the final finding and decision, a person must provide written comments during the preliminary decision comment period. A copy of the final decision will be sent to any person who comments on the preliminary decision and will include an explanation of the appeal process.

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS:

Written comments must be received in writing by the DMLW, Lands Section on or before 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024 to ensure consideration.

To submit written comments or to seek additional information about any of the above proposed actions, please contact:

AJ Wait
Natural Resource Manager
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
Department of Natural Resources
3700 Airport Way
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-4699
Phone (907) 451-2740
Fax: (907) 451-2751
E-mail:  nro.lands@alaska.gov

DNR complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications should contact the Public Information Center in Anchorage, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, at (907) 269-8400, or pic@alaska.gov, or TDD (907) 269-8411; or the Public Information Center in Fairbanks between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at (907) 451-2705, or fbx_pic@alaska.gov.