The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to revoke Public Land Orders (PLO) 5150 and 5180, which currently protects over 2.1 million acres of federal land in the Dalton Utility Corridor, located north of the Yukon River. This action follows Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, both of which seek to “unleash Alaska’s resource potential.”
If finalized, the revocation would open the area to mining, oil and gas exploration, and other activities under public land and mining laws. It would also allow the State of Alaska to move forward with land selections it has already filed (“top filed”) in this region. Once those selections are activated, the land would no longer be subject to federal rural subsistence protections under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
Only 72,000 acres within the corridor, those not claimed by the State, would remain under federal management with continued protections for rural subsistence users.
The proposed revocation raises serious concerns about impacts to Tribal sovereignty, subsistence rights, and the protection of historic and cultural sites.
The BLM is currently preparing a Determination of NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Adequacy (DNA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of this proposal. A decision from the Secretary of the Interior is expected after the review is completed later this fall.
How You Can Provide Feedback
BLM has initiated Government-to-Government and ANCSA Corporation consultations and is seeking input from Tribes on how this proposed action may affect their communities. In addition, the BLM has begun a Section 106 review under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to identify and address potential impacts to cultural and historic properties.
If your Tribe or ANCSA Corporation would like to participate in consultation or cultural review, please reach out to the following contacts:
- James Dahlkemper (Tribal Consultation) at jdahlkemper@blm.gov
- Robin Mills (Section 106 Review) at rmills@blm.gov
We strongly encourage Tribal leaders, cultural committees, and community members to get involved in this process and voice your concerns. Engagement at this stage is critical to protecting our lands, rights, and ways of life.
You can read more and view maps of the proposed revocation area by visiting: