Interior Announces 2.1 Million Acres On Dalton Corridor To Be Opened For Energy Projects (Updating)
As the Trump administration has attempted to create new mining projects around Alaska despite plenty of pushback, today’s federal government announcement that 2.1 million acres of public land in Alaska’s Dalton Corridor could open the door for controversial operations such as the Ambler Road, which has been long opposed given how the gravel road could impact fish and wildlife around the Brooks Range.
Here’s the Department of the Interior’s press release:
Department of the Interior Opens 2.1 Million Acres in Alaska’s Dalton Corridor
Action clears path for state land selections and major energy projects, fulfilling Alaska Statehood Act promises
02/20/2026
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Department of the Interior is set to issue Public Land Order No. 7966 in Alaska’s Dalton Utility Corridor, opening approximately 2.1 million acres of public land to location and entry under the public land and mining laws. This marks a historic step forward in fulfilling the State of Alaska’s land entitlement. The order revokes two previous withdrawals north of the Yukon River — Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180 — expanding opportunities for resource development and enhancing the State’s control over its own destiny.
“President Trump was clear – promises made are promises kept and this decision is about unlocking opportunity for American Energy Dominance to lower costs for all American families,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “By opening these lands, we are empowering Alaska to chart its own course and develop energy, minerals and infrastructure that strengthen America’s security and prosperity.”
“Today’s action by Secretary Burgum is a milestone for Alaska’s self-determination. I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Burgum for continuing to deliver on promises, even those promises made decades ago,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “Alaskans know what’s best for Alaska and revoking these Public Land Orders will empower Alaska to chart our own future on these lands.”
The action clears the way for Alaska to advance its remaining land entitlements under the Alaska Statehood Act. This revocation allows approximately 2.1 million acres of “top filed” land (land previously unavailable for state selection but which Alaska has long sought to acquire), to become effective state selections. The Bureau of Land Management is working with the Alaska to identify which of those lands it desires to take title to, moving closer to fulfilling its remaining 5.2-million-acre entitlement. This will give Alaska greater control over its natural resources and economic future.
“Today’s revocation is a major step forward for Alaskans to realize the promise the federal government made to us more than 60 years ago – a statehood land entitlement for Alaska to develop its resources and support its residents,” said Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee John Crowther. “We will continue to work in coordination and cooperation with the Department of the Interior on our relinquishment plan to ensure that the state’s highest-priority acreage will be available for transfer to the people of Alaska.”
As part of this revocation process, the State of Alaska has committed to a good faith plan for relinquishment of excess statehood selections to address “over-selection” in compliance with the Alaska Lands Transfer Acceleration Act.
“We are proud of this major milestone and the partnership that we have forged with the state.” said BLM Alaska State Director Kevin Pendergast. “This is federal–state collaboration at its best; we’ll continue working closely with them on our shared commitments to fulfilling land entitlements.”
The Dalton corridor includes key infrastructure such as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and proposed projects like the Alaska Liquid Natural Gas line and Ambler Road. The revocation supports efforts to expand domestic energy and mineral production under Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, both titled “Unleashing American Energy.”
This Public Land Order will officially publish in the Federal Register next week.
Among the reactions to this latest news, here’s the Center for Biological Diversity, which pointed that the feds would be, “Revoking Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180, facilitating turning over federal lands to the state of Alaska north of the Yukon? This move could help pave the way for the Ambler Road, reduce federal oversight of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, and would harm Alaska wildlife and habitat.”
“Americans have been loud and clear that we don’t want the Trump administration to give away our federal public lands, including in Alaska,” said Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “If Alaska state leaders take control of these lands, they’ll roll out the red carpet for foreign mining companies to dig, dump and run, while kicking local communities and wildlife to the curb.”
UPDATE: More reaction from Defend the Brooks Range
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OPENS 2.1 MILLION ACRES IN ALASKA – CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE AMBLER ROAD
Today the Department of Interior announced it would overturn Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180, ending more than half a century of public land protection in Northeast Alaska. The action could lead to the transfer of 2.1 million acres of federal public lands in Alaska, including those targeted for the harmful proposed Ambler industrial mining road.
Members of the Defend the Brooks Range coalition oppose this revocation, as the State of Alaska has clearly expressed its desire to open these lands to industrial development, despite widespread local and national opposition.
The administration’s stated intention in revoking Public Land Orders (PLO) 5150 and 5180 is to allow the state of Alaska to obtain more than two million acres of public land in the Dalton Utility Corridor, located north of the Yukon River, for the purposes of building the Ambler Road. Revoking the orders also ends federal rural subsistence priority protections that are critical to Alaska Natives and others living in this remote, largely roadless region.
The Defend the Brooks Range coalition rejects today’s harmful action as the latest step in this administration’s attempts to ignore the needs of Alaska communities and force the Ambler mining road forward.
Responses from Members of the Defend the Brooks Range Coalition
“As small business owners and full-time residents of Wiseman, Alaska, within the boundary of Public Land Order 5150, we depend on the protection this order provides. Its removal threatens the cultural and historical integrity of Wiseman and the viability of many small, locally operated businesses like ours. We rely on the land’s natural character, clean water, and remote values. Maintaining PLO 5150 ensures that businesses can continue to thrive responsibly while honoring the broad public purpose these lands were set aside to serve.”
– Mollie and Sean Busby, co-owners of Arctic Hive
“My main concern is loss of federal subsistence priority on 2.1 acres of the BLM lands in the utility corridor, not only for these communities, Wiseman and Coldfoot, but also the other communities that utilize these lands: Anaktuvuk, Nuiqsut, Stevens Village, Rampart, Allakaket, and Alatna. Three different regions are affected by this action. If the BLM was to convey all these lands to the State of Alaska there would be a complete loss of subsistence priority.” – Jack Reakoff, Wiseman resident, West Int Regional Federal Subsistence Advisory Council Chair, Koyukuk River Advisory Committee to State of Alaska, Gates of the Arctic Subsistence Resource Commission
“Revoking PLO 5150 would be a betrayal of our people, stripping protections from our lands and rivers — and opening the door to resource extraction on territory. We will continue to fight for the protection of our way of life. We cannot allow anyone to destroy our land and resources. Our ancestors taught us how to take care of our land and everything it provides for us. Our future is at stake for our children and their children.” – Chief Julie Roberts-Hyslop, Tanana
“The abandonment of land protections along the Dalton Highway will speed the decline of local animal populations and encourage more wanton waste of our natural resources. Now we must add “intelligent land use practices” to the list of extinct species in Alaska.” – John Gaedeke, owner of Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge
“PLO 5150 lands are some of the most accessible and fruitful caribou hunting areas for Alaskan residents and nonresident recreational hunters. These hunting opportunities are especially important when considering recent downturns in population and more limited hunting occurring in other parts of Alaska, like the Fortymile and Nelchina herds Additionally, these PL 5150 lands offer world-class DIY fishing access for Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, and Lake trout, drawing anglers from every economic background. These areas were deemed so important to recreationists that they were designated as “Backcountry Conservation Areas” in the 2024 Central Yukon Final Resource Management Plan produced by the BLM. If PL 5150 is revoked, hunters and anglers could find fences and controlled access areas springing up in places along the Dalton Highway where they were once able to pursue game or wet a line. It is important for outdoor recreationists to rally together to maintain the proper management and access to these lands, otherwise our few road-accessible Brooks Range gems may be leased, degraded, and sold off to private interests.
– Kevin Fraley, Alaska resident, fisheries ecologist, Brooks Range hunter and fisherman
Alaska Salmon 2011: Not Too Shabby
Prime Time For Face Time At Sportsmen’s Shows
EPA: Potential ‘Adverse Impacts’ On Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery With Pebble Mine; Comment Period On Draft Study Open Into July
About Author
