(a)(1) There is hereby established the Joint Federal-State Land Use Planning Commission for Alaska. The planning commission shall be composed of ten members as follows:
(A) The Governor of the State (or his designate) and four members who shall be appointed by the Governor. During the planning commission‘s existence at least one member appointed by the Governor shall be a Native as defined by this Act.
(B) One member appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate, and four members who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.
(2) The Governor of the State and the member appointed by the President pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(B), shall serve as co-chairmen of the planning commission. The initial meeting of the Commission shall be called by the cochairmen. All decisions of the Commission shall require the concurrence of the cochairmen.
(3) Six members of the planning commission shall constitute a quorum. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(4)(A) Except to the extent otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this subsection, members of the planning commission shall receive compensation at the rate of $100 per day for each day they are engaged in the performance of their duties as members of the Commission. All members of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the Commission.
(B) Any member of the planning commission who is designated or appointed from the Government of the United States of from the Government of the State shall serve without compensation in addition to that received in his regular employment. The member of the Commission appointed by the President pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(B) shall be compensated as provided by the President at a rate not in excess of that Provided for level V of the Executive Schedule in title 5, United States Code.
(5) Subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the planning commission, the cochairmen, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, shall have the power —
(A) to appoint and fix the compensation of such staff personnel as they deem necessary, and
(B) to procure temporary and intermittent services in the same extent as is authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed $100 a day for individuals.
(6)(A) The planning commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section, hold such hearings, take such testimony, receive such evidence, print or otherwise reproduce and distribute so much of its proceedings and reports thereon, and sit and act at such times and places as the commission, subcommittee, or member deems advisable.
(B) Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including independent agencies, is authorized and directed to furnish to the Commission, upon request made by a cochairman, such information as the Commission deems necessary to carry out its functions under this section.
(7) The planning commission shall —
(A) undertake a process of land-use planning, including the identification of and the making or recommendations concerning areas planned and best suited for permanent reservation in Federal ownership as parks, game refuges, and other public uses, areas of Federal and State lands to be made available for disposal, and uses to be made of lands remaining in Federal and State ownership;
(B) make recommendations with respect to proposed land selections by the State under the Alaska Statehood Act and by Village and Regional Corporations under this Act;
(C) be available to advise upon and assist in the development and review of land-use plans for lands selected by the Native Village and Regional Corporations under this Act and by the State under the Alaska Statehood Act;
(D) review existing withdrawals of Federal public lands and recommend to the President of the United States such additions to or modifications of withdrawals as are deemed desirable;
(E) establish procedures, including public hearings, for obtaining public views on the land-use planning programs of the State and Federal Governments for lands under their administration;
(F) establish a committee of land-use advisers to the Commission, made up of representatives of commercial and industrial land users in Alaska, recreation land users, wilderness users, environmental groups, Alaska Natives, and other citizens;
(G) make recommendations to the President of the United States and the Governor of Alaska as to programs and budgets of the Federal and State agencies responsible for the administration of Federal and State lands;
(H) make recommendations from time to time to the President of the United States, Congress, and the Governor and legislature of the State as to changes in laws, policies, and programs that the planning commission determines are necessary or desirable;
(I) make recommendations to insure that economic growth and development is orderly, planned and compatible with State and national environmental objectives, the public interest in the public lands, parks, forests, and Wildlife Refuges in Alaska, and the economic and social well-being of the Native people and other residents of Alaska;
(J) make recommendations to improve coordination and consultation between the State and Federal Governments in making resource allocation and land use decisions; and
(K) make recommendations on ways to avoid conflict between the State and the Native people in the selection of public lands.
(8)(A) On or before January 31 of each year, the planning commission shall submit to the President of the United States, the Congress, and the Governor and legislature of the State a written report with respect to its activities during the preceding calendar year.
(B) The planning commission shall keep and maintain accurate and complete records of its activities and transactions in carrying out its duties under this Act, and such record shall be available for public inspection.
(C) The principal office of the planning commission shall be located in the State.
(9)(A) The United States shall be responsible for paying for any fiscal year only 50 per centum of the costs of carrying out subsections (a) and (b) for such fiscal year.
(B) For the purpose of meeting the responsibility of the United States in carrying out the provisions of this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, and for each succeeding fiscal year.
(10) The planning commission shall submit, in accordance with this paragraph, comprehensive reports to the President of the United States, the Congress, and the Governor and legislature of the State with respect to its planning and other activities under this Act, together with its recommendations for programs or other actions which it determines should be implemented or taken by the United States and the State. An interim, comprehensive report covering the above matter shall be so submitted on or before May 30, 1976. A final and comprehensive report covering the above matter shall be so submitted on or before May 30, 1979. The Commission shall cease to exist effective June 30, 1979.
(b)(1) The planning commission shall identify public easements across lands selected by Village Corporations and the Regional Corporations and at periodic points along the courses of major waterways which are reasonably necessary to guarantee international treaty obligations, a full right of public use and access for recreation, hunting, transportation, utilities, docks, and such other public uses as the planning commission determines to be important.
(2) In identifying public easements the planning commission shall consult with appropriate State and Federal agencies, shall review proposed transportation plans, and shall receive and review statements and recommendations from interested organizations and individuals on the need for and proposed location of public easements: Provided, That any valid existing right recognized by this Act shall continue to have whatever right of access as is now provided for under existing law and this subsection shall not operate in any way to diminish or limited such right of access.
(3) Prior to granting any patent under this Act to the Village Corporation and Regional Corporations, the Secretary shall consult with the State and the planning commission and shall reserve such public easements as he determines are necessary.
(c) Prohibition against selection of lands from withdrawn area in event of withdrawal of utility and transportation corridor across public lands. In the event that the Secretary withdraws a utility and transportation corridor across public lands in Alaska pursuant to his existing authority, the State, the Village Corporations and the Regional Corporations shall not be permitted to select lands from the area withdrawn.
(d) Public Land Order Numbered 4582 revoked; withdrawal of unreserved public lands; classification and reclassification of lands; opening lands to appropriation; administration; contracting and other authority of Secretary not impaired by withdrawal
(1) Public Land Order Numbered 4582, 34 Federal Register 1025, as amended, is hereby revoked. For a period of ninety days after December 18, 1971, all unreserved public lands in Alaska are hereby withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining (except locations for metalliferous minerals) and the mineral leasing laws. During this period of time the Secretary shall review the public lands in Alaska and determine whether any portion of these lands should be withdrawn under authority provided for in existing law to insure that the public interest in these lands is properly protected. Any further withdrawal shall require an affirmative act by the Secretary under his existing authority, and the Secretary is authorized to classify or reclassify any lands so withdrawn and to open such lands to appropriation under the public land laws in accord with his classifications. Withdrawals pursuant to this paragraph shall not affect the authority of the Village Corporations, the Regional Corporations, and the State to make selections and obtain patents within the areas withdrawn pursuant to section 1610 of this title.
(2)(A) The Secretary, acting under authority provided for in existing law, is directed to withdraw from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining and mineral leasing laws, and from selection under the Alaska Statehood Act, and from selection by Regional Corporations pursuant to section 1610 of this title, up to, but not to exceed, eighty million acres of unreserved public lands in the State of Alaska, including previously classified lands, which the Secretary deems are suitable for addition to or creation as units of the National Park, Forest, Wildlife Refuge, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems: Provided, That such withdrawals shall not affect the authority of the State and the Regional and Village Corporations to make selections and obtain patents within the areas withdrawn pursuant to section 1610 of this title.
(B) Lands withdrawn pursuant to paragraph (A) hereof must be withdrawn within nine months of December 18, 1971. All unreserved public lands not withdrawn under paragraph (A) or subsection (d)(1) of this section shall be available for selection by the State and for appropriation under the public land laws.
(C) Every six months, for a period of two years from December 18, 1971, the Secretary shall advise the Congress of the location, size and values of lands withdrawn pursuant to paragraph (A) and submit his recommendations with respect to such lands. Any lands withdrawn pursuant to paragraph (A) not recommended for addition to or creation as units of the National Park, Forest, Wildlife Refuge, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems at the end of the two years shall be available for selection by the State and the Regional Corporations, and for appropriation under the public land laws.
(D) Areas recommended by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (C) shall remain withdrawn from any appropriation under the public land laws until such time as the Congress acts on the Secretary‘s recommendations, but not to exceed five years from the recommendation dates. The withdrawal of areas not so recommended shall terminate at the end of the two year period.
(E) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, initial identification of lands desired to be selected by the State pursuant to the Alaska Statehood Act and by the Regional Corporations pursuant to section 1611 of this title may be made within any area withdrawn pursuant to this subsection (d), but such lands shall not be tentatively approved or patented so long as the withdrawals of such areas remain in effect: Provided, That selection of lands by Village Corporations pursuant to section 1611 of this title shall not be affected by such withdrawals and such lands selected may be patented and such rights granted as authorized by this chapter. In the event Congress enacts legislation setting aside any areas withdrawn under the provisions of this subsection which the Regional Corporations or the State desired to select, then other unreserved public lands shall be made available for alternative selection by the Regional Corporations and the State. Any time periods established by law for Regional Corporations or State selections are hereby extended to the extent that delays are caused by compliance with the provisions of this subsection (2).
(3) Any lands withdrawn under this section shall be subject to administration by the Secretary under applicable laws and regulations, and his authority to make contracts and to grant leases, permits, rights-of-way, or easements shall not be impaired by the withdrawal.
Other information:
Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act; Pub.L. 108-452, section 207, December 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3585, provided that:
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [December 10, 2004], the Secretary shall –
(1) review the withdrawals made pursuant to section 17(d)(1) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(d)(1)) to determine if any portion of the lands withdrawn pursuant to that provision can be opened to appropriation under the public land laws or if their withdrawal is still needed to protect the public interest in those lands;
(2) provide an opportunity for public notice and comment, including recommendations with regard to lands to be reviewed under paragraph (1); and
(3) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report that identifies any portion of the lands so withdrawn that can be opened to appropriation under the public land laws consistent with the protection of the public interest in these lands.