| Helping
rural communities effectively
deal with current land issues and to prevent future land management
problems are the primary missions. The Department of Commerce, Community,
and Economic Development (Commerce) resolves land title issues which
hinder economic and community development in
both
the
private
and public
sectors. Land Management Program
The following are specific components
of the program:
- ANCSA 14(c) Planning helps municipalities,
unincorporated villages, and Native village corporations complete
the planning and map of boundaries provisions required by the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act.
- Municipal Land Trustee (MLT) staff
carry out the Department's statutory trust responsibilities to unincorporated
ANCSA villages.
- Site Control Activities protect
state and local government investment in buildings and facilities
by assuring proper ownership interests for publicly funded projects.
- Municipal Land Entitlement reviews
municipal land entitlements and recommends approval or disapproval.
- Land Management Assistance and
Training to Communities.
The ANCSA 14(c) planning effort is
a high priority activity in the Land Management Program. The settling
of 14(c) claims and survey of the land will allow Native village corporations
to convey land to individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, cities,
and the State. These conveyances will provide 14(c) land claimants with
the land interest needed to secure funding for development projects. Many
villages are now at the point of addressing and completing the 14(c) process.
The pie chart below shows the overall statewide progress on ANCSA 14(c)
conveyances.
Mapping Program
Initiative
for Accelerated Infrastructure Development
ANCSA
14(c) Survey Plats
Community Profile Maps
Provides mapping services that assist
Department staff and communities in accomplishing the goals of increasing
economic development and strengthening local governments in rural Alaska.
Map users may include federal, State, and local governmental agencies
as well as private sector contractors, developers, and Native Corporations.
Maps are produced to display land use, land suitability, land ownership,
and the boundaries set out in ANCSA 14(c) land settlements.
The following are examples of types
of maps produced:
- ANCSA 14(c) Maps of Boundaries:
These maps are used by the Bureau of Land Management as the basis
for formal survey of the ANCSA 14(c) claims.
- Municipal Lands Trustee Program:
Property plans used for the acquisition and disposal of municipal
trust lands. Land status plat record system displaying the Trustee's
title interest in 65 communities.
- Local Boundary Commission: Municipal
boundary descriptions and maps created for annexations and incorporations.
Mapping support for report publications.
- Arc/Info Mapping: Using Arc/info
software and data provided by the Department of Revenue, determine
distribution of tax revenue to fish management areas.
- Update and Maintain Community Profiles
Mapping: Several Division programs worked together to design a computer
based community profile. The design was used in a contract for mapping
13 Lower Yukon communities. Using the new profile design and AutoCAD
software, the Division can update and produce the new profiles in
several different formats.
For
more information about Commerce's land
management and mapping programs, contact:
Keith Jost
Division of Community and Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 670
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 269-4548 Fax: 269-4525
E-mail: Keith.Jost@alaska.gov
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