Project Information

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Municipal Entitlement Land Selection Finalization Project 2013:

This project will identify the remaining 28,000 acres of State lands throughout the Kenai Peninsula Borough that will be selected under the Municipal Entitlement Program. During the months of March, April, and May borough staff will be reviewing and discussing the public outreach comments received in January and February with City, State, and Federal Agencies. In the course of this project 1,000 acres of previously selected lands were approved by the State for transfer to the Borough, reducing the remaining project scope to 27,000 acres.

Municipal Entitlement Background Summary

Under the Mandatory Borough Act of 1964 and the 1978 Municipal Entitlement Act, A.S. 29.65.10, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is entitled to receive 155,780 acres from State land holdings. The Borough received its first entitlement lands from the State in 1966. Now, 45 years later the Borough is working to fulfill the remaining 28,000 acres of its original entitlement grant.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough has recognized the fulfillment of our land entitlement as being utmost importance to our municipality and our residents. To achieve the goal of selecting "Areas of Local Importance" municipal entitlement lands must meet one or more of the following objectives:

• Local Government and Public Use
• Community Development and Expansion
• Revenue and Resource Use

For the Land Management Division to make a land selection from the State, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water the Borough Assembly must approve these lands by resolution upon receipt of a Borough Planning Commission recommendation during regular scheduled meetings to incorporate public comments.

Each selection approved by Borough Assembly resolution is reviewed by the State for consistency within existing policy and state statute A.S. 29.65.050(c). The State adjudicates each selection and makes a recommendation to approve, deny or conditionally approve the selection by issuing a Preliminary Decision that invites public comment. Following the comment deadline the State will issue a Final Finding and Decision formally rejecting or approving the selections. Lands that are approved must meet certain survey requirements before they are patented by the State to the Borough.