Northwest Area Plan
October 2008
On October 31, 2008 the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) adopted the Northwest Area Plan (NWAP). The plan establishes land use designations, management intent and management guidelines for 13.5 million acres of state uplands and shorelands, and 5.6 million acres of tide and submerged lands in the area from Point Lay to Saint Michael in northwest Alaska. This plan supersedes the 1989 Northwest Area Plan.
After plan adoption in 2008 there was a request for reconsideration. A document titled “Commissioner’s Decision on Request for Reconsideration” explains the issues raised and the resultant changes to the plan. Another titled “Issue Response Summary” reflects changes made during the earlier public review stage.
Copies of the final plan will be available for reference at local libraries. Printed copies of the final plan can be purchased from the DNR Public Information Centers at 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 and 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1260, Anchorage, AK 99501. If you would like a CD containing the final plan to be mailed to you, or for questions please contact ray.burger@alaska.gov.
All below files can be viewed in Acrobat Reader 7 and above.
Complete Plan (15.5 MB)
Preface (1.4 MB)
Includes: Cover / Title Page / Signature Page / Background and Acknowledgements / Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction (245 KB)
Includes: Introduction and Background / Summary of Purpose of the Plan / Description of the Planning Area / Submerged Lands, Tidelands, Uplands and Shorelands as Described in This Plan / Update of the Original Northwest Area Plan / Planning Area / How the Plan is Organized / Why This Plan was Developed / The Mandate / What the Plan Will Do / How This Plan is Used / Public Participation in Planning Process / Process of Plan Preparation / Who Developed the Plan? / Uses and Resources Within the Planning Area / What the Plan Won't Do / Planning Period / Summary of Plan Actions / Management Intent / Land Use Designations / Management Guidelines / Classifications / Summary of Plan Implementation and Modification
Figure 1-2: Plan Area and Management Regions (120 KB)
Chapter 2. Areawide Land Management Policies- Complete (310 KB)
Chapter 3: Land Management Policies for Each Management Unit - Excluding Maps (670 KB)
Chapter 4: Implementation and Recommendations (120 KB)
Includes: Introduction / State Land Classification / Relationship of Designations to Classifications and Conversion of Plan Designations into Classifications / Classification Order / Plan Revision / Applicability of Plan Designations/Classifications / Public Trust Doctrine / Surface Leasing / Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program / Municipal Entitlement / State Land Selections / Coordination with Federal Land Management / Mineral Order / Procedures for Plan Changes
Appendices (170 KB)
Includes: Glossary / Land Classification Order No. NC-08-001 / Index
Map of entire plan area (8 MB)
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