Alaska enlarges land area open to claim staking

More than 550,000 acres of state land in Alaska will soon be open to claim-stakers.

Governor Walter Hickel made the announcement at the annual convention of the Alaska Miners Association. The land has been closed to staking (or “mineral entry,” as the state calls it) for 18 years.

Alaska is trying to encourage mineral development. During the previous session, the state legislature passed a bill which limits to 640 contiguous acres the amount of land that can be administratively closed to staking. The amount of state-owned land now open to mining is

96 million acres, about the size of California. Additionally, the 12 Alaska Regional Native Corporations own more than 44 million acres and are seeking ventures with mining companies.