BLM announces a 20-year Extension of Withdrawal to Protect Air Force’s King Salmon Environmental Remediation Project
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management announced today a 20-year extension of the withdrawal supporting the Department of the Air Force King Salmon Environmental Remediation Project for an additional 20-year period. The extension affects approximately 1.25 acres of public land that provides for the continued long-term environmental management of the site. The BLM formally processes land withdrawal applications for entities within the Department of the Interior.
The King Salmon Remediation Project encompasses the former South Bluff site, which was used from the early 1940s until the mid-1960s to dispose of empty 55-gallon drums and other solid waste from the King Salmon Air Station.
The April 2000 Record of Decision and Final Remedial Action signed by the Air Force and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation gave the Air Force the responsibility for implementing and managing the Institutional and Land Use Controls, including site access and land use restrictions, for the former South Bluff site. The lands were originally withdrawn by Public Lands Order No. 7531 to facilitate the management and limit public access. Public Land Order 7908 extends the withdrawal to August 5, 2042.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.