Key Performance Indicators
Department of Natural Resources
Mission
Develop, conserve and maximize the use of Alaska's natural resources consistent with the public interest. Alaska Constitution Article 8; AS 03, AS 27, AS 38, AS 40, AS 41, AS 43.90, AS 14.30.740
Key Performance Indicators
| 2. | Mitigate threat to the public from natural hazards by providing comprehensive fire protection services on state, private and municipal lands, and through identifying significant geologic hazards. |
Funding | Positions | ||||||
| UGF Funds | DGF Funds | Other Funds | Federal Funds | Total Funds | Full Time | Part Time | Non Perm | ||
| $26,387.0 | $656.6 | $3,002.7 | $13,624.0 | $43,670.3 | 45 | 170 | 1 | ||
| 3. | Provide access to state lands for public and private use, settlement, and recreation. |
Funding | Positions | ||||||
| UGF Funds | DGF Funds | Other Funds | Federal Funds | Total Funds | Full Time | Part Time | Non Perm | ||
| $6,422.6 | $17,110.0 | $5,023.3 | $2,324.9 | $30,880.8 | 178 | 30 | 44 | ||
| 4. | Ensure sufficient data acquisition and assessment of land and resources to foster responsible resource and community development and public safety. |
Funding | Positions | ||||||
| UGF Funds | DGF Funds | Other Funds | Federal Funds | Total Funds | Full Time | Part Time | Non Perm | ||
| $7,466.1 | $2,910.9 | $4,648.2 | $3,291.4 | $18,316.6 | 91 | 4 | 8 | ||
Performance Detail
| 1: Foster responsible commercial development and use of state land and natural resources, consistent with the public interest, for long-term wealth and employment. |
Target #1: Offer 200 parcels of land at auction.
NOTE: In calendar year 2013, the annual auction was moved from June, 2013 to July, 2014, which accounts for the fact that there was no auction in 2013. In addition, hundreds of "lost parcels" were found and offered in FY2012 and a special discount auction was offered in FY2014, accounting for the high parcel numbers in FY2012 and FY2014. |
Target #2: Facilitate and improve regulatory and lease compliance monitoring of AS.38.35 pipelines
Compliance & Oversight Monitoring Actions of AS 38.35 Pipelines
FY2018 : The Pipeline Section applied a systematic approach to lease compliance inspections based on lessee annual reports and proposed work plans. Each field inspection is conducted according to a project mission developed around lease stipulations and the lessee's work plans, or other lease related actions such as releases of interests and renewals. The Pipeline Section has implemented a Geospatial Information System (GIS) platform for gathering field data and pipeline system data while conducting inspections. This GIS platform serves as a database by which pipeline environmental, health, and safety data is aggregated and used to communicate concerns and progress to the lessees via inspection reports. |
Target #3: Coordinate the review, permitting, and monitoring of natural and renewable resource development, transportation, and other specialized projects consistent with the missions of the department and participating state agencies.
OPMP Coordinated Projects
The number and types of projects coordinated by OPMP annually indicates relative demand for the program; it also provides OPMP insight into industry and market trends in Alaska. For example, the decrease in coordinated oil and gas projects from FY2015 to FY2016 represents completion of several focused coordinated permitting requests from oil and gas proponents. The decrease in coordinated mining projects from FY2015 to FY2018, however, represents a slowdown in mineral exploration activities statewide, as well as OPMP’s completion of coordinated reviews for two proposed mines in the Transboundary Region of British Columbia. OPMP anticipates a slight upward trend in the number of coordinated mining projects in the near-term (3-5 years) due to positive economic trends within the industry. The number of coordinated oil and gas projects are expected to remain flat in the near-term due to the industry focusing on completing coordinated permitting efforts for key projects. OPMP’s principle challenge for providing permit coordination is maintaining sufficient organizational capacity (i.e. staffing, budget resources, etc.) to adjust to fluctuations in coordinated project workloads. Such fluctuations are often driven by factors outside OPMP’s control (i.e. economic conditions, regulatory changes, commodity process, investment trends, etc.), but are an important metric used to gauge relative demand for large project coordination services. Related links:
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Target #4: Provide stable or increasing economic benefit from the use of trees and forests on state land by selling state timber to twenty or more Alaskan businesses.
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Target #5: Increase awareness of Alaska Grown products and market options, and expand gross farm product sales.
Monetary Value of Agriculture Products Sold (in millions)
The data provided comes from surveys conducted throughout the year by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services. Core Services continue to demonstrate growth in monetary value of Alaska agricultural products sold. |
Target #6: Operate the Forest Resources and Practices Act program to achieve 100% implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Forest Resources & Practices Act Program: Displayed as the Rating of Best Management Practices Implementation by Region per Year
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Target #7: Promote safer boating behaviors on Alaska's waters.
Adult Life Jacket Wear Rate Percentages Powerboats National vs. Alaska (2015-2018)
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| 2: Mitigate threat to the public from natural hazards by providing comprehensive fire protection services on state, private and municipal lands, and through identifying significant geologic hazards. |
Target #1: Publish reports or maps providing improved assessment of geologic hazards that could pose significant risks to public safety or infrastructure
Published New Reports on Geologic Hazards that Pose Significant Risks to Public Safety
Key publications include tsunami inundation maps for Adak, Atka, Homer, and Seldovia; coseismic permanent flooding maps for eight communities; a regional tsunami assessment for the Andreanof Islands; a manual for community monitoring of coastal erosion; a FEMA-funded channel migration study of Emmonak; color-indexed elevation maps for four flood-vulnerable coastal communities; and information circulars about Alaska earthquake hazards, tsunami hazards, and coastal mapping data gaps/priorities. Other engineering-geologic studies on slope instability along the Dalton Highway, the 2016 snow-and-rock avalanche at Lamplugh Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, and Alaska glacier and snowfield characteristics contributed to our understanding of the behavior of geologic surface processes in a changing climate. A greater number of reports and maps related to tsunami hazards were published in FY2019, half again more than DGGS released in FY2018. The Volcanology Section, working in conjunction with federal U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) partners, published six reports including a summary of volcanic hazards in Alaska’s national parks, a full account of the 2016-2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, and a historical account of eruptions and hazards from Bogoslof volcano. Retrospective analysis of our volcano alert and volcanic eruption forecasting was documented in a publication that will serve as an important tool in a continued effort to improve communication during times of volcanic unrest and eruption. During FY2019, DGGS Volcanology section staff responded to volcanic unrest at Cleveland, Semisopochnoi, Shishaldin, Veniaminof, Great Sitkin volcanoes. Extensive upgrades to volcano monitoring equipment at 13 volcanoes were accomplished during the 2019 field season. The new ground-based instrumentation includes seismometers, infrasound sensors, and web cameras, significantly improving the Alaska Volcano Observatory’s ability to detect unrest, forecast eruptive activity, and issue timely alerts of volcano hazards. A several-month vacancy of a volcanology section Geologist position has resulted in a slowing down of volcano hazard-related data analysis and volcano-hazard publications. Related links:
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Target #2: Contain more than 90% of wildland fires at less than 10 acres within Alaska's heavily populated areas (Critical and Full Management Options) in accordance with the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan.
Percentage of Fires Successfully Contained at Less Than 10 Acres
The Critical and Full Management options encompass areas within communities and immediately surrounding communities or areas with high values at risk. while the Full Management option typically encompasses wildlands near communities. In 2019, there were 202 wildland fires that started in the Critical Management option, with the division suppressing 191 of the fires at 10 acres or less for a 95% success rate. Extremely dry and windy conditions caused several notable 'Critical' fires that escaped initial attack, including the McKinley Fire in the Mat-su Area which grew to 3,288 acres, and the Shovel Creek Fire in the Fairbanks Area which grew to 22,487 acres. In addition to extreme conditions, statewide fire resources were heavily taxed by the number of fires throughout the season, causing shortages in IA personnel, aircraft, engines and fire management teams. Numerous fires in the "Full" management option, primarily in Southwest Alaska, were not able to be initially attacked due to this lack of resources, resulting in a lower than average 70% success rate. |
Target #3: Provide wildland fire training to agency personnel, fire departments and urban and rural communities.
The division provides extensive training to not only state employees but also to cooperators such as local government employees. There were 1,449 cooperators trained in wildland fire by the division. Fire management necessitates the use of a large number of emergency firefighters (EFF) who also require appropriate training. In 2019, the division trained over 1,031 EFFs. Online safety and OSHA training were added in 2019 for regular division employees. The challenge for the division is to ensure that the training provided is meeting the needs of firefighters and managers on Alaska fires. This challenge is currently met with a training staff that plans, coordinates, and provides specific fire courses designed to develop Alaska’s firefighters for the future. These courses are provided to the inter-agency fire community which provides leverage for the Division to provide extensive opportunities to its employees and cooperators. Related links:
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Target #4: Fill the firefighting needs for the average fire season with Alaskan firefighters.
Percent of Alaskan Crews & Individuals Assigned to Alaska Fires / Total Needed
During the long and busy 2019 fire season, over 6000 individuals, including members on teams and or crews as well as individual overhead, were requested to work on Alaska fires. Every state except for Connecticut sent personnel to assist with Alaskan fires. Alaska received twenty-seven National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) contract jets for a total of 135 crews (71% crews). April 27th the first Alaskan Crew was assigned to the Oregon Lakes Fire and by May13th all Alaskan Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC) were committed. The first Lower 48 jet load arrived with five crews on June 19th and the last Lower 48 crew was released on September 12th. The last Alaskan Crew was released on September 24th. Sixteen Alaskan Emergency Fire Fighter (EFF) crews had a total of 47 assignments. Fifteen lower 48 Interagency Management Teams (IMT) were assigned to the 2019 Alaskan fires to assist the local fire management offices. The type and number of personnel comprising the team depends on the fire complexity and fire risk. Both Alaskan Type 2 IMT were assigned a total of 6 times. The first Alaska Type 2 Team assignment was on May 4th for the Oregon Lake Fire outside of Delta. On May 17th the first Lower 48 Type 2 Team was assigned and on September 23rd the last Lower 48 team was released from the Swan Lake fire on the Kenai Peninsula. The division’s need for Lower-48 firefighting resources (agency crews, contract crews, and individuals with advanced training to meet initial and extended attack suppression objectives) should be replaced with increased in-state capacity to provide jobs to Alaskans. This summer the Division funded and hired twenty Short Term Non-Perms (STNP) for thirty days. Several STNP were assigned to McGrath as part of the wildland fire module while other areas received individual STNP. Positions included Wildland Fire Technicians, Dispatchers and Office Assistants. From 2013 to 2019, thirty of the STNPs have been hired by various agencies and organizations. Of these twenty-two have been hired by the Division of Forestry. The STNP program has again proven that it provides opportunities for academy graduates to put into action the skills and knowledge obtained in this training and gain the experience to be hired as state employees. Of the 2019 STNP, one had graduated from the Alaska Crew Boss Academy, eight had previously graduated from the previous years Advance Academy. One STNP was hired as a permanent Forestry employee. Related links:
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| 3: Provide access to state lands for public and private use, settlement, and recreation. |
Target #1: Process a minimum of 90% of new applications received.
A substantial amount of time has been spent working on the Information Technology Unified Permit project solutions to improve efficiencies in the long run. Staff time has also been diverted to work on complex cases that are resistant to solution, and politically sensitive cases which required significantly above average staff and manager time per case to bring to completion. Staff time has also been diverted to assistance on draft regulation and statute projects, and with policy and procedure development for implementation of new fee regulations which were adopted in July, 2018. Not included in the above numbers are trespass cases which do not start with an application, but require the adjudicatory work. The numbers are not reflective of entry authorizations that allow applicants to use and construct on state land before final issuance of easements and leases. Each new authorization issued creates a new workload of contract administration, assignments, amendments, name changes, sub-lease agreements, billing, monitoring, compliance and close out, all of which is not reflected in these numbers. The division expects there to be more applications in future years as the state strives to bring in additional entitlement acres with high development potential each year and the division moves to improve tracking and resolution of previously unauthorized uses which could be legitimately permitted. The division\'s stewardship responsibilities that do not involve issuing an authorization are constant. The substantial amount of time staff spends on these issues takes them away from their duties to process authorizations. In general, many types of businesses received authorizations that allowed use of state land for financial gain. Authorizations in this component benefit utility, oil and gas, mining, commercial recreation, tourism, fishing, construction and other development industries by giving them legal access to the state owned and managed land, water and resources. If the division is not able to issue these authorizations in a timely manner, these same industries are adversely affected. Often businesses cannot plan their operations; get investment capital, insurance, or loans if they do not have required land authorizations. |
Target #2: Initiate proceedings to clear state title to submerged lands through litigation, filing Recordable Disclaimer of Interest applications with the BLM and preparing state navigability determinations on at least 10 waterbodies during the fiscal year. Analysis of results and challenges: RDI Process During FY2019, BLM has had an enormous backlog of RDI applications from the Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW) from previous years. These include, but are not limited to, RDI applications that have been pending for almost a decade such as the RDI applications for the Arolik River System, the Goodnews River System and the Eek River System. Despite substantial pressure from DMLW, BLM made little progress on the backlog only issuing RDIs or nearly completing the federal administrative process on the following RDIs: the Kisaralik River and Lake; the Stikine River; Lake Becharof and Egegik River; and portions of the Fortymile River System. For the entirety of FY2019, DMLW, through LAW, engaged in federal mediation to improve the RDI process by lowering costs and speeding up the process to clear title to its submerged lands. Although optimistically commenced by DMLW, BLM and DOJ were unwilling to make any meaningful concessions, and the mediation was terminated during the early months of FY2020. During FY2019, DMLW filed four new RDI applications (Delta River, Kwethluk River, Denison Fork of the Fortymile River and West Fork of the Fortymile River) and has numerous other RDI applications waiting in the wings that will be filed soon. It was deemed prudent to defer filing additional RDI applications while the federal mediation process was ongoing in the hopes that a new RDI process would have been instituted that lowered or eliminated administrative costs to the state and set stricter rules for federal administrative processing. Litigation During FY2019, DMLW initiated the litigation process against the United States Department of the Interior for 10 different rivers and lakes including, but not limited to, the North Fork and Middle Fork of the Fortymile River, the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River, the South Fork of the Koyukuk River, the Dietrich River, the Bettles River, the Chisana River, the Nabesna River, Birch Creek, and Beaver Creek. Pending litigation was successfully concluded on two rivers when BLM and DOJ dismissed appeals in which federal district courts had determined the state to be the prevailing party and therefore entitled to recover its court costs from federal authorities. DMLW was also involved in one additional case against a private party concerning the ownership of submerged lands and the navigability of Fog Lake in the Lake Iliamna region. That case was concluded successfully for the state and the administrative actions of DMLW were affirmed. A remaining navigability case against a private party concerning the navigability of Lemon Creek in Juneau is ongoing. State Navigability Determinations During FY2019, DMLW issued six state navigability determinations to sister agencies facilitating needed state action in diverse areas. DMLW further undertook during FY2018 an ambitious project to streamline a process for determining the navigability of waters on a basin-by-basin, drainage-by-drainage, watershed-by-watershed basis. This so-called Navigability Metrics Project is ongoing in FY2019 and has involved extensive fieldwork and has the potential to be a gamechanger in state efforts to clear its title to submerged lands vis-a-vis the federal government. |
Target #3: Receive lands essential to the state’s economic development and for maximum public benefit, including lands rich in natural resources, selected for municipal entitlements, necessary for settlement, and to eliminate federal inholdings.
Acres of Statehood Entitlement Lands Received
In FY2018 and FY2019, the RSS worked with BLM to remove Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Sec. 17(d)(1) and (d)(2) public land order (PLO) withdrawals within the Goodnews Bay region. Removal of these PLOs in FY2019 opened approximately 230,000 acres of land to state selection and mineral entry. The state took title to 40,000 acres within the area. In FY2019, the RSS began working with BLM to remove certain ANCSA Sec. 17(d)(1) withdrawals in the Bering Glacier and Fortymile regions; once removed an additional 1 million acres will be open for mineral entry. In FY2020, RSS will continue to work closely with BLM on lifting additional ANCSA and non-ANCSA withdrawals and opening high value and high priority lands to state selection, conveyance, and mineral entry. |
Target #4: Provide accessible, clean, safe, and well-maintained park facilities for Alaska residents and visitors by reducing deferred maintenance needs in park units.
Parks Deferred Maintenance
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Target #5: Collect fees necessary to reach authorized program receipt funds in the Parks Management and Access budget; annually evaluate and if necessary, raise fees in order to reach program receipts authorization.
Revenue Collected on Park User Fees (In Thousands)
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| 4: Ensure sufficient data acquisition and assessment of land and resources to foster responsible resource and community development and public safety. |
Target #1: Publish airborne geophysical survey data for Alaska's minerals-interest lands
Square Miles of Published Minerals-Related Airborne Geophysical Data
In FY2017, DGGS contracted for a new federally-funded airborne geophysical survey for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) covering about 5,292 square miles in the Porcupine River area in northeastern Alaska. DGGS also partnered with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the USGS to fly four additional surveys for geologic-hazard assessments, covering a total of 185 square miles. Both of these datasets were publicly released in FY2019. The state-funded Strategic and Critical Minerals (SCM) project (FY2013-2015) allowed DGGS to annually publish more than twice the amount of airborne geophysical data published in prior years under the state’s annually funded, Airborne Geophysical/Geological Mineral Inventory (AGGMI) program. Budget cuts in FY2016 eliminated both the SCM project and AGGMI program, and the lack of state funding meant that no further state-funded airborne geophysical surveys of mineral districts could be planned. The federal Earth MRI critical minerals program was funded by the U.S. Congress in FFY2019, and it is anticipated to be a 10-year project to acquire airborne geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, and lidar over areas of the nation with critical minerals potential. DGGS has been contracted by the USGS to manage the federal geophysical contracts covering large portions of Alaska’s mineral districts. In FY2019, a state capital project provided one year of state matching funds to further this work. Initial surveying of about 4,200 square miles is planned for spring/summer 2020 in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, with publication of survey data in early FY2021. Related links:
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Target #2: Publish reports on energy-related geology that assist the energy industry and state agencies in exploring for and managing energy resources on state-interest lands
New Reports Published on Energy-Related Geology
During FY2019, the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys published 11 reports providing new geologic data to assist oil and gas exploration throughout Alaska, which was four more than the target. Five were published as DGGS reports, including a bedrock geologic map of the Umiat-Gubik area, a core workshop volume focusing on the reservoir potential of the Nanushuk Formation in the eastern NPR-A, the petroleum potential of coal in the eastern Nenana basin, the fracture intensity of strata in lower Cook Inlet basin and their unconventional reservoir potential, and the geologic evolution of the northern Copper River basin. Two reports were published in external peer-reviewed publications, including Geosphere and as a chapter in a Geological Society of America Special Paper, both of which are internationally distributed and include ground-breaking developments in the geosciences. During FY2019, Energy Section staff collaborated extensively with geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), and Boise State University. The collaboration with BEG involved a compilation of information on key petroleum reservoir and source rock intervals on the North Slope for a multi-national oil company with a major lease position on the North Slope, resulting in the submission of four reports. The collaboration with the BEG is on-going and focusing on petroleum reservoir intervals on the eastern North Slope. Related links:
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Current as of November 15, 2019