2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 46. Water, Air, Energy, and Environmental Conservation › Chapter 15. Water Use Act › Article 2. Appropriation and Use of Water. › Sec. 46.15.133. Notices; objections.

(a) If the commissioner proposes a sale of water or receives an application for appropriation or removal, the commissioner shall prepare a notice containing the location and extent of the proposed sale, appropriation, or removal, the name and address of the applicant, if applicable, and other information the commissioner considers pertinent. The notice shall state that within 15 days of publication or service of notice, persons may file with the director written objections, stating the name and address of the objector, and any facts tending to show that rights of the objector or the public interest would be adversely affected by the proposed sale, appropriation, or removal.
(b) The commissioner shall publish the notice in one issue of a newspaper of general distribution in the area of the state in which the water is to be appropriated, removed, or sold. The commissioner shall also have notice served personally or by certified mail upon an appropriator of water or applicant for or holder of a permit who, according to the records of the division of lands, may be affected by the proposed sale, appropriation, or removal and may serve notice upon any governmental agency, political subdivision, or person; notice shall also be served upon the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Environmental Conservation. An applicant for an appropriation or removal shall pay the commissioner's costs in providing publication and notice under this subsection. The commissioner may require as a condition of a sale of water under AS 46.15.037, that a purchaser of water reimburse the department for the costs associated with providing notice of the proposed sale.
(c) Within 15 days of publication or service of notice, an interested person may file an objection. The commissioner may hold hearings upon giving due notice and shall grant, deny, or condition the proposed sale or application for appropriation or removal in whole or in part within 30 days of receipt of the last objection or, if the commissioner elects to hold hearings, within 180 days of receipt of the last objection. Notice of the order or decision shall be served personally or mailed to any person who has filed an objection.
(d) If no objection is filed, the commissioner may proceed to make a determination upon the application for appropriation or removal or the proposal for sale.
(e) A person aggrieved by the action of the commissioner or by the failure of the commissioner to grant, deny, or condition a proposed sale or an application for appropriation or removal in accordance with (c) of this section may appeal to the superior court.
(f) The commissioner may, by regulation, designate types of appropriations that are exempt from this section and provide simplified procedures for ruling on the applications. The commissioner may not exempt under this subsection appropriations for removal under AS 46.15.035, appropriations by the state for sale or sales by the state under AS 46.15.037, or removals of water under AS 46.15.035 and 46.15.037.