Interior Opens 2.1 Million Acres in Dalton Corridor, Affecting Pipeline Planning

The Department of the Interior issued Public Land Order No. 7966, announced Feb. 20, 2026, revoking Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180 and opening approximately 2.1 million acres in Alaska’s Dalton Utility Corridor to location and entry under the public land and mining laws. The area is described in DOI and BLM releases as north of the Yukon River along the Dalton Highway and includes strategic corridors tied to the Trans‑Alaska Pipeline, the proposed Alaska Liquid Natural Gas line/Alaska LNG pipeline, and the Ambler Road/Ambler Access Project.

Federal and state statements tied the move to Alaska’s remaining statehood entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act and to national energy policy. DOI and BLM materials say the action “marks a historic step forward in fulfilling the State of Alaska’s land entitlement” and supports efforts to expand domestic energy and mineral production under Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, both titled “Unleashing American Energy.” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said, “President Trump was clear - promises made are promises kept and this decision is about unlocking opportunity for American Energy Dominance to lower costs for all American families,” and added, “By opening these lands, we are empowering Alaska to chart its own course and develop energy, minerals and infrastructure that strengthen America’s security and prosperity.”

Governor Mike Dunleavy welcomed the PLO in near‑identical language published by DOI and BLM, calling it “a milestone for Alaska’s self‑determination” and saying, “Alaskans know what’s best for Alaska and revoking these Public Land Orders will empower Alaska to chart our own future on these lands.” BLM Alaska State Director Kevin Pendergast framed the action as cooperative, saying, “We are proud of this major milestone and the partnership that we have forged with the state,” and, “This is federal–state collaboration at its best; we’ll continue working closely with them on our shared commitments to fulfilling land entitlements.”

DOI and BLM releases said the Public Land Order will officially publish in the Federal Register the week after the announcement; ePlanning BLM’s What's New page notes a pre‑decisional release of PLO 7966 is available on the Documents page and includes a heading titled “Tribal Consultation.” The releases do not supply a Federal Register citation or detailed legal descriptions of individual tracts; MiningNewsNorth and BLM both note that additional steps remain before specific lands are formally conveyed to the state.

Industry reaction surfaced within days: Investing News Network reported Feb. 23 that Valhalla Metals “welcomes the recent announcement” and listed company tickers TSXV: VMXX, OTC: VMXXF, OTCQB: VMXXF. MiningNewsNorth’s coverage, headlined that PLO 7966 “clears path for Alaska to select 2.1 million acres of land tied to Ambler Road and Alaska LNG pipeline,” included a photo caption showing Secretary Burgum signing the order with Governor Dunleavy observing.

For now, the PLO changes the administrative landscape for pipeline and resource planning along the Dalton Highway corridor by enabling Alaska to begin selecting lands under its entitlement while federal publication and subsequent state selection and conveyance procedures remain to be completed. DOI press inquiries were listed in the release at Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov.