Who owns the subsurface rights of the properties that are to be exchanged?
Doyon, Limited owns the surface and subsurface of the lands that would be transferred by Doyon to the Service. Both the surface and subsurface would be transferred to the Federal Government and they would become part of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. However, Doyon would reserve a subsistence use easement on these lands, to ensure that they will be available for subsistence use by Yukon Flats residents. The United States owns the surface and subsurface of the Refuge lands that would be transferred from the Service to Doyon, Limited. About 110,000 acres of surface and subsurface would be transferred from the Federal Government to Doyon. However, on the approximately 97,000 acres of halo lands, only the oil and gas or subsurface rights would be transferred from the Federal Government to Doyon, Limited. No gravel, sand, or other mineral rights would be transferred to Doyon and no surface occupancy would be allowed for development of any oil or gas in the halo lands.
