The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments through May 5, 2026, on a proposal to relocate an ocean monitoring buoy in Prince William Sound.

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council wants to move its existing buoy and tower to a new location about four miles southwest of Naked Island. The buoy measures ocean currents and weather conditions and extends 8.5 feet above the water surface.

The council is requesting a five-year land use permit for the new location, which would run from September 7, 2024, through September 6, 2029. The buoy includes instruments for measuring ocean currents and meteorological data.

The new coordinates would be 60.62475 N, 147.2239 W, in the southwest quarter of Section 30, Township 14 South, Range 11 West, Copper River Meridian.

Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 5, 2026, at the Division of Mining, Land and Water, Southcentral Regional Land Office, 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 900C, Anchorage, AK 99501-3577.

Questions about the proposal should be directed to Christian Gehman at (907) 269-6479 or [email protected].

After reviewing public comments, the state may issue an authorization with conditions for the activity. The proposal may be modified during the review process.