Tatitlek oil spill dock lease renewed for 30 years with new fee structure

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has renewed a 9.64-acre tideland lease in Tatitlek for an oil spill response dock operated by the North Pacific Rim Housing Authority, extending the agreement through 2056 with an annual lease fee of $4,031. The amended renewal decision, which updates a November 13, 2025 decision, also requires a $10,000 performance bond and establishes a new development plan for the facility used by Ship Escort and Response Vessel Services and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

The renewed term will begin October 17, 2026, unless an appeal is received. The public has 20 calendar days from May 12 to review the decision posted on the Alaska Public Notice System. Anyone wishing to appeal must submit a written request to the DNR Commissioner within that window, accompanied by a $200 fee.

The site sits in Prince William Sound near the village of Tatitlek, where oil spill preparedness remains a critical infrastructure priority. The Alaska Marine Highway System also uses the dock to serve the community.

DNR originally issued the lease to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on October 17, 1994, for 30 years. The state transferred it to the housing authority on October 2, 1998. The authority applied for a 55-year renewal on October 11, 2024, and DNR extended the existing lease two years while reviewing the application.

The renewed lease will require reappraisal at five-year intervals. The Department of Transportation plans improvements to the ferry terminal dock facilities, including a vehicle transfer bridge abutment, lift towers, catwalks, fendering upgrades, mooring dolphins, and an onsite generator.

The full renewal decision and amendment are available on the Alaska Public Notice System website.