Sullivan v. Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands

Summary

The court reversed the superior court and held that the Alaska Constitution and AS 38.05.035 do not require DNR to issue a separate written best-interest finding after the lease-sale phase of a multiphase oil and gas project. It also held that later phases are not separate disposals requiring additional best-interest findings, although the State must continue to consider cumulative impacts and provide meaningful public notice as project information develops. The court treated the statutory best-interest-finding procedure as legislative rather than constitutionally mandated, while preserving the constitutional duty to take a continuing hard look at public-interest factors.