APA Comment Letter - General - Alaska

GENERAL WRITTEN COMMENT ON PROPOSED ALASKA REGULATION

BEFORE DRAFTING

Use this version for a concise public comment focused on one or a few issues. For a technical, multi-exhibit submission, use the separate Alaska rulemaking comment record template.

AS 44.62.190 generally requires notice at least 30 days before an agency adopts, amends, or repeals a regulation. That is a notice-before-action rule, not a universal statement that every comment deadline is exactly 30 days after publication. AS 44.62.210 requires the agency to provide the opportunity described in its notice to present written statements, arguments, or contentions, with or without an opportunity to present them orally. Follow the official notice exactly.

[__/__/____]

[________________________________]
[Agency Rulemaking Contact]
[________________________________]
[Agency and Division]
[________________________________]
[Submission Address or Email]

Re: Written comment on [title of proposed action], [____] AAC [____].[____]

Dear [________________________________]:

[________________________________] submits this written comment on the proposed regulatory action identified above. This comment is submitted by the deadline and method stated in the official notice.

1. COMMENTER AND AFFECTED INTEREST

Commenter is a [resident / business / nonprofit organization / association / municipality / licensee / other] located at [________________________________].

Commenter's relevant interest or activity is:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

The proposal would affect Commenter by:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

2. REQUESTED ACTION

Commenter asks the Agency to:

☐ Adopt the provision as proposed
☐ Revise the provision
☐ Withdraw the provision
☐ Defer action and provide additional notice or information
☐ Take another action within its authority: [________________________________]

Requested result in one sentence:

[________________________________]

3. COMMENT ON SPECIFIC TEXT

Proposed provision: [____] AAC [____].[____]

Text or summary being addressed:

[________________________________]

Commenter's concern or support:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

Requested replacement text, if any:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

Reason and supporting facts:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

Supporting source or exhibit: [________________________________]

4. AUTHORITY AND NOTICE — OPTIONAL

The official notice cites [________________________________] as the agency's authority and identifies [________________________________] as the law being implemented, interpreted, or made specific.

Under AS 44.62.030, a regulation adopted under delegated authority must be consistent with the statute and reasonably necessary to carry out its purpose.

Commenter submits that:

☐ The proposal is within the cited authority because [________________________________].
☐ The proposal should be narrowed because [________________________________].
☐ The notice or proposed text does not reasonably identify the following affected subject: [________________________________].
☐ The following proposed revision remains within the subject described in the notice: [________________________________].

AS 44.62.200(a) requires the notice to identify the proceeding, authority, implemented law, and proposed subject, along with applicable fiscal and agency-specific information. Under AS 44.62.200(b), adopted text may vary from the notice summary if the subject remains the same and the original notice reasonably informed the public so people could determine whether their interests might be affected.

5. COST OR OPERATIONAL EFFECT — OPTIONAL

For most agencies, AS 44.62.190(d) requires specified notices to include initial agency implementation cost and good-faith estimated annual aggregate costs to private persons, State agencies, and municipalities. The agencies listed in AS 44.62.190(g) use a narrower rule. AS 44.62.195 separately requires a fiscal estimate if the action would require increased State appropriations.

AS 44.62.210 requires consideration of factual, substantive, and other relevant material and directs the agency to pay special attention to the cost of proposed regulatory action to private persons. Commenter asks the Agency to consider [________________________________] because [________________________________].

6. QUESTION OR ORAL-PRESENTATION REQUEST — OPTIONAL

For an agency covered by AS 44.62.213, a relevant written question received at least ten days before the end of the comment period triggers a good-faith effort to answer before the period ends. The statutory exclusions must be checked before relying on that section.

Question: [________________________________]

Date submitted: [__/__/____]

AS 44.62.210 allows the noticed proceeding to receive written comments with or without oral presentation. It does not give every commenter a general right to compel an oral hearing.

☐ The notice offers oral presentation, and Commenter requests a speaking slot concerning [________________________________].
☐ Commenter asks the Agency, as a discretionary matter or under [verified agency-specific authority], to provide an oral opportunity because [________________________________].

7. CONCLUSION

For these reasons, Commenter asks the Agency to [adopt / revise / withdraw / defer] [identify provision] as follows:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

Please direct questions concerning this comment to [name, telephone, and email].

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________________
Signature

_________________________________________
Printed name

_________________________________________
Title and organization, if any

EXHIBITS

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

☐ Read the complete official notice and proposed text
☐ Confirmed the deadline, time zone, recipient, and permitted method
☐ Identified each provision addressed by AAC citation or quoted text
☐ Stated the requested action and, where useful, exact replacement language
☐ Supported factual and cost assertions
☐ Checked the agency's enabling statute and any additional procedure
☐ Did not assume that oral presentation is mandatory
☐ Retained the final submission and proof of timely delivery

OFFICIAL SOURCES

• AS 44.62.020-.230, official Alaska Legislature print range:
  https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=44.62.020&secEnd=44.62.230

• Alaska Administrative Code, official Alaska Legislature search:
  https://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It must be reviewed and customized by a qualified attorney licensed in Alaska before use. Verified against official Alaska statutory text current through the 2025 Alaska Statutes and checked against 34th Legislature bill activity through August 9, 2026.