High Court Leaves Federal Authority Over Alaska Rivers in Place

The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider the state of Alaska’s challenge to federal authority over its rivers.

The state in September petitioned the justices to settle whether the US can regulate fishing on Alaska rivers under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act—a question the state petitioned the high court to resolve in 1996 and 2013, but was denied both times.

The 1980 law establishes authority over certain public lands in Alaska, including waters.

The justices denied the state’s petition for writ of certiorari, with Chief Justice John Roberts not taking part in the ...