In the rest of the U.S., BLM surveyed all federal land with a marker every half mile laying out the grid work for future land owner in accordance with BLM's regulation. In the '70's the State of Alaska agreed to accept a marker every 2 miles and only on exterior township boundaries because the federal government said it would speed things up. It reduced the number of monuments by about 80% at fantastic savings to the federal government. Now 40 years later the federal government still hasn't completed the surveys and basically wants to do away with it all together. That leaves the State of Alaska with the cost of survey which has been completed in every other state by the federal government. This is basically saves the federal government money by screwing the state and all future land owners who will have to pay to survey the grid work before surveying small tracts. And the technical issues with the approach are a disaster.