(a) The board may nominate federal land it determines may be useful for present or future railroad purposes for selection under the Alaska Statehood Act (P.L. 85 - 508, 72 Stat. 339), as amended, and request the commissioner of natural resources to select the land for the state through the federal land selection process.
(b) The board may identify and request the commissioner of natural resources to convey land necessary or useful for present or future railroad purposes owned by or tentatively approved for transfer to the state, including land not contiguous with a railroad utility corridor or rail land. The request must include a statement of and justification for the present or future railroad use. Upon receipt of a request, the commissioner shall temporarily reserve the land identified in the request for railroad purposes and defer disposal or lease of that land under other laws to a party other than the corporation. The temporary reservation of land is subject to valid existing rights and remains in effect for 180 days.