[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 12664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6557]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Development Concept Plan for South Side Denali, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the record of decision for the 
Development Concept Plan for South Side Denali, Alaska.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of the 
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Development Concept Plan for South 
Side Denali. The plan was prepared cooperatively by the National Park 
Service, State of Alaska, Denali Borough, and Matanuska-Susitna 
Borough. Ahtna, Inc. and Cook Inlet Region, Inc., two Native regional 
corporations with substantial land ownership within the planning area, 
participated as planning partners pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act (ANCSA), Public Law 92-203, Sec. 2(b).
    The emphasis of the plan is to enhance access and recreational 
opportunities throughout the south Denali region for a variety of 
visitors, including Alaskans, independent travelers, and package tour 
travelers, while at the same time protecting the important resource and 
community values in the area, including the rural lifestyle of local 
residents. Visitor facilities are planned for the Tokositna area at the 
western edge of Denali State Park near the end of an upgraded and 
extended Petersville Road, in the central development zone of Denali 
State Park along the George Parks Highway, at Chelatna Lake, and in the 
Dunkle Hills. Appropriately-sited bicycle and pedestrian enhancements 
along the Petersville Road also are part of the plan.
    In cooperation and where desirable, a partnership between the 
National Park Service, local communities, ANCSA Native corporations, 
and the state of Alaska will develop visitor facilities and services in 
the central development zone of Denali State Park, at Broad Pass, and 
in Talkeetna, when the need and opportunity to do so are established. 
Similarly, in cooperation and where desirable, partnerships for 
providing additional visitor services along the George Parks Highway 
may be pursued.
    A phasing and funding schedule will be developed by a South Side 
Denali Plan Implementation Partnership to be established by the 
governor. Phasing construction of developments will allow orderly plan 
implementation over an established period of time that compliments 
funding availability and addresses visitor needs.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS), published in the Federal Register in April 1991 (56 FR 15931), 
formally initiated the National Park Service's planning and EIS effort 
for the south side. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service prepared a draft plan 
and EIS, published in 1993; however, a final was never completed. 
Instead, a Notice of Intent to prepare a revised draft EIS was 
published in the Federal Register in October 1995 (60 FR 54705), 
reinitiating the planning process for the south side as a cooperative 
effort among the major land managers in the region. A draft and final 
plan and EIS were prepared by the cooperating partners, with the 
National Park Service acting as the lead federal agency. The final plan 
and EIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a proposed 
action and two other action alternatives. A no action alternative also 
is evaluated.
    The Record of Decision (ROD) documents the decision of the 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, regarding the South 
Side Denali plan. The State of Alaska has signed this ROD in 
concurrence with its findings. This ROD briefly discusses the 
background for the planning effort, states the decision and discusses 
the basis for it, describes other alternatives considered, specifies 
the environmentally preferable alternative, identifies measures adopted 
to minimize potential environmental harm, and summarizes the results of 
public involvement during the planning process.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available on request from: 
Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, Post Office Box 9, 
Denali Park, Alaska 99755.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Swanton, Park Planner, Denali 
National Park and Preserve. Telephone: (907) 257-2651 FAX: (907) 257-
2485 Email: Nancy S[email protected].

    Dated: March 7, 1997.
Marcia Blaszna,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 97-6557 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P