[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41944-41945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19786]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Public 
Hearing; Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact 
statement for access to Spruce Creek; Notice of public hearings for 
access to inholding, and notice of significant restriction to 
subsistence use, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and subsistence evaluation 
on a request for access to an inholding, Spruce #4, in the Kantishna 
Hills of Denali National Park and Preserve. The document describes and 
analyzes the environmental effects of the applicants' proposed access 
and three other alternatives for access. The no-action alternative also 
is evaluated. The subsistence evaluation includes a description and 
analysis of impacts on subsistence uses and needs. This notice 
announces the dates and locations of public hearings: (1) to solicit 
comments on the draft EIS; (2) as required by section 810 of the Alaska 
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) for an action that 
may significantly restrict subsistence uses, and; (3) as required by 
ANILCA Title XI regulations at 43 CFR 36.6 (a) (4) and 36.10 (d).

DATES: Comments on the draft EIS and subsistence evaluation must be 
received no later than September 30, 1999. Hearing locations, dates, 
and times are listed under Supplementary Information below.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft EIS and subsistence evaluation should 
be submitted to the Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, 
Post Office Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska 99755. Comments also can be sent 
by email to: [email protected]. Copies of the draft EIS and subsistence 
evaluation and a 15-page Executive Summary of the draft EIS are 
available by request from the aforementioned address. The documents 
also are available on the web at: www.nps.gov/dena/plans/sprucecreek.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bud Rice, EIS Project Leader, National 
Park Service, Alaska Support Office, Anchorage, Alaska. Telephone: 
(907) 257-2466.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), 
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 
96-487, as amended), and 43 CFR 36.6 and 
36.10 (d), the National Park Service has prepared a draft EIS and 
subsistence evaluation for requested access to an inholding, Spruce #4, 
in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. ANILCA requires the 
Secretary of Interior shall provide adequate and feasible access for 
economic and other purposes to inholdings surrounded by conservation 
system units in Alaska, subject to reasonable regulations. The 
regulations at 43 CFR part 36, ``Access into Conservation System Units 
in Alaska,'' specify that the NPS shall permit the right-of-way 
requested by the applicant unless it finds that the route or method of 
access would cause significant adverse impacts, jeopardize public 
health and safety, be inconsistent with the management plans for and 
purposes of the area, or is unnecessary to accomplish the applicant's 
land use objective. If the NPS makes one of these

[[Page 41945]]

findings, then another alternative route or method of access shall be 
specified that provides adequate and feasible access. The NPS has 
analyzed alternatives to the proposal and mitigating measures to 
minimize adverse environmental impacts to the park, but no agency-
preferred alternative has been identified in the draft EIS. Section 810 
of ANILCA requires an evaluation of ``effect of the proposed permit on 
subsistence uses and needs, the availability of other lands for the 
purposes sought to be achieved, and other alternatives which would 
reduce or eliminate the use, occupancy, or deposition of public lands 
needed for subsistence purposes.'' Notice to subsistence committees and 
regional councils and a hearing are required steps for authorizing a 
federal land use that would significantly restrict subsistence uses. 
Two of the draft EIS alternatives would significantly restrict 
subsistence uses.
    Informational meetings and public hearings on the draft EIS and 
subsistence evaluation are scheduled for the locations, dates, and 
times indicated below:

Anchorage, AL

August 23, 1999, 7-10 p.m.; University of Alaska--Anchorage, Business 
Education Building, Room BEB-101.

Fairbanks, AL

August 24, 1999, 7-10 p.m.; Noel Wien Library Auditorium; 1215 Cowles 
Street.

McKinley Village, AL

August 25, 1999, 7-10 p.m.; Community Center; Mile 230 George Parks 
Highway.

Kantishna, AL

August 26, 1999, 9-11 p.m.; Kantishna Roadhouse library; Mile 90 Denali 
Park Road.

Washington, DC

September 14, 1999, 2-4 p.m.; Main Interior Building Auditorium; 1849 C 
Street NW.

    The first hour of each meeting will be an open house format. 
Representatives of the NPS will be available to provide information 
about the access request and the draft EIS and to answer questions in 
an informal setting. Public testimony on the draft EIS and subsistence 
evaluation will be recorded at the public hearing that will begin at 
the second hour.

Background

    The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Access to Spruce Creek 
considers an access proposal and four alternatives to a 20-acre 
inholding on Spruce Creek in the Kantishna Hills of Denali National 
Park and Preserve. The inholding lies about 10 miles east of mile 88 of 
the Denali Park Road. The owners have applied to the NPS for a right-
of-way permit to upgrade and maintain a gravel road and airstrip to 
access, construct, and operate a remote lodge with 30 double-occupancy 
cabins for overnight visitors. The draft EIS alternatives differ in 
terms of route, means, or a combination of both, as well as impact on 
subsistence. The requested access and four alternatives are proximate 
to but outside of the Denali Wilderness Area.
    The proposed Moose Creek Route Alternative (the applicants' 
proposed action) would be approximately a 10-mile improved road over an 
existing mining access route, where practical, from the Denali Park 
Road at mile 88 to the Spruce #4 parcel of land. This alternative 
includes a spur road to an extension of the Glen Creek landing strip 
for air access in winter and for optional summer access. This route 
would cross Moose Creek, Spruce Creek, and other streams a total of 30 
times in the form of fords. This alternative would result in a 
significant restriction of subsistence uses.
    Alternatives to the proposed action are:
     North Bench Route Alternative would follow the first three 
miles of the Moose Creek route. This 9.7-mile route would cross Moose 
Creek with a new bridge and then traverse benches north of Moose Creek 
to Spruce #4, crossing Rainy, Dry, and Glen Creeks once each with a 
reinforced ford. About 5 miles of new road and extension of the Glen 
Creek landing strip would need to be constructed. This alternative 
would result in a significant restriction of subsistence uses.
     Skyline Drive Alternative would follow a ridge-top mining 
access route from mile 91 of the Denali Park Road to Glen Creek and 
over a bench to Spruce Creek. This 12-mile route would follow 10 miles 
of existing mining access routes, require 2 miles of new road, and ford 
Glen Creek 24 times. The existing Kantishna Airstrip would be used as 
needed for air access. This alternative would not result in a 
significant restriction of subsistence uses.
     Air-Access-Only Alternative would require a 2,500-foot new 
airstrip adjacent to the Spruce #4 parcel of land with a short spur 
road. This alternative would not result in a significant restriction of 
subsistence uses.
     No-Action Alternative represents no change from the 
current management direction. This alternative is included for 
comparative purposes. The affirmative requirements of Title XI of 
ANILCA and its implementing regulations preclude selection of this 
alternative absent a change in circumstances. Those circumstances could 
include acquisition of the property by the NPS or withdrawal of the 
application. In the meantime, the applicants could apply for access 
with no road or airstrip improvements. This alternative would not 
result in a significant restriction of subsistence uses.
    Facilities common to each action alternative would include a lodge 
with 30 cabins and related utility, maintenance, and staff facilities. 
Guests would be transported to the lodge by the park Visitor Transport 
System buses to Kantishna and from there by two 15-passenger vans or by 
single engine aircraft. About 30 guests would be transported in and out 
of the lodge each day during the summer season, and in the winter 
season about 10 people would be transported in and out of the lodge 
once every 3 days. Recreational activities would include hiking, 
wildlife viewing, gold panning, sport fishing, dog mushing, skiing, and 
snowshoeing. About 13 people would be employed during the winter season 
and 17 to 21 people during the summer season.
Paul R. Anderson,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 99-19786 Filed 7-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P