[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 12028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5430]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Notice of Extension for the Spruce Creek Access Proposal, Final 
Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a final 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate an application for 
access to a private inholding on Spruce Creek in the Kantishna Hills of 
Denali National Park and Preserve. The Notice of Intent to prepare the 
EIS was published Thursday, March 19, 1998 (Federal Register/Vol. 63, 
No. 53). The owners of the inholding submitted an application for the 
right-of-way pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), title XI, Section 1110(b) and the 
implementing regulations at 43 CFR Part 36. The application states that 
the right-of-way would provide access in the form of a road and 
airstrip for the owners to construct and operate a remote backcountry 
lodge. On January 7, 1998, the NPS accepted an application for access 
to a 20-acre parcel on Spruce Creek. The applicants amended the request 
for access on January 26, 1998, to request a revised location of an 
airstrip.
    The NPS provided notice on Tuesday, October 6, 1998 (Federal 
Register/Vol. 63, No. 193) and Monday, February 8, 1999 (Federal 
Register/Vol. 64, No. 25) stating additional time was needed to 
complete the draft EIS because the applicants continued to modify and 
clarify the project proposal. The NPS needed additional time to analyze 
those modifications and clarifications and extended the dates of 
publication and distribution of the draft EIS until July 1999. Notices 
of Availability of the draft EIS were published on August 2 and August 
6, 1999 (Federal Register/Vol. 64, No. 147, and Vol. 54, No. 151.) The 
public comment period ended October 6, 1999. Due to extensive agency 
and public comment on the draft EIS and the need to conduct an economic 
feasibility study of the access alternatives, the NPS is giving notice 
to extend the time period to complete the final EIS beyond the time 
specified in 43 CFR 36.6.

DATES: The final EIS will be available on or about May 26, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen P. Martin, Superintendent, 
Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska 
99755. Telephone (907) 683-2294.

Judith C. Gottlieb,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 00-5430 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M