[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54687-54688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7714]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Environmental Impact Statement on the South Denali Implementation Plan, 
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Environmental Impact Statement on the South Denali Implementation Plan.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Environmental Impact Statement on 
the South Denali Implementation Plan, Denali National Park and 
Preserve, Alaska.
    This Record of Decision documents the decision by the NPS, in 
cooperation with the State of Alaska and Matanuska-Susitna Borough to 
adopt the South Denali Implementation Plan. The Final South Denali 
Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was 
prepared cooperatively by the National Park Service, the State of 
Alaska, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to provide specific direction 
for expanded visitor facilities and recreational opportunities in the 
South Denali region until 2021. South Denali is defined to include the 
local communities, the Petersville Road corridor, the western section 
of Denali State Park, the northern part of the Peters Hills, lands east 
of the Peters Hills to the eastern boundary of Denali State Park, and 
the Parks Highway corridor from Rabideaux Creek north through the state 
park.
    The NPS selected Alternative C, as described in the FEIS. Of the 
two action alternatives, this alternative best meets the objectives of 
the plan for resource

[[Page 54688]]

protection, increasing quality recreational and access opportunities, 
and preserving quality of life values in local communities. The ROD 
briefly discusses the background for the planning effort, summarizes 
public involvement during the planning process, states the decision and 
discusses the basis for it, describes other alternatives considered, 
specifies the environmentally preferable alternative, and identifies 
measures adopted to minimize potential environmental harm.

ADDRESSES: The ROD can be found online at the NPS Planning, 
Environmental and Public Comment Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/index.cfm. Copies of the ROD are available on 
request from: Miriam Valentine, National Park Service, Talkeetna Ranger 
Station, P.O. Box 588, Talkeetna, Alaska, 99676. Telephone: (907) 733-
9102.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Tranel, Chief of Planning, 
National Park Service, Denali National Park and Preserve, 240 West 5th 
Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Telephone: (907) 644-3611.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS prepared an EIS, as required, under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and Council of 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR part 1500).
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement, 
published in the Federal Register in February 2004 (69 FR 72513), 
formally initiated the NPS planning and EIS effort. A Draft EIS was 
issued in September 2005 (70 FR 55414). A Federal Register notice 
announcing the availability of the Final EIS was published by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency on May 5, 2006, commencing the required 
30-day no-action period (71 FR 26498). The Final EIS describes and 
analyzes the environmental impacts of two action alternatives and a no-
action alternative.
    The NPS selected Alternative C, as described in the Final EIS. The 
emphasis of the selected alternative 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.
    Major actions of the selected alternative include:
     Provide a new destination and additional visitor 
opportunities in the South Denali region. New facilities will offer 
easily accessible visitor opportunities along the state's main highway 
between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The visitor center will provide 
visitors an intimate setting and facilitate their connection to the 
landscape and natural resources. It will offer a range of opportunties 
for learning and recreating, and it will provide visitors of various 
abilities a chance to experience alpine and subarctic tundra 
environments and opportunities to view Mount McKinley and the Alaska 
Range. Opportunities to view wildlife exist as well as opportunities to 
spend a day or more at the visitor center or in the surrounding area.
     Offer a wide variety of high-quality recreation 
opportunities throughout the South Denali region for a variety of 
visitors. Visitors traveling in groups and those traveling 
independently can benefit from the options offered. Some, and perhaps 
all, of the facilities and opportunities should be attractive to Alaska 
residents who recreate in the South Denali region. The new Parks 
Highway visitor center will provide information, orientation, 
interpretive programs, and shelter to visitors. Public use cabins, 
trail systems for a wide variety of user groups, and camping facilities 
will provide options for visitors to experience the landscape in remote 
as well as in easily accessible settings. New trails, parking areas, 
boat launch, and potential docking facility will provide increased 
access to rivers and public lands in the South Denali region. Together 
these developments should accommodate the visitor growth anticipated 
for the South Denali region over the next 15 to 20 years.
     Create economic and employment opportunities for local 
residents through establishment of a new visitor destination. Residents 
of south central Alaska, in particular, will benefit from improved 
recreational access with this alternative. Rural character may be 
negatively affected, particularly for the community of Trapper Creek. 
Negative impacts will be partially mitigated by measures in the plan to 
protect the scenic qualities of adjacent road corridors. The agencies 
will continue to address local interests by seeking public input during 
future planning and implementation efforts.

    Dated: July 31, 2006.
Victor Knox,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 06-7714 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-PF-M