[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39253-39254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16070]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

[NPS-AKR-DENA-10132; 9833-P807-579]


Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Denali Park Road 
Vehicle Management Plan, Denali National Park and Preserve

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Sec.  102(2)(C) the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service 
(NPS) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan (Plan/FEIS), 
for Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The Plan/FEIS evaluates 
the environmental impacts of three action alternatives including a 
preferred alternative. A no action alternative is also evaluated. The 
restricted section of the Denali Park Road begins at the west end of 
the Savage River Bridge (mile 14.8) and continues to the former Mt. 
McKinley National Park boundary north of Wonder Lake (mile 87.9).

ADDRESSES: The Plan/FEIS is available in electronic format online at 
the NPS Planning, Environmental and Public Comment Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dena. Hard copies and compact discs of the Plan/
FEIS are available on request by contacting: Paul R. Anderson, 
Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali 
Park, Alaska 99755. Telephone: 907-683-2294.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FEIS is to evaluate the 
impacts of the alternatives for managing vehicle use along the Denali 
Park Road. Since the mid-1920s, visitors have been able to travel the 
park road on buses operated by the park concessioner. Starting in 1972, 
when private vehicle traffic was restricted beyond mile 15 of the road, 
a shuttle bus service was added for visitor transportation. The present 
approach for managing vehicles on the park road is based on the park's 
1986 general management plan, which established a seasonal limit of 10, 
512 vehicle permits beyond mile 15 between approximately Memorial Day 
and a week after Labor Day [36 CFR 13.932]. It has served well as a way 
to manage vehicle use, while providing high quality visitor 
opportunities to see wildlife in natural habitats and to access the 
park's wilderness. However, visitation to Denali National Park and 
Preserve is expected to continue to increase, and with it demand for 
visits along the park road.
    A 90-day public comment period on the Draft EIS (DEIS) began on 
July 29, 2011. Public meetings were held in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and 
Denali National Park, Alaska. The NPS received 324 comment letters from 
various agencies, organizations and individuals. In response to public 
comment, the FEIS describes and analyzes a fourth alternative (NPS 
Preferred Alternative) that combines elements of Alternatives A, B and 
C from the DEIS. The FEIS presents responses to substantive comments in 
Chapter 5.
    The Plan/FEIS analyzes the following four alternatives: the No 
Action Alternative (Alternative A), Maximizing Visitor Opportunities 
(Alternative B),

[[Page 39254]]

Maximizing Visitor Opportunities (Alternative C), and the NPS Preferred 
Alternative (Alternative D).
    Alternative A: (No Action): This alternative would continue current 
management of vehicle use on the park road. In addition to a seasonal 
limit of 10,512 vehicles past mile 15, there would continue to be 
specific seasonal and daily limits to tour buses, shuttle buses, 
inholder traffic, professional photographer vehicles, NPS 
administrative vehicles and other categories of vehicles.
    Alternative B: This alternative would use an adaptive management 
framework for vehicle use based on indicators and standards for visitor 
experiences and resource protection. While adhering to these standards, 
management would promote maximized seating on all transit and tour 
vehicles to offer the largest number of visitors the opportunity to 
travel the park road. This adaptive management framework would include 
options for reducing or scheduling non-bus traffic to allow for 
additional visitor use on transit and tour vehicles.
    Alternative C: This alternative would use an adaptive management 
framework for vehicle use based on indicators and standards for visitor 
experiences and resource protection. While adhering to these standards, 
management would promote a wide variety of opportunities that would 
include brief experiences in the park's entrance area, short visits 
along segments of the park road, special interest tours, and multi-day 
experiences in the park's backcountry. This adaptive management 
framework would include options for reducing or scheduling non-bus 
traffic to allow for additional visitor use on transit and tour 
vehicles.
    Alternative D: The NPS preferred alternative, with an adaptive 
manage framework, would provide a high quality visitor experience; 
protect wilderness resource values, scenic values, wildlife, and other 
park resources; and maintain the unique character of the park road. 
While managing to meet standards for desired conditions, a maximum 
daily capacity would also be used to protect park resources and values. 
The daily capacity would apply to all vehicles traveling west of the 
Savage River check station (mile 15).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Anderson, Superintendent, 
Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska 
99755. Telephone: 907-683-2294.

Sue E. Masica,
Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2012-16070 Filed 6-29-12; 8:45 am]
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