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

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

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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