[Federal Register: June 6, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 109)]
[Notices]               
[Page 39037-39038]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jn02-112]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

 
Termination of the Environmental Impact Statement on the Spruce 
Creek Access Proposal, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate an application for a 
right-of-way permit to a private inholding on Spruce Creek in the 
Kantishna Hills of Denali National Park and Preserve for the purpose of 
constructing and operating a remote lodge. The NPS released a draft EIS 
in July 1999 (published by NPS at 64 FR 41944, August 2, 1999, and by 
EPA at 64 FR 42942, August 5, 1999), and the public comment period 
ended October 6, 1999. The applicants requested in May 2000 that NPS 
not release the final EIS while they considered an NPS offer to 
purchase the property. The NPS purchased the land and all commercial 
use rights in February 2002. The former owners reserved rights to two 
one-acre parcels with cabins for their private, personal use and they 
requested NPS terminate the EIS.
    The owners of the personal, non-commercial rights on the two one-
acre parcels have requested access over the existing mining access 
trails and use of the existing Glen Creek airstrip pursuant to the 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980, Section 
1110(b)--Access to Inholdings. In consultation with the NPS the

[[Page 39038]]

applicants propose minor new road construction to avoid driving in the 
bed of Spruce Creek. The new access request would require much less 
construction and result in less adverse impact on park resources and 
values than the original access request to construct and operate a 
lodge. NPS is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the 
impacts of the new access request and alternatives. The EA will be made 
available to those who commented on the draft EIS and other interested 
parties.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Anderson, Superintendent, 
Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska 
99755. Telephone (907) 683-9581.

Marcia Blaszak,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 02-14016 Filed 6-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P