[Federal Register: October 6, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 193)]
[Notices]               
[Page 53694]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc98-117]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

 
Spruce Creek Access Proposal and Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Extension for the Spruce Creek Access Proposal, Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an 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, as announced in the Federal Register/Vol. 
63, No. 53/ Thursday, March 19, 1998. The owner 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 inholder to construct and operate a 
remote backcountry lodge. On January 7, 1998, the NPS accepted the 
application for access to a 20-acre parcel on Spruce Creek. The 
applicant amended the request for access on January 26, 1998, and is 
still submitting information required to process the right-of-way 
request.
    Regulations at 43 CFR Sec. 36.6(a)(2) require the lead agency to 
publish notification of an extension with reasons for the extension of 
a nine-month period to complete the draft EIS. The NPS conducted field 
surveys from June 1 to September 10, 1998, of wetlands and other 
environmental parameters to assist with descriptions and analyses of 
environmental consequences of the access request and a reasonable range 
of alternatives. Because of the project amendment, additional 
information needs and additional time needed to evaluate that 
information, the NPS is providing notice that an additional three 
months is required to complete the draft EIS.

DATES: The draft EIS will be available for public review by January 26, 
1999. Three public scoping meetings were held as announced in the 
Federal Register of March 19, 1998. Public hearings on the draft EIS 
will be scheduled in the McKinley Park/Healy area, Fairbanks, and 
Anchorage, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. in February/March of 1999.

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 Gottlieb,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 98-26694 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P