Date: November 28, 2007
Contact: John Quinley, 907-644-3512
Public Comments Requested
The National Park Service proposes to issue right of way certificates of access to people with established and maintainable access to land holdings within or effectively surrounded by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
Access to State or privately-owned land in Alaska national parks is governed by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Section 1110(b), which provides that “the State or private owner or occupier shall be given by the Secretary such rights as may be necessary to assure adequate and feasible access for economic or other purposes.” The environmental assessment evaluates the effects of the no-action alternative as well as the proposed program to issue the right of way certificates of access. (NPS Preferred Alternative).
Established and maintainable routes and methods of access qualifying for consideration in this EA are those that currently exist, have not resulted in unacceptable impacts to park resources and values, and can be maintained in their present condition and character essentially within their existing footprints. Examples of established access facilities include constructed and bladed roads, off-road vehicle (ORV) trails, airstrips, and waterlines.
Issuing right of way certificates of access to these inholders is necessary to describe and document their legal methods and means and to assure the landowners’ or valid occupiers’ their access interests. To protect park resources and minimize potential impacts to park resources and values, the NPS would identify these routes and methods of access, including the suite of maintenance methods and tools the inholder may use to ensure the surface tread is useable as intended.
Public comments are requested on the environmental assessment through January 31, 2008. To comment, please visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov, or write Wrangell-St. Elias NP, P.O. Box 439, Copper Center, AK 99573.
If you have questions about the EA or need a printed copy of the document, please contact Danny Rosenkrans, Land Manager, at 907-822-7240 or email at e-mail us or contact Bud Rice, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (907) 644-3530 or email at e-mail us.
