|
Alaska
National Park Access Guide Available for Review Within Alaska's
national park units, there are more than 1.6 million acres of land
owned by private individuals and corporations, the state of Alaska
and local governments. These owners and other valid occupants are
entitled to adequate and feasible access to their property, but
the process of obtaining legal access across public land has never
been well described in a single document. Today, the Alaska Region
of the National Park Service is releasing for public review a draft
user's guide to help landowners and others understand the National
Park Service process to authorize access across park areas. Four
public meetings will be held to explain the guide and to take public
comment; details on location and times are below. Titled "A User's
Guide to Accessing Inholdings in a National Park Service Area in
Alaska," the 22-page draft document is an outcome of conversations
held last year among U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale
Norton, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, and NPS Alaska Regional
Director Marcia Blaszak. The NPS consulted with state officials
during preparation of the document. The draft describes how landowners
and valid occupants can secure rights under Section 1110(b) of the
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). This section
addresses motorized access to inholdings, as well as access that
would require improvements such as construction or maintenance of
a road, power line, or landing strip, or similar undertakings on
publicly owned park land. Access by airplane, boat, snowmachine
and various methods of non-motorized travel not requiring improvements
generally does not require a permit. "This authorization process
allows the National Park Service and other agencies which manage
public resources -- things like salmon streams, wildlife habitat,
historical sites-- and other public uses, to protect those public
assets. At the same time, we are meeting the unique provisions in
law to provide access to non-federal lands within parks," said Blaszak.
"Not only will the user's guide help landowners understand what
is required of them, it will help park managers provide consistent
information to people seeking access," said Sally Gibert, the State
of Alaska's ANILCA coordinator. "The state encourages Alaskans to
review the guide to insure that it accomplishes the NPS objectives
of clarity, accuracy and sound public policy." In particular, the
National Park Service is interested in public comments on a proposed
cost structure which includes an application fee and the reimbursement
of some NPS costs, and a land rental fee for commercial operations.
Public comment will be accepted for 90 days, through May 13, 2005.
To download the document for review, go to the following website:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ and select the link "Plans/Documents
Open for Comment " located at the lower left corner of the page.
From the following " Plan/Document List" select the link "A User's
Guide to Accessing Inholdings in a National Park Service Area in
Alaska." Copies of the guide are may be requested by writing Regional
Director, National Park Service, 240 W. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska
99501. Public comment will also be accepted at each of four meetings
planned in March. The times and locations are as follows: March
9 Anchorage -- Alaska Public Lands Information Center, 605 W. 4th
Ave. March 16 McCarthy -- Location, time to be announced March 18
Slana -- Location, time to be announced March 30 Fairbanks -- Alaska
Public Lands Information Center, 250 Cushman St. The Anchorage and
Fairbanks meetings will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. A brief presentation
on the guide by National Park Service staff will be given at 3:45
and 5:15 p.m., with a question and answer session and public comment
taken after each presentation.
|
Related Links
|
