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 Cruise
ships travel throughout coastal Alaska in the summer season. NPS
Photo, Skagway.
The
numbers of cruise ships and private vessels using Glacier Bay in
the summer could increase and the system for managing motor vessels
in the park would be simplified according to a final environmental
impact statement on vessel quotas and operating requirements released
today by the National Park Service. The document brings to near-conclusion
a process started in 1997 when the National Park Service was sued
in U.S. District Court by the National Parks Conservation Association,
which asserted the NPS should have prepared a more detailed EIS
when evaluating changes in the operating requirements and numbers
of ships and other motor vessels allowed in Glacier Bay. An Appeals
Court decision in February 2001 ruled that the Park Service's earlier
environmental assessment was inadequate. Later that year, Congress
passed a law directing the NPS to prepare an EIS, setting the numbers
of motor vessels permitted to operate in Glacier Bay at the levels
in effect in 2000. The new environmental impact statement process
began in early 2002. This final EIS follows a draft issued in March
2003. NPS anticipates making a decision on the plan in late November.
The final EIS evaluates six alternatives, including the NPS preferred
alternative which was developed after substantial public comment
was received on the draft plan earlier this year. The Park Service
received over 1,000 comments from individuals, interest groups,
businesses and government agencies. "The preferred alternative incorporates
elements from several alternatives, including operating requirements
that reflect the experience and knowledge we have gained during
the past several years," said Glacier Bay Superintendent Tomie Lee.
"Our preferred alternative allows for growth in visitation, provides
additional resource protection and simplifies the vessel management
system." Considered during the planning process are the numbers
of cruise ships and other commercial and private motor vessels allowed
in Glacier Bay and nearby Dundas Bay each year, the operating conditions
they must follow, and the level of protection for marine mammals
and other park resources. If selected, the preferred alternative
would establish the following plan: " Cruise ship entries between
June 1 and August 31 would remain at 139 in Glacier Bay with up
to two entries per day; the number could rise to 184 based on the
results of research and monitoring. " A 13 knot speed limit would
be established, as needed, for large vessels in Glacier Bay. Recent
studies show that higher speeds increase the likelihood of a collision
with whales which also frequent the bay in the summer. " The plan
would maintain the current numbers of tour and charter vessels in
Glacier Bay. " The total number of private vessels permitted in
the bay between June 1 and August 31 would increase from 1,971 to
2,300; the limit of no more than 25 per day would remain unchanged.
" Vessel quotas would be established for tour and charter vessels
in nearby Dundas Bay, effective June through August. Cruise ships
would not be allowed there, and tour vessels would not be allowed
in the wilderness waters of the upper bay year-round. No limit would
be set for private vessels in Dundas Bay. The 3.2 million acre Glacier
Bay National Park and Preserve is located about 65 miles west of
Juneau. Established in 1925, the park environment ranges from lush
rainforest to rocky terrain recently uncovered by retreating glaciers,
and a rich variety of marine life. Within the park boundary is 2.8
million acres of designated wilderness, including portions of Glacier
Bay proper. The park is visited by about 400,000 people per year;
the vast majority visit on cruise ships and smaller tour or charter
boats. Measures to address vessel traffic in Glacier Bay were initiated
in 1979 to protect endangered humpback whales. The vessel quota
system and associated vessel operating conditions have been amended
several times since then. Copies of the plan are available at the
park's website, www.nps.gov/glba or by writing to Nancy Swanton,
EIS Project Manager, National Park Service, 240 W. 5th Avenue, Anchorage,
Alaska 99501.
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