Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska; Final South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, 34159 [06-5344]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 34159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5344]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska; Final South Denali 
Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final South Denali Implementation 
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the Final South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for Denali National Park & Preserve. The document 
describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a preferred 
alternative and one action alternative for providing increased access 
and recreational opportunities in the South Denali region. A no action 
alternative is also evaluated.

DATES: A Record of Decision will be made no sooner than 30 days after 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability 
for the final EIS appears in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The final plan and EIS may be viewed online at https://
www.southdenaliplanning.com or https://parkplanning.nps.gov. Hard copies 
or CDs of the Final South Denali Implementation Plan and EIS are 
available on request from the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Tranel, Chief of Planning, Denali 
National park and Preserve, 240 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 
99501. Telephone: (907) 644-3611.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), 
the NPS, in cooperation with the State of Alaska and Matanuska-Susitna 
Borough, has prepared a final EIS that considers three alternatives for 
providing increased access and recreational opportunities in the South 
Denali region. The purpose of the plan and EIS is to address the needs 
of a growing visitor population in the south Denali region for the next 
two decades. The south Denali region is defined to include the southern 
portions of Denali National Park and Preserve, Denali State Park in its 
entirety, and adjoining lands owned and managed by the State of Alaska 
and the Matanuska-Sustina Borough. The implementation plan and EIS was 
initiated to address the rapidly growing level of visitation, resource 
management concerns, and anticipated demand for future uses of public 
lands in the south Denali region.
    The final plan and EIS includes a range of alternatives based on 
planning objective's environmental resources, and public input. Each 
alternative represents a development concept that addresses the needs 
and concerns of the land managers, local communities, and visitors. The 
three alternatives evaluated in this EIS include two action 
alternatives and a no-action alternative.
    Alternative A (No Action): Under Alternative A, no new actions 
would be implemented to support the 1997 Record of Decision for the 
South Side Denali Development Concept Plan except for those projects 
already approved and initiated. This alternative represents no change 
from current management direction and therefore represents the existing 
condition in the South Denali region. However, it does not ensure a 
similar future condition, which could be affected by factors unrelated 
to this planning effort.
    Alternative B (Peters Hills Alternative): Under this alternative a 
new nature center would be constructed on approximately 2.5 acres in 
the Peters Hills inside the southern boundary of Denali State Park. The 
total building requirement would be approximately 7,500 square feet. A 
paved parking area would be constructed near the junction of 
Petersville Road and the proposed access road (MP 28 of Petersville 
Road) to accommodate private vehicles. An access road approximately 7 
miles in length would be constructed from MP 28 of Petersville Road to 
the nature center. Upgrading and widening Petersville Road between MP 
9.3 and 28 is a connected action that would be necessary to implement 
this alternative. Approximately 31 miles of trails would be constructed 
in the vicinity of the new nature center.
    Alternative C (Parks Highway, Preferred Alternative): Under this 
alternative a new visitor complex would be constructed on approximately 
4.1 acres near Curry Ridge in Denali State Park. The total building 
requirement would be approximately 16,000 square feet. A paved parking 
area would be constructed on the natural bench across from the Denlia 
View South Wayside near Parks Highway MP 134.6. An access road 
approximately 3.5 miles in length would be constructed from the parking 
area to the visitor center. Approximately 13 miles of trails would be 
constructed in the vicinity of the new visitor center.
    The Notice of Availability of the Draft South Denali Implementation 
Plan and EIS was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 
2005. The 60-day public comment period ended on November 15, 2005. Five 
public hearings (Anchorage, Wasilla, upper Susitna Valley, Denali Park, 
and Fairbanks) were held in the fall of 2005. Comments were received 
from 72 agencies, organizations, and individuals. In response to public 
comment, the preferred alternative (Alternative C, Parks Highway) was 
modified to include additional land use controls along the Parks 
Highway and Petersville Road corridors, mitigation measures for 
alleviating conflicts between motorized and non-motorized use, and the 
addition of wildlife monitoring in Denali State Park.
    The responsible official for a Record of Decision on the proposed 
action is the NPS Regional Director in Alaska.

    Dated: April 20, 2006.
Marcia Blaszak,
Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 06-5344 Filed 6-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-BF-M