[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 53694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26694]
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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.
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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]
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