[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 12664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6557]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the
Development Concept Plan for South Side Denali, AK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the record of decision for the
Development Concept Plan for South Side Denali, Alaska.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of the
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Development Concept Plan for South
Side Denali. The plan was prepared cooperatively by the National Park
Service, State of Alaska, Denali Borough, and Matanuska-Susitna
Borough. Ahtna, Inc. and Cook Inlet Region, Inc., two Native regional
corporations with substantial land ownership within the planning area,
participated as planning partners pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (ANCSA), Public Law 92-203, Sec. 2(b).
The emphasis of the plan is to enhance access and recreational
opportunities throughout the south Denali region for a variety of
visitors, including Alaskans, independent travelers, and package tour
travelers, while at the same time protecting the important resource and
community values in the area, including the rural lifestyle of local
residents. Visitor facilities are planned for the Tokositna area at the
western edge of Denali State Park near the end of an upgraded and
extended Petersville Road, in the central development zone of Denali
State Park along the George Parks Highway, at Chelatna Lake, and in the
Dunkle Hills. Appropriately-sited bicycle and pedestrian enhancements
along the Petersville Road also are part of the plan.
In cooperation and where desirable, a partnership between the
National Park Service, local communities, ANCSA Native corporations,
and the state of Alaska will develop visitor facilities and services in
the central development zone of Denali State Park, at Broad Pass, and
in Talkeetna, when the need and opportunity to do so are established.
Similarly, in cooperation and where desirable, partnerships for
providing additional visitor services along the George Parks Highway
may be pursued.
A phasing and funding schedule will be developed by a South Side
Denali Plan Implementation Partnership to be established by the
governor. Phasing construction of developments will allow orderly plan
implementation over an established period of time that compliments
funding availability and addresses visitor needs.
A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS), published in the Federal Register in April 1991 (56 FR 15931),
formally initiated the National Park Service's planning and EIS effort
for the south side. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service prepared a draft plan
and EIS, published in 1993; however, a final was never completed.
Instead, a Notice of Intent to prepare a revised draft EIS was
published in the Federal Register in October 1995 (60 FR 54705),
reinitiating the planning process for the south side as a cooperative
effort among the major land managers in the region. A draft and final
plan and EIS were prepared by the cooperating partners, with the
National Park Service acting as the lead federal agency. The final plan
and EIS describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a proposed
action and two other action alternatives. A no action alternative also
is evaluated.
The Record of Decision (ROD) documents the decision of the
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, regarding the South
Side Denali plan. The State of Alaska has signed this ROD in
concurrence with its findings. This ROD briefly discusses the
background for the planning effort, states the decision and discusses
the basis for it, describes other alternatives considered, specifies
the environmentally preferable alternative, identifies measures adopted
to minimize potential environmental harm, and summarizes the results of
public involvement during the planning process.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available on request from:
Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, Post Office Box 9,
Denali Park, Alaska 99755.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Swanton, Park Planner, Denali
National Park and Preserve. Telephone: (907) 257-2651 FAX: (907) 257-
2485 Email: Nancy Swanton@nps.gov.
Dated: March 7, 1997.
Marcia Blaszna,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 97-6557 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
