Rock Creek Bridge EA

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The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is considering replacing or retrofitting the Rock Creek Bridge on the Denali Park Road at Denali National Park and Preserve. This project would take place during the summer of 2013.
 
The Rock Creek Bridge, located just east of park headquarters, is an essential year-round link on the only road into Denali National Park. The bridge's 24-foot width, combined with its curved design, often results in westbound RV trailers and semis tracking into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lane, creating a traffic hazard. The FHWA has also identified the bridge as one of two seismically deficient bridges on the Denali Park Road.

The Environmental Assessment evaluates three action alternatives. The preferred alternative would replace the bridge with an 18-foot diameter culvert, with an embankment at the level of the existing bridge. Another alternative would include retrofitting the existing bridge for seismic stability and width. A third action alternative would include constructing a new bridge directly downstream of the existing bridge.

The NPS has published an environmental assessment (EA) for this project entitled "Rock Creek Bridge Replacement." It is available at the NPS planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. The EA analyzes the impacts of the "No Action" alternative and the three action alternatives. It was completed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.9).

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Public Invited to Participate in Initial Scoping for Park Headquarters Utilidor Replacement

Image via WikipediaThe National Park Service (NPS) intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment regarding the replacement of the utility infrastructure at the Park Headquarters in Denali National Park and Preserve. The purpose of the project to upgrade the utility systems; provide reliable utility service for the headquarters facilities; address safety concerns for park operations and maintenance; and increase the energy efficiency of the utility infrastructure.

The Denali Headquarters utilidor, built in 1958, houses the utilities for the 42 administrative facilities and permanent housing units in the headquarters area, including the 11.91 acre Park Headquarters Historic District. The utilidor is comprised of a series of 4-foot by 4-foot horizontal concrete tunnels ranging in depth from 5 - 15 feet that contain the steam, sewer, and water lines for the headquarters facilities. These utility systems have an average serviceable life of 20 years, and they have not been replaced since the utilidor's construction. In its current condition, the system is at risk for a major failure during high utility use periods in the winter.

A reasonable range of alternatives will be developed for consideration that will be responsive to the issues identified through agency and public involvement. The alternatives currently under consideration include: replacing all of the water, steam, sewer, and fiber optic lines within a new utilidor adjacent to the present one; rehabilitating the existing utilidor and lines while trenching nearby for a new arctic pipe water line, and replacing the flat metal section on the existing utilidor roof with a dome-shaped cover that will enable all of the new arctic pipe to fit inside.

The NPS is currently in the scoping phase of this project and invites the public to submit written comments by Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Comments may be submitted online athttp://parkplanning.nps.gov, faxed to (907) 683-9612, emailed, or mailed to:

Superintendent
Denali National Park and Preserve
ATTN: Utilidor Replacement
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

The NPS encourages public participation through the National Environmental Policy Act (commonly known as NEPA) process. The public will have two opportunities to formally comment on this project - during this initial project scoping and after the EA is released, which is expected in late winter 2012.

For questions about the project please contact Steve Carwile at (907) 644-3612 or via email.

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Public Invited to Participate in Initial Scoping for Rock Creek Bridge Replacement

Image via WikipediaDenali National Park and Preserve intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment regarding the replacement of Rock Creek Bridge (MP 3.3) on the Denali Park Road. The bridge, which was constructed in the 1950s, is an essential link on the only road into Denali National Park. It currently has a very low weight limit, as the bridge was not designed for the type and quantity of traffic that it now receives. The bridge's 24-foot width, combined with its curved design, often results in westbound RV trailers and semis tracking into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lane. In addition, Federal Highway Administration evaluations have identified several potential structural weaknesses in design and seismic resistance.

A reasonable range of alternatives will be developed for consideration that will be responsive to the issues identified through agency and public involvement. The alternatives currently under consideration include replacing the bridge in its entirety, retrofitting the existing bridge, and replacing the bridge with a culvert and fill material. A new pedestrian crossing and walkway may also be included in the project to enhance pedestrian safety.

The NPS is currently in the scoping phase of this project and invites the public to submit written comments by Friday, November 25, 2011. Comments may be submitted online athttp://parkplanning.nps.gov, faxed to (907) 683-9612, emailed, or mailed to:

Superintendent
Denali National Park and Preserve
ATTN: Rock Creek Bridge Replacement
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

The NPS encourages public participation through the National Environmental Policy Act (commonly known as NEPA) process. The public will have two opportunities to formally comment on this project - during this initial project scoping and after the EA is released in December 2011.

For questions about the project please contact Dick Anderson at (907) 644-3536 or via email.

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Comment Period for Environmental Assessment on Climbing Allocation for Mount McKinley Extended

Image via WikipediaIn response to requests, the National Park Service is extending the public comment period for the Climbing Allocation for Mount McKinley Environmental Assessment (EA) through Monday, October 31, 2011. The extension will ensure that the public has adequate time to comment on the allocation of climbing permits between commercial guided climbing operators and independent, non-guided climbers on Mount McKinley.

The EA for this issue is entitled "Climbing Allocation for Mount McKinley." It is available at the NPS planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

Comments may be submitted online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov, faxed to (907) 683-9612, or mailed to the address below:

Superintendent
Denali National Park and Preserve
ATTN: Climbing Allocation EA
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

For additional information about the about the EA, or if you need a hard copy, please contact Paula Homan, Project Planning Lead, at (907) 683-6223 or by email; or Martha Armington, Project Lead, at (907) 683-9529 or by email.

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Environmental Assessment on Climbing Allocation for Mount McKinley Available for Public Comment

Image via WikipediaAn Environmental Assessment (EA) for the allocation of climbing permits between commercial guided climbing operators and independent, non-guided climbers on Mount McKinley is now available for public review and comment, announced Superintendent Paul R. Anderson. 

The 2006 Backcountry Management Plan allocated 25% of the permits for commercially guided groups. The National Park Service (NPS) is considering an adjustment to the number of permits allocated to guided climbing operators. Concessioner guided climbs are a longstanding tradition in the park, and there is an increasing demand for guided climbs. The NPS must determine if this demand can be accommodated, while assuring that independent climbers are not displaced, and that wilderness resource values, visitor experience, and other park resources are protected.

The Backcountry Management Plan also established a seasonal (April 1 to August 1) limit of 1500 permitted climbers for Mount McKinley. The limit of 1500 permits is not being reviewed in this planning effort.

The NPS has developed a range of alternatives to be considered:

Alternative 1 is a no action alternative which would enforce the annual limit of 25% (375) of 1500 climbers for commercially guided climbing set by the Backcountry Management Plan.

Alternative 2 guarantees commercially guided climbing of 25% (375) of 1500 climbers, and also allows commercially guided climbing to utilize any remaining unused permits up to 50% (750) of 1500 climbers, providing no independent climbers are displaced.

Alternative 3 guarantees commercially guided climbing of 25% (375) of 1500 climbers, and also allows commercially guided climbing to utilize any remaining unused permits providing no independent climbers are displaced.  

The NPS has published an EA for this issue entitled "Climbing Allocation for Mount McKinley." It is available at the NPS planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. 

The EA analyzes the impacts of the proposed alternatives and the no action alternative. It was completed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.9).  

Comments on the EA may be submitted through October 15, 2011, preferably via the website athttp://parkplanning.nps.gov. Comments may also be faxed to (907) 683-9612, or mailed to the address below:

Superintendent
Denali National Park and Preserve
ATTN: Climbing Allocation EA
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

For questions about the EA, or if you need a hard copy, please contact Paula Homan, Project Planning Lead, at (907) 683-6223 or Martha Armington, Project Lead, at (907) 683-9529.