The Denali Borough Assembly has voted to indefinately table an ordinance supporting HB244, a northern rail to Denali.
The consensus of the Assembly was that this ordinance was inappropriate until the completion of the NARS study.

Borough Meeting - April 9 in Healy at TriValley Community Center
6:30 - Work Session, 7 p.m. Meeting

NORTH ACCESS ACTION ALERT
Denali Borough North Access Reconnaissance Study
North Access Reconnaissance Study
The Denali Borough is presently wrapping up Phase 1 and is ready to move on to Phase 2 of the North Access Reconnaissance Study [NARS].

During the March 1, 2003 meeting a draft report was presented enumerating the accomplishments of Phase 1, and will serve as the basis for the Borough's request to proceed to Phase 2. Phase II of the TORA outlines the process of hiring a consultant firm. Mayor Talerico noted that 31 consultant firms to date have contacted him. “The first product from the consultant’s work will be a detailed evaluation of the need for the project.” The consultant will attempt to evaluate need at the present time, in 20 years, in 50 years. Year round feasibility will also be assessed.

The Borough understands that at some point a project of this magnitude will require an EIS and presumes that the work accomplished under the preliminary scoping phase of the TORA would not have to be repeated to begin a formal EIS. The stated intention is to produce a comprehensive study, which will most likely require additional funding to complete.

Denali Watch continues to be concerned with the notion of tying the north access issue with the NPS Visitor Facilities Study: Northern Transportation Corridor to the Kantishna Area.

Note that NPS Park Road Visitation History denotes a steady increase in use from 1981 thru 1999, after which there has been an annual decline in visitation thru 2002 [estimated number].

Preliminary Scoping Meetings

· The preliminary scoping meetings were poorly attended with a total attendance at all three meetings of 59 participants representing various agencies and the public. State Agency input was minimal [only the Department of Natural Resources]. Federal agents represented were the NPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA/NMFS. Organizations represented include the Alaska Boreal Forest Council, DCC, NPCA and NAEC. Rep. David Guttenberg and a proxy for Sen. Lisa Murkowski were in attendance. Anchorage had the lowest number of attendees of the 3 scoping meetings.

· The Borough received minimal scoping feedback in general and was particularly disappointed in the lack of agency participation and information sharing.

The NPS scoping input requested three additional issues be added to the list of those to be addressed in the study: air quality, vegetation, and natural soundscapes.