Attend the Denali Borough Candidate Forum
October 31, 2011
Be sure to attend the Denali Borough Candidate Forum.
Hosted by the Tri-Valley Community Library
M0derated By Tri-Valley High School Government Class
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 @ 6:00pm
6:00 – 6:40 School Board candidates (Lorrie Terry, Amber Renshaw, Elizabeth Hooge)
6:50 – 7:20 Borough Assembly candidates (Gordon Carlson, Vickie Lausen, Rusty Lasell)
7:30 – 8:10 Borough Mayoral candidates (John Winklmann, David Talerico)
Eva Creek Wind Farm Permitting Phase Blows Through
August 22, 2011
The Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW) released four separate land-use permits associated with the Eva Creek Wind Farm, proposed for ridges east of Ferry. Of the Eva Creek permits applied for by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA), two are associated with road use and development (over approximately 16 miles), one covers material sites and extraction (eight material sites to extract 309,730 cubic yards of gravel), and a fourth covers the land use required for the turbines themselves and associated infrastructure development (including 42,869 acres). In addition to structures planned for state land, a rail siding yard and warm storage building are planned for private land at the base of Ferry Rd.
A fifth land use permit, applied for by Brice, Inc., would grant up to fifteen acres for a construction staging site “adjacent to the Ferry Road, approximately one and one-half miles east of the Alaska Railroad.”
Wind, gas and coal updates at GVEA Healy Meeting
August 22, 2011
Printed in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS — Golden Valley Electric Association plans to offer a public update on new wind, natural gas and coal power options on Aug. 25 in Healy.
GVEA President Brian Newton will offer a presentation on the Eva Creek wind project, new plans for trucking liquefied natural gas and the Healy Clean Coal plant at a noon luncheon of the Denali Chamber of Commerce at the 49th State Brewing Co., 248.5 Mile Parks Highway.
At 6 p.m., GVEA will conduct a separate public meeting about the Eva Creek project at the Tri-Valley Community Center.
From: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – GVEA plans Healy meeting
The Fairbanks News-Miner has published a flurry of opinions regarding the Healy Coal Plant, which have encouraged a flurry of online conversation. Read more
Denali Subsistence Resource Commission Meeting at Denali National Park
August 17, 2011
NPS Press Release
The Denali Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC) meeting is being held on Saturday, August 27 at the Murie Science and Learning Center in Denali National Park and Preserve. The public is invited to attend the meeting, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The commission will consider a range of issues related to subsistence hunting and fishing in the 1980 additions to Denali National Park and Preserve. Select agenda items for the meeting include updates on the following topics: Denali’s Subsistence Hunting Management Plan, the review of the Federal Subsistence Program, current and upcoming research projects. Public testimony opportunities will be provided in the morning and in the afternoon.
For further information, please contact Amy Craver, Subsistence and Cultural Resource Manager, at (907) 683-9544 or amy_craver@nps.gov.
National Park Service Invites Public to Meetings on Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan
August 16, 2011
NPS Press Release
The National Park Service is holding three meetings on the Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan, which is available for review and comment through September 30, 2011. The draft plan describes two action alternatives and a no action alternative for managing vehicle use on the 92-mile Denali Park Road for the next 15-20 years.
During the meetings, which will be done in an open house format, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions of park staff, gather additional information, and provide formal comments.
Draft Denali Vehicle Management Plan released for public comment
July 29, 2011
The Draft Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan and EIS has been years in the making, and is now released for public comment. This plan suggests changes to longstanding management principles for governing traffic along the Denali park road. DCC will be formulating an initial response over the next two weeks, and we welcome your input. Please write us at mail@denalicitizens.org. Feel free to also post comments and discuss on our Facebook page.
Here is the National Park Service press release with links to the documents. Read more
Middle Nenana Fish & Game Advisory Committee to Meet
March 31, 2011
The Middle Nenana Fish & Game Advisory Committee will meet Monday, April 4 at 6:00pm at the Tri-Valley School, in the Science Room, Rm 123. Topics on the agenda will include preparing proposals for the Interior and/or Statewide Board of Game meeting and discussion of Game Management Unit 20A population estimates. The full agenda is attached.
Middle Nenana F&G AC Draft Agenda 4 4 2011
Denali Subsistence Resource Commission Meets Feb. 26 – CANCELED
February 22, 2011
UPDATE: THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR LACK OF QUORUM.
The Denali Subsistence Resource Commission meeting is taking place on Saturday, February 26 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Cantwell Community Center. The public is invited to attend. Agenda items for the meeting include updates on: management issues with the state of Alaska, the Horns, Antlers, Plants, and Bones Environmental Assessment, current and upcoming research projects, and wildlife regulatory proposals. Public testimony opportunities will be provided.
Contact Amy Craver at ext. 6544 or amy_craver@nps.gov for more information.
Public Input Requested on McKinley/Foraker Cost Recovery Special Mountaineering Use Fee
November 1, 2010
The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comments on McKinley/Foraker cost recovery special mountaineering use fee.
Currently, each climber of Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker pays a cost recovery special mountaineering fee of $200. The fee, which was increased from $150 to $200 in 2005, only covers 17% of the cost of this specialized program. Initially, the fee covered approximately 30% of the cost. The number of climbers, and park staff, have remained even since 2002 however, operational expenses have gone up significantly.
Income from the cost recovery fee offsets some of the cost of the mountaineering program. Costs recovered by the fee fund preventative search and rescue (PSAR) education, training for rescue personnel, positioning of patrol/rescue personnel (including volunteers) at critical high altitude locations on the mountain, the CMC (human waste) program and administrative support. Read more
NPS Seeks Comments in Scoping of Climbing Allocation for Mt. McKinley
October 29, 2010
The demand for commercial guided climbing operations on Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest mountain, is increasing. To address this demand Denali National Park and Preserve (DNP&P) is intending to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the allocation of climbing permits between independent climbers and commercial guided climbing operators. Each season, between April 1 and August 1, a limit of 1500 permits are available to climbers. Of the 1500 permits, 25% (375) are allocated to commercially guided groups per the 2006 Backcountry Management Plan. This planning effort will review the current allocation to determine its relevance to the current demand however, the limit of 1500 permits will not be reviewed.
During the scoping phase, public comments are being sought by the National Park Service. The public will have two opportunities to submit comments. The initial commenting for the scoping period and again following the release of the Environmental Assessment. Written comments for the initial project scoping are due by December 6, 2010. Your comments can be submitted online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dena, faxed to (907) 683-9612 or mailed to Superintendent, Denali National Park & Preserve, ATTN: Climbing EA, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755.
Following scoping comments, a range of reasonable alternatives will be developed for consideration in response to the issues identified through agency and public involvement. The EA is expected to be released in spring of 2011.
The Backcountry Management Plan can be viewed at: http://www.nps.gov/dena/parkmgmt/backcountryplan.htm for additional information on regulations and management regarding commercial operations and backcountry use of Mt. McKinley.
Temporary withdrawal of Healy Clean Coal Plant operating permit
September 23, 2010
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily withdrawn its proposed operating permit for the Healy Clean Coal Project, pending further discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A PDF copy of the state’s letter to EPA can be found at the link below.
Alaska DEC HCCP Permit Withdrawal
NPS News Release: EA for Improvements to Porcupine Forest Area of Denali Park Road
August 15, 2010
The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is considering a road rehabilitation project on the section of Park Road between milepost 50.8 – 52.4 (known as Porcupine Forest) in Denali National Park and Preserve.
This section of road has numerous structural problems and does not meet the park’s road design standards for intervisible passing pullouts. Read more