History of the North Access Issue

• 1980, northern additions incorporated into Mt. McKinley National Park to preserve intact ecosystem for the protection of park resources
• 1985, 1991, AK Department of Natural Resources, Tanana Basin Area Plan, selects Wolf Townships for public ownership for multiple use management with emphasis on recreation and fish and wildlife habitat, critical calving and wintering range for the Denali caribou herd
• 1993, Federal Department of Transportation appropriated $1.5 million dollars to the State to study feasibility of developing access from the Parks Highway to McGrath with a spur to Kantishna. AK DOT&PF requested a route through the park, which triggered a NEPA response to address a range of alternatives. The project was aborted and $1.25 million of the appropriation was returned to the Feds
• 1994, the Denali Task Force, representing a diverse group of Alaskans operating through the National Parks System Advisory Board, held a majority view that a second access route to Kantishna was not advisable and that a cooperative South Side Regional Strategy should be developed
• 1997, NPS North Access Feasibility Study determined that a new north access is contrary to the existing management plan for Denali National Park and Preserve and cost would exceed all high-priority NPS visitor access projects for the entire State of Alaska
• 1997, NPS South Side Development Plan, a cooperative effort of national, state, borough, and native representatives, supports increased access and development on the South Side of Denali; implementation requires continued intergovernmental cooperation
• 1998, HB 386, an act relating to the financing authority, programs, operations, and projects of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority signed into law. Section 25 provided for DNR to grant a right-of-way to AIDEA for a railroad corridor from Healy to the eastern boundary of the National Park to enable Kantishna Holdings, Inc. to develop a railroad; KHI never justified economic feasibility or applied for the right-of-way
• 1998, Senator Murkowski secured a federal appropriation of $1,320,000 for an environmental analysis and other necessary studies for a second northern access into Denali National Park and Preserve; monies entrusted to AK DOT&PF and required a state match of funds.
• 2001, HB 244, Denali Rail Bill, and SB 29, Capitol Budget Bill, pass Alaska State Legislature
• 2001, Denali Rail Bill [HB 244] rescinds HB 386, grants 3500 acres of the Wolf Townships to the Denali Borough for a railroad development project, and bestows preferential treatment to a single, unproven business, Kantishna Holdings, Inc.,
• 2001, Capitol Budget Bill [SB 29] provides matching state funds, $330,000, to federal appropriation monies for study of feasibility of a second north access route into the Park
• 2001, Governor Knowles vetoed HB 244 citing the lack of public process and agency coordination in resolving the issue of a second north access into the park; the Governor supports improved access and the initiation of the planning process with the State and Federal dollars secured for this purpose. The State Legislature overturned the Governor's veto and HB 244 became law.
• In March of 2002, a Transfer of Responsibilities Agreement (TORA) between the Denali Borough and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities was finalized. The TORA obligates the Borough to conduct the North Access Recconnaissance Study (NARS).