Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the Backcountry Management Plan and General Management Plan Amendment for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Résumé

The National Park Service (NPS) is amending the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve General Management Plan with a Backcountry Management Plan and accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (plan/EIS). Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve was established by the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). With passage of ANILCA, Congress designated 8.9 million acres of wilderness within the park and preserve and set forth special provisions for management in recognition of the unique situations and traditional lifeways of Alaska. The purpose of the plan/EIS is to formulate a comprehensive plan that will provide management direction during the next 15-20 years for the backcountry of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The backcountry currently is defined to include the park's designated wilderness and other non-developed areas of the park. The Nabesna and McCarthy roads would not be included in this process. Tracts in private ownership are excluded, including the settled areas of McCarthy/ Kennecott, Slana, Nabesna, Chisana, and May Creek. The airstrips associated with these settlements would be excluded as well. Wrangell-St. Elias Na