August 18, 2010 – The National Park Service (NPS) has published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Nabesna ORV Management Plan in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The DEIS comes as a result of previous litigation challenging the NPS issuance of ORV permits for recreational use. Under the proposed DEIS, recreational ORV use would be permitted on all nine existing trails and all but one trail (Suslota) would be improved to at least a maintainable condition through trail harding, tread improvement or constructed re-routes. Until improved, recreational ORV use would not be permitted on Tanada Lake, Suslota and Copper Lake trails. Public meetings will be held in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Tok, Slana and Glennallen Alaska. Times and dates will be subsequently announced in local media and on the park planning webpage shown below, so check back periodically.
Comments on the DEIS will be accepted until November 9, 2010. It is important that OHV enthusiasts get involved in the designation process by contacting Park staff. Comments may be submitted at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/wrst or by mail to:
Meg Jensen
Superintendent
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
P.O. Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573
Additional information found online:
Wrangell - St. Elias National Park Planning Page http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=21
For further information, please contact Bruce Rogers, Project Manager, at 907-822-727
OHV Management in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
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