Final Development Concept Plan Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1 South Side DENALI Alaska National Park Service State of Alaska Denali Borough Matanuska-Susitna Borough Ahtna, Incorporated Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated Final Development Concept Plan Environmental Impact Statement South Side Denali Alaska December 1996 This Final Development Concept Plan/Environmental Impact Statement describes the proposed action and two other action alternatives for providing opportunities for high quality, resource-based, destination experiences on the south side, as well as information, orientation, and recreation services and facilities convenient to park visitors. A no-action alternative is also described. Under all alternatives, facilities and access would be developed in a location and manner that minimizes impacts on resources, local lifestyles, and communities. The proposed action and alternatives were fully examined in the Revised Draft Development Concept Plan/Environmental Impact Statement released in March 1996. The proposed action presents a long-term vision for visitor developments on the south side. Critical to the implementation of this or other action alternatives would be the development of a logical and cost-effective phasing scenario, which would be developed in detail during plan implementation. The proposed action includes construction of a visitor center, campsites, a picnic area, public use cabins, and some hiking/interpretive trails in the Tokositna area of Denali State Park. In cooperation and, where desirable, a partnership between the National Park Service, local communities, Native corporations, and the state of Alaska would develop visitor facilities and services at Talkeetna, Broad Pass, and in the central development zone of Denali State Park when need and opportunity to do so are established. Consultation and coordination with local communities to define need and determine appropriate courses of action would be essential. For the state park central development zone, this would entail constructing a visitor center. The Byers Lake campground would be expanded or a new campground would be built elsewhere in the central development zone. Primitive fly-in only campsites would be constructed at Chelatna Lake, as would public use cabins and a hiking/interpretive trail and trailhead sign. The Dunkle Hills road could provide new public access opportunities in the Dunkle Hills/Broad Pass area, including improved access into Denali National Park and Preserve, pending resolution of land status/access issues. This document is the result of a collaborative process that takes a regional rather than a jurisdictional approach to planning. The cooperative planning partners are comprised of representatives from the National Park Service, the state of Alaska, Denali Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and two Native regional corporations (Ahtna, Inc., and Cook Inlet Region, Inc.). All six partners in this cooperative effort have land management authorities on the south side. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service is the lead federal agency responsible for this environmental impact statement; the state and the two boroughs are cooperating agencies. The two Native corporations may not serve as cooperating agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act, but are considered planning partners in accordance with National Park Service guidelines and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. No action may be taken until at least 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency has accepted the document and published a notice of availability in the Federal Register. For further information contact: Superintendent Denali National Park and Preserve P.O. Box 9 Denali Park, Alaska 99755 SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service is the lead federal In 1993 the National Park Service (NPS) agency responsible for this document; the state published a Draft Development Concept and the two boroughs are cooperating agencies. Plan/Environmental Impact Statement The two Native corporations may not serve as (DCP/EIS) that proposed several south side cooperating agencies under the National developments. For the purposes of this plan, the Environmental Protection Act, but are south side is defined to include the 1980 considered planning partners in accordance with ANILCA addition on the south side of Denali NPS guidelines and the Federal Advisory National Park and Preserve; Denali State Park; Committee Act. lands extending south to include Chelatna Lake, the Petersville Road area, and Talkeetna; and The purpose of this Final Development Concept the road/rail corridor as far north as Cantwell Plan/Environmental Impact Statement is to (see the Existing Conditions/Project Area map identify and evaluate options for the south side in the “Purpose and Need” section). of Denali that serve the following vision: While there has been a generally shared vision • Provide opportunities for high quality, among public land managers in the region and resource-based, destination experiences and others that the south side of Denali should provide information, orientation, and receive greater use and development for visitors, recreation services and facilities convenient the size and location of facilities have generated to park visitors. extensive public controversy for many years. Unfortunately, the 1993 draft plan did not • Develop facilities and access in a location resolve the controversy and, in 1994, Secretary and manner that minimizes impacts on of the Interior Bruce Babbitt established a task resources, local lifestyles, and communities. force to make recommendations on, among other matters, the cooperative management and • Establish working partnerships for funding recreation development of Denali south side. and phasing development as outlined in the The Denali Task Force submitted its final report concept plan. to the National Park System Advisory Board in December 1994; the report’s recommendations In addition, the cooperative planning partners for the south side were adopted by the advisory have identified a number of more specific goals: board without modification. • Provide access to and a location for Since completion of the task force report, south interpretation of the special qualities found side planning has been reinitiated as a in Denali National Park and Preserve and cooperative project by intergovernmental Denali State Park, including access to the planning partners. This Final Development spectacular alpine landscape on the south Concept Plan/ side of the Alaska Range. Environmental Impact Statement is one component of this cooperative endeavor. The • Offer a range of experiences and cooperative planning partners are comprised of opportunities to meet the diverse needs of representatives from the National Park Service, the traveling public, including information state of Alaska, Denali Borough, Matanuska- and orientation to the region; new or Susitna Borough, and two Native regional improved recreation facilities; enhanced state corporations (Ahtna, Inc., and Cook Inlet and national park interpretation; and shelter Region, Inc.). In compliance with the National in bad weather. iii SUMMARY • Ensure that, viewed as a whole, facilities and services benefit all visitors, including Alaska residents, independent travelers, and package CHANGES MADE BETWEEN THE tour travelers. REVISED DRAFT AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN / · Design and develop facilities and access ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT improvements to support public use and STATEMENT understanding of the south side and its outstanding resources. In response to public comments and cooperative planning partner discussions, several changes • Establish a research program and identify have been made between publication of the management needs to guide facility and road revised draft DCP/EIS and completion of the development. final DCP/EIS. The major changes are summarized here. • Facilitate orderly economic development in the region consistent with resource Purpose and Need – This section was updated protection. to more explicitly describe the partners’ vision for south side development and recreational · Minimize and mitigate adverse effects on opportunities and to state the need for visitor fish and wildlife resources, habitat, cultural facilities and services more clearly. resources, local rural quality of life, and existing public land and resource uses, Direction for the Plan – This section was including subsistence uses. modified to clearly state the vision, goals, and objectives that guide this plan. • Establish methods, responsibilities, and necessary steps to control unwanted Elements Common to All Action Alternatives secondary impacts of tourism and to – Additional detail has been provided clarifying minimize conflicts between different visitor the general policies and actions that would be groups. implemented under each action alternative and the no-action alternative. For example, This environmental impact statement evaluates additional text is included to emphasize partner the impacts of the proposed action and a range support of continued mining in the study area. of alternatives, including a no-action alternative. This document also sets the stage for Implementation of the Development Concept establishing working partnerships for more Plan – This section was revised to provide detailed decision-making, funding, and phasing clarification and additional information