National Park Service Seeking Comments on Environmental Assessment to Replace Wastewater Treatment Facility in Denali

Date: March 28, 2008
Contact: Kris Fister, 907-683-9583

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing major replacement and repairs of wastewater treatment facilities at the entrance area of Denali National Park and Preserve. The current system must be replaced because the groundwater aquifer below the existing percolation pond has high concentrations of nitrates and is out of compliance with clean water regulations.

Five alternatives are presented in the EA: a No Action alternative, the proposed action, and three other systems with different treatment and effluent discharge scenarios (wetland, leachfield, and river). The preferred alternative would utilize the site of the existing wastewater treatment lagoon and percolation pond (located on the north side of the Denali Park Road between the Wilderness Access Center and the Parks Highway) and replace what currently exists with a dual power multi-cell treatment system. Wastewater would be subjected to a UV disinfectant treatment. The treated and disinfected effluent would be discharged via a pipeline to an outfall on the Nenana River between May and September. Water quality would be monitored outside the river mixing zone in order to meet or exceed regulatory standards.

The new facility would operate year-round, and treat approximately 100,000 gallons of wastewater per day during peak season. In addition, sections of the sewage collection system between the Murie Science and Learning Center and wastewater treatment facility would be rehabilitated. If approved and funded, construction would take place in summer 2010.

The EA was completed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.9). The EA is available for public review and comment using the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) program located on the internet at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov.

The comment period for the EA will extend for 30 days, beginning on March 28, 2008 and ending April 28, 2008. To comment, please use the web page or write to the following addresses:

Attn: Richard L. Anderson
National Park Service
240 West 5th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501

Email: e-mail us

If you have any questions or need a copy of the EA, please contact Richard Anderson at [phone] or e-mail us.

-NPS-