News Release

Katmai Proposes Construction of the Research Bay Overlook

Date: February 6, 2019
Contact: Brian Smith, [phone]

Katmai has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the construction of an overlook platform at the Research Bay Overlook along the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road in Katmai National Park and Preserve. The project includes the following objectives: 

• Construction of a 12 foot by 20 foot viewing platform at the Research Bay overlook
• Construction of an access trail from Mile 8 of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road to the Research Bay overlook that is 150 foot long and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) accessibility standards
• Installation of interpretive signage on the viewing platform, and
• Improvements in safety conditions at the Research Bay overlook due to the elimination of social trails with potentially steep drop-offs and unimproved surfaces.

Project information can be viewed and written comments submitted using the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) system. You can provide comments electronically or mail them to the address listed below. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any other way than those specified above. Comments must be received by 9:59 pm Alaska time, February 18, 2019. 

Mail comments to:  

Brian Smith, Environmental Protection Specialist National Park Service 
240 West 5th Avenue 
Anchorage, AK 99501 

Public Comment Considerations 

• Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.
• Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information, be aware that your entire comment – including your personally identifiable information – may be made public at any time. You may ask us to withhold your personally identifiable information from public review, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
• The proposed project is an undertaking as outlined under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (36 CRF § 800). As such, we welcome comments about historic properties or other cultural resources that fall within the project area.