Commercial Use Authorization Stipulations

2025 Park Specific Stipulations
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

P.O. Box 220 - 214 Front Street - Nome, AK 99762 - 907-443-2522 phone - 907-443-6139 fax

The following specific provisions (in addition to the National and Regional Conditions of the Authorization), are applicable to those commercial activities and areas authorized through a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA):

APPLICABLE TO ALL

MANAGEMENT FEE

1. $100 per year of authorization for Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.

GENERAL

2. CUA holders shall inform clients about traditional hunting practices in the Preserve and the importance of respecting these local traditions utilizing educational materials provided by the NPS.

3. Do not interfere with the activities of people engaged in subsistence activities. Do not disturb camps and subsistence gear, such as fish nets.

4. Archeological, Paleontological resources and human remains are protected under the Archeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) and Paleontological Resource Protection Act (PRPA). Disturbing, defacement and unpermitted excavation or removal is illegal.
   
   If human remains are encountered, do not disturb them. If possible, note the location with GPS coordinates or on a map. Contact the park archaeologist or Resource Program Manager (907-443-6104 or 907-442-8331) as soon as possible.

5. Except in case of emergency, the use of emergency public shelter cabins in support of commercial activities is prohibited.

WILDLIFE

6. Ringed seals are protected by NOAA under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The CUA holder will remain watchful for ringed seals and take care not to affect their activities in any way. To the extent consistent with safety and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other applicable laws and regulations, NPS strongly recommends that: (a) aircraft detour around any areas where ringed seals are likely to occur, including areas of shore fast ice; (b) if seals are spotted do not fly toward, follow, hover over or circle them, and (c) immediately ascend to a higher flight path or veer away if seals appear to be startled in any way. For resource protection purposes, adverse disturbance to seals may result in revocation of this CUA. Be especially watchful in the areas around Cape Espenberg. Report any disturbance to the Resources Program Manager at [phone] or (907() 443-2522.

7. The CUA holder must take adequate precautions to prevent wildlife (especially bears) from associating humans with food, pursuant to the Superintendent’s Compendium and Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2.10(d). The Superintendent of the Area has determined that in order to protect public safety and prevent adverse impacts to wildlife, conditions are placed on storage of food, garbage, harvested fish, and equipment used to cook or store food throughout the park.
   
   Allowing wildlife to approach or investigate property (i.e. your gear, tripods, cameras, backpack, food or water containers, etc.) increases the potential for them to obtain human food and increases the risk of these animals developing unnatural behavior. Attempt to dissuade the animal by yelling, banging pots together, and/or stomping your feet.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

8. The holder must remove all trash and garbage, including tissue paper and sanitary items, generated by their activities within the Preserve.

9. When the ground is not frozen, human feces must be either packed out or deposited in a “cathole” dug 6-8 inches deep in soil at least 100 feet from any water source, shoreline, campsite or trail. When the ground is frozen, human feces must be disposed over at least 100 feet from any water source and covered with snow or packed out.

AIR TAXI AND TRANSPORTER REPORTING

10. Further to Interior Region 11 Reporting Condition #15, Air Taxi operators, Big Game Transporters, and Incidental Hunt Transporters must include GPS coordinates for the drop off and pick up locations of clients, equipment, and each species harvested (if applicable). GPS coordinates must be accurate to within ¼ mile of the actual landing location. The holder must report all transportation, including transportation provided to hunters, their equipment or game. Big Game Transporters must also enter corresponding State of Alaska Big Game Commercial Services Board Transporter Activity Report numbers in the Visitor Use Reporting system (VURn).

11. Further to Interior Region 11 Reporting Condition #15, all licensed Big Game Transporters must submit copies of their State of Alaska Big Game Commercial Services Board Transporter Activity Reports (TARs). GPS coordinates, accurate to within ¼ mile of the actual landing location, must be included on each TAR. Reports must be submitted to [e-mail] on or before November 15^th.

ACTIVITY SPECIFIC STIPULATIONS - AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS

12. All pilots must have current first aid and CPR certification.

13. All pilots must have Title 14, Part 135 certification.

14. All airplanes must be currently licensed, operated, maintained and operated in conformance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

15. When transporting hazardous materials such as stove fuel or bear spray, the holder must use a USDOT approved container and packaging and follow the hazmat guidelines for safe handling, transportation, and storage. The CUA holder must carry a spill kit onboard each aircraft that includes absorbent pads, a shovel and doubled plastic bags to remove and transport contaminated material when transporting hazardous materials.

16. Loading or unloading passengers or cargo from aircraft must be done only when engine(s) are completely shut down. "Hot loading" or "hot unloading" of passengers or cargo is prohibited.

AIRSTRIPS

17. Utilization of Preserve landing areas/airstrips is at the pilot's discretion.

18. The construction of new landing areas is not authorized. Digging or leveling the ground is prohibited.

19. The enlargement or expansion of existing landing areas and gravel bars, including brushing or clearing of vegetation is prohibited without prior written authorization from the Superintendent. Brushing of vegetation* smaller than 3 inches in diameter, at ground height, is allowed without prior permission in order to maintain the size of existing landing areas.
    
    *Vegetation must be removed to ground height. Only hand tools (no portable motors) may be used for clearing vegetation without prior written authorization from the Superintendent.

ACTIVITY SPECIFIC STIPULATIONS - GUIDED BACKPACKING, GUIDED HIKING, BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

20. All commercial trips, including commercially guided campsites, shall be limited to a group size of 8. Group size is defined as all guides, other employees, clients, and guests of any CUA holder within a one-half mile radius.

21. Permanent or semi-permanent camps are not allowed. After a camp has remained in one location for 14 consecutive calendar days in a given season (whether it is an entire calendar day or only a portion thereof), the same CUA holder may not reestablish a camp in the same location for at least five days. Location is defined as all points within a 2 mile radius of the first night’s campsite. Camps must be documented in the activity report. If possible, GPS locations are preferred.

22. Camps shall not remain vacant more than 24 hours. The establishment of a camp, camping or staging area without clients physically in camp is limited to one day prior to the arrival of the clients and one day after the departure of the clients. The initial setup day and the departure day count toward the total of 14 calendar days.

23. Guides are responsible for ensuring that all members of the trip follow LNT guidelines (https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles) and adhere to all regulations and policies for waste management and sanitation, backcountry travel, and camping.

24. All food and garbage at the campsite must be contained in bear resistant containers when it is not being prepared or consumed. See 36 CFR 2.10(d). A list of approved bear resistant containers can be obtained at www.igbconline.org. A bear fence is recommended in conjunction with bear resistant containers. Report all human-bear conflicts to Park staff at [phone] as soon as possible.

25. Only dead wood from the ground may be collected for use as fuel for campfires. Live trees, standing dead wood, leaning dead wood or wood associated with historic structures or historic features may not be collected for any reason.

SERPENTINE HOT SPRINGS

26. Use of the bunkhouse at Serpentine Hot Springs for commercial overnight stays is prohibited. Commercial overnight trips are required to camp. Camping on the airstrip is prohibited.

27. The CUA holder group may cook in the center area or on one side of the bunkhouse.

28. Commercial operators and their clients must use the outhouse at Serpentine Hot Springs or carry out all solid human waste and toilet paper. Cleanwaste, Restop and other commercial privy systems approved for landfill disposal are appropriate.