Re-Opening Comment Period on Proposed Regulations

Date: January 15, 2015

Alaska National Parks News Release

For Immediate Release: January 15, 2015

Contact: Rebecca Talbott, [e-mail], 907.644.3371

Re-Opening Comment Period on Proposed Regulations

The National Park Service is re-opening the public comment period on proposed regulations which focus on the sport hunting of wildlife in Alaska's national preserves. The comment period will run from January 15 through February 15, 2015.

The proposed regulations also include some non-wildlife provisions, including changes to the process used in making closures. None of the proposals restricts federally qualified subsistence hunting and fishing done under the regulations stemming from Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

The National Park Service proposed the regulations on September 4, 2014, and accepted comments for 90 days, through December 3, 2014. The comment period is being re-opened in response to requests which sought additional time for comments.

Links to the proposed regulations and an environmental assessment are available on the National Park Service's web site:  www.nps.gov/akso/management/regulations.cfm.  Instructions on how to comment on the proposed regulation and the environmental assessment are also at that location.

A printed copy of the proposal is available by request in writing to: NPS Regulations, 240 W. 5^th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. Comments may also be submitted in writing or hand-delivered to the same address.

Other opportunities for commenting on the proposal are also planned. A dial-in public hearing will be held on January 29 from 12pm-2pm. The toll-free number is 1-888-957-9843. Enter the passcode 6859267 when prompted. An operator will moderate the call, speakers will have up to three minutes per person, and comments will be recorded for the record.

Additionally, comments may also be provided orally or in writing during one of several public meetings which are being held by national parks in Alaska as part of their annual outreach related to park compendiums. Several of the park compendiums propose temporary closures that mirror restrictions that are proposed for the permanent regulation. The compendiums also cover a range of other topics such as camping, adoption of local or state burn bans, and the use of unmanned aircraft.  

Those hearing dates and locations are as follows:

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
Eagle:  Wednesday, January 21, 7-8:30pm, Eagle School

Denali National Preserve
Denali Park:  Thursday, January 22, 5-7pm, Murie Science and Learning Center

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
Nome:  Monday, January 26, 6-7:30pm, 214 Front Street, Beringia Room in Nome 

Gates of the Arctic National Preserve
Bettles:  Monday, January 26, 5:30-7:00pm, Bettles Ranger Station

Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve
Copper Center:  Tuesday, January 27, 4-6pm, Wrangell-St. Elias Headquarters Administrative Building. Also available by teleconference -- contact Barbara Cellarius for call-in information at 907-822-7236 or e-mail us.

Lake Clark National Preserve
Port Alsworth:  Wednesday, January 28, 6-7:30 pm, NPS Visitor Center

Katmai National Preserve
Aniakchak National Preserve
Naknek:  Monday, February 9, 7-9pm, Naknek Native Village Council Building (Dolly's Hall)

Noatak National Preserve
Kotzebue:  Wednesday, February 11, 6-7:30pm, Heritage Center

Dial In Teleconference                  
Thursday, January 29, 12-2pm, 1-888-957-9843. Passcode:  6859267