News Release

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Invites Public Comment on the Kennecott Operations and Management Plan

Date: September 14, 2023
Contact: Carrie Wittmer, 907-822-7255

COPPER CENTER, AK – Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) invites comments on the Kennecott Operations and Management Plan (KOMP) through November 10, 2023. 

The 2013 Kennecott Operations Plan (KOP) provided guidance for the National Park Service (NPS) to manage NPS-owned portions of the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark (KNHL).  The review of the 2013 KOP began in 2018 and was completed in the spring of 2023, concluding with a letter from the Superintendent and a public meeting.  The review identified that there are numerous tough issues regarding off-road and passenger vehicles; noise; dust; human waste; visitor or "guest" experience, parking, transportation, and safety that do not have clear cut solutions and will benefit from input. The 2023 KOMP will provide goals for the next 10-20 years to help guide management of NPS-owned lands within the Kennicott Subdivision, which is inside the boundaries of the KNHL.   

The draft KOMP is available for comment through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) portal at: ParkPlanning - Revised Kennecott Operations and Management Plan, 2023 (nps.gov).  Comments will only be accepted electronically through the PEPC portal through November 10, 2023. To comment, open the webpage, click the tab to the left that says, "Open for Public Comment (1)," and provide your comments on that page.  Only provide comments on the KOMP, pages 1-13; appendix A is a supporting document only. Thank you for your support and feedback.