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RECENT ACTIONS FOR QUIET
Denali State Park, 12/27/07
It is time to take a different tack and look at South Denali development not as just another construction project, but as something that will offer a world class visitor experience while protecting the park natural resources for the future. This means doing the hard work, the politically challenging work, to fund what is necessary to accomplish this: purchase inholdings, fund biological and natural resource inventories, establish land use controls on development south of the park, and regulate activities within the park for the protection of wildlife and those seeking a South Denali experience without sight, sound or presence of motorized activity that will degrade the wildness of the area.
Chugach National Forest, 11/30/07
AQRC does not believe the Forest Service should grant a ten year permit to Chugach Powder Guides until all the information is in hand and the impacts of heli-skiing on wildlife is analyzed and appropriate modifications made to the existing mitigation measures. While the Forest Service may wish to accommodate the financial interests of this permittee, we believe it has an equal, if not greater, responsibility to the wildlife on its lands which are affected by the activities it authorizes.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
BLM White Mountains NRA OHV Amendment. The following are the belated scoping comments of the Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition on the proposed RMP amendment dealing with summer OHV use in the White Mountains NRA.
AQRC provides comments about unrestricted OHV use in the area and that there are no specific opportunities for non-motorized reaction.
AQRC supports the creation of the Salmon Lake/Kiguaik SRMA which offers the only opportunities for quiet recreation in the Draft. Our organization does see the need for conflict resolution concerning Squirrel River, where commercial guiding/hunting operations conflict with quieter subsistence and recreational use by the locals.
AQRC does not support additional motorized OHV use in the Tangle Lakes Archeological District (TLAD). More specifically developing spur trails, linking trails, and creating new routes would eliminate opportunities for natural quiet and cause damage in the area that proposed maintenance does not address. There are many complex issues that encompass this area and BLM has developed some positive solutions and deserves to be commended, but the TLAD lands deserve special, unwavering protections, rather than so-called "protections" that are subject to periodic weakening when OHV ownership increases.
AQRC supports limited OHV use in the Bay planning region in response to opening the area to wholesale mineral exploration and extraction.
National Park Service (NPS)
AQRC provides comments on the proposed South Denali visitor and transportation centers and the impacts of industrial tourism in the area.
AQRC provides comments on the NPS plan for backcountry management highlighting concerns about snowmachining and flightseeings effect on the natural soundscape and how the plan conflicts with current laws and regulations.
AQRC suggests that Off Highway vehicles should be limited to traditional use and not recreational use in order to minimize the impact on the lands located in Glacier Bay National Park
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State of Alaska
AQRC addresses two state legislators concerning SB 197 and HB 307 by providing comments about unrestricted OHV and weapon use in the legislation and advocates for non-motorized reaction in the Knick River area.
United States Forest Service (USFS)-Chugach National Forest
While AQRC acknowledges that gravel extraction can take place in the northern edge of the gravel deposits due to natural noise buffers in the area. The current proposed action for the Spencer Mineral Site does not allow for a recreationist, using the Whistle Stop, to experience the backcountry without the noise of the mining operation.
AQRC comments on the Whistle Stop Plan and the substantial impacts it may have on the Chugach National Forest: increased mining; use of State land at Grandview; disrupting a natural brown bear corridor; the impact of increased commercial tourism in the area; and the effect they all may have on natural quiet.
AQRC comments on the awarding of commercial snowmachining outfitter/guide permits for the Twenty Mile River and voices their concern about the effect on natural quiet.
AQRC supports the Forest Service's Alternative 1 in the DEIS, which allows the entire Resurrection trail to be open to motorized vehicles during alternating seasons, with specific modifications
In a letter to the Chugach National Forest Supervisor AQRC comments on the Kenai Winter Access Plan and notes that upon nearing the end of the comment process we find that the fundamental need for quiet is not being accommodated in the current plan.
After reading the comments if you would like more information and access to a map of the concerned area, please go to the following link Alaska Center for the Environment Kenai Winter Access Plan information.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
AQRC supports the efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide more wildlife viewing opportunities and supports Alternative B (the Preferred Alternative).
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Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition
