wood
Current News


 Plans and Projects Underway

Revision of Kennecott Interim Operations Plan (IOP)
Give your input: Meg Jensen, Superintendent of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, announced December 13th, 2010 that the revision process for the Kennicott Interim Management Plan has begun (read the official announcement here). A document created in 2001 with significant community input, the Interim Management Plan is the primary guiding document for management of Kennecott. The Interim Operations Plan is available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/wrst under “Kennecott Rehabilitation, Maintenance, and Operations Plan and EA”. Highlighted text indicates how NPS intends to revise sections of the plan, as well as an indication of new issues that will be covered.

Now is the time for all interested parties to comment on the process that will significantly affect the long term future of development in Kennecott. Review the plan and then visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov to comment. Park Planner Bruce Rogers can be reached at (907) 822-7276 or Bruce_Rogers@nps.gov. Please note: official deadline for public scoping comments has been extended to February 15th, 2011.

Following this scoping phase, The Park will prepare a new draft Kennecott Operations Plan for additional public review. The draft Operations Plan will be accompanied by an Environmental Assessment, which addresses (among other things) the legal framework for the Plan, alternatives, and an analysis of the potential impacts of the alternatives. After seeking comments from the public on the Draft Operations Plan, the Park will publish a final Kennecott Operations Plan designed to guide Park Service activities in the next 10-15 years.

View comments on the Kennecott Interim Operations Plan revision submitted separately by the Friends of Kennicott and the McCarthy Area Council’s Sub-Committee.

 

Kennecott Millsite Covenants
Revision of the Kennicott Millsite Covenants is in process. Please contact Geoff Bleakley of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve for questions, comments and revisions. He can be reached at (907)822-7234 or Geoff_Bleakley@nps.gov

Check back soon for updates on this project.


Important Dates & announcements

February 23, 2011
Public meeting in Anchorage
Public meeting will be held at 7pm at the Campbell Creek Science Center to discuss the National Park Service proposal to revise the 2001 INTERIM OPERATIONS PLAN for the KENNECOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

The Kennecott site, mined for its copper in the early 1900s, is in the center of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, approximately 5 miles from where the McCarthy Road ends at the Kennecott River. In 1998, the NPS acquired 2,839 acres, including much of the historic mill town, the subsurface rights to the mine, and the surrounding natural area. The revision of the Interim Operations Plan will be accompanied by an Environmental Assessment. The meeting will begin with a presentation by STEVE PETERSON, Senior Historic Architect for the Alaska Region NPS who will present a Kennecott overview, including background leading up to NPS acquisition, NPS stabilization and restoration accomplishments to date, and proposed stabilization projects for the site. Following Steve's presentation will be an update on the proposed revision of the Kennecott Interim Operations Plan, past planning efforts on the site, and how the two are related. These presentations will be followed by a question and answer session. For more information, contact Bruce Rogers at 907-822-7276.
Return to top              

Other News
Friends of Kennicott is assisting the NPS and the Wrangell Mountains Center in crafting a new operational agreement for management of the Recreation Hall to continue all parties’ commitment to the non-profit partnership concept.  Friends is also reacquainting the park staff and the community with the administrative history of the Landmark and participating in the revision of the Kennecott Interim Operations Plan.



Return to top