HR 586 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

113th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 586CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for certain improvements to the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 6, 2013CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for certain improvements to the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Denali National Park Improvement Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. KANTISHNA HILLS MICROHYDRO PROJECT; LAND EXCHANGE.

(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) APPURTENANCE- The term ‘appurtenance’ includes--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) transmission lines;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) distribution lines;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) signs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) buried communication lines;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) necessary access routes for microhydro project construction, operation, and maintenance; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) electric cables.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) KANTISHNA HILLS AREA- The term ‘Kantishna Hills area’ means the area of the Park located within 2 miles of Moose Creek, as depicted on the map.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) MAP- The term ‘map’ means the map entitled ‘Kantishna Hills Micro-Hydro Area’, numbered 184/80,276, and dated August 27, 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) MICROHYDRO PROJECT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘microhydro project’ means a hydroelectric power generating facility with a maximum power generation capability of 100 kilowatts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) INCLUSIONS- The term ‘microhydro project’ includes--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) intake pipelines, including the intake pipeline located on Eureka Creek, approximately 1/2 mile upstream from the Park Road, as depicted on the map;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) each system appurtenance of the microhydro projects; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) any distribution or transmission lines required to serve the Kantishna Hills area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) PARK- The term ‘Park’ means the Denali National Park and Preserve.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Permits for Microhydro Projects-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may issue permits for microhydro projects in the Kantishna Hills area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- Each permit under paragraph (1) shall be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) issued in accordance with such terms and conditions as are generally applicable to rights-of-way within units of the National Park System; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) COMPLETION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS- Not later than 180 days after the date on which an applicant submits an application for the issuance of a permit under this subsection, the Secretary shall complete any analysis required by the National Environment Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) of any proposed or existing microhydro projects located in the Kantishna Hills area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Land Exchange-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- For the purpose of consolidating ownership of Park and Doyon Tourism, Inc. lands, including those lands affected solely by the Doyon Tourism microhydro project, and subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary may exchange Park land near or adjacent to land owned by Doyon Tourism, Inc., located at the mouth of Eureka Creek in sec. 13, T.16 S., R. 18 W., Fairbanks Meridian, for approximately 18 acres of land owned by Doyon Tourism, Inc., within the Galena patented mining claim.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) MAP AVAILABILITY- The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) TIMING- The Secretary shall seek to complete the exchange under this subsection by not later than February 1, 2015.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) APPLICABLE LAWS; TERMS AND CONDITIONS- The exchange under this subsection shall be subject to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the laws (including regulations) and policies applicable to exchanges of land administered by the National Park Service, including the laws and policies concerning land appraisals, equalization of values, and environmental compliance; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) EQUALIZATION OF VALUES- If the tracts proposed for exchange under this subsection are determined not to be equal in value, an equalization of values may be achieved by adjusting the quantity of acres described in paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) ADMINISTRATION- The land acquired by the Secretary pursuant to the exchange under this subsection shall be administered as part of the Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE.

(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) APPURTENANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘appurtenance’ includes cathodic protection or test stations, valves, signage, and buried communication and electric cables relating to the operation of high-pressure natural gas transmission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) EXCLUSIONS- The term ‘appurtenance’ does not include compressor stations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PARK- The term ‘Park’ means the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Permit- The Secretary may issue right-of-way permits for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) a high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline (including appurtenances) in nonwilderness areas within the boundary of Denali National Park within, along, or near the approximately 7-mile segment of the George Parks Highway that runs through the Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) any distribution and transmission pipelines and appurtenances that the Secretary determines to be necessary to provide natural gas supply to the Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Terms and Conditions- A permit authorized under subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) may be issued only--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) if the permit is consistent with the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to utility rights-of-way within units of the National Park System;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in accordance with section 1106(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3166(a)); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) if, following an appropriate analysis prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the route of the right-of-way is the route through the Park with the least adverse environmental effects for the Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF THE WALTER HARPER TALKEETNA RANGER STATION.

(a) Designation- The Talkeetna Ranger Station located on B Street in Talkeetna, Alaska, approximately 100 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park, shall be known and designated as the ‘Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) References- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Talkeetna Ranger Station referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ‘Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink