Draft User's Guide to Accessing Inholdings in a National Park Service Area in Alaska (Revised, March 27th, 2006)

Within Alaska's national park units, there are more than 1.6 million acres of land owned by private individuals and corporations, the state of Alaska and local governments. These owners and other valid occupants are entitled to adequate and feasible access to their property, but the process of obtaining legal access across public land has never been well described in a single document.

In 2005, the NPS released for public review a draft user's guide to help landowners and others understand the process to authorize access across park areas. More than 40 comment letters were received from individuals, corporations and governments; in addition, four public meetings were held with more than 60 people participating. This release of the second draft follows commitments made in public meetings for additional review before a policy document is finalized. This draft includes significant changes based on those comments.

The guide is an outcome of conversations held in 2004 among U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, and NPS Alaska Regional Director Marcia Blaszak.

The draft described how landowners and valid occupants can secure rights under Section 1110(b) of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). This section addresses motorized access to inholdings, as well as access that would require improvements such as construction or maintenance of a road, power line, or landing strip, or similar undertakings on publicly owned park land. Access by airplane, boat, snowmachine and various methods of non-motorized travel not requiring improvements generally does not require a permit.

Document Content:

Draft User's Guide to Accessing Inholdings in a National Park Service Area in Alaska   (76.7 KB, PDF file) Draft User's Guide - Cover Letter   (30.6 KB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.