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2022 Denali National Park Superintendent's Compendium
Denali National Park and Preserve » 2022 Denali National Park Superintendent's Compendium » Document List
Changes to the Superintendent's Compendium for 2022 are adopted with respect to the following:
13.980 Frontcountry Developed Area Closures and Restrictions
No Previous Language. Adopted New Language:
The following National Park Service administrative areas are closed to all public entry unless permission is granted by the Superintendent or their representative:
• Dog Kennels when not designated as open to the public. Public visitation hours will be posted.
• Employee Housing Areas
• Concession Housing Areas
• Maintenance and Facilities Storage areas
• Park Buildings not otherwise open to the public
All closed areas will be signed to this effect.
Why Change is Warranted:
The Superintendent has determined that these closures are necessary to provide government efficiency, ensure accountability of government equipment, reduce risk within the concessioner's land assignment, and provide a safe environment for employees.
13.50 Mask Wearing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Previous Language:
Physical Distancing and Mask Wearing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Individuals over the age of two years must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in the following locations:
1. All common areas and shared workspaces in buildings owned, rented or leased by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops and restaurants.
2. The following outdoor areas, when others are present, where the superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:
• The Frontcountry Developed Area, as defined in 36 CFR 13.970, when physical distancing is not possible
Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.
New Language:
Mask Wearing to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
When the COVID-19 Community Level is LOW or MEDIUM in the county or all the counties where the park is located based on data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals are not required to wear masks.
When the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH in the county or all the counties where the park is located based on data provided by the CDC, all individuals over the age of two must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, in all common areas and shared workspaces in buildings owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the National Park Service, including, but not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops and restaurants.
When the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH in one or more, but not all, of the counties where the park is located based on data provided by the CDC, the superintendent will determine whether individuals are required to wear masks. The requirement, if any, will apply to all facilities within the park.
Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.
Regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level, individuals may wear masks if they choose to do so. Where a state, local, tribal, or territorial government where the park is located imposes more protective mask-wearing requirements than those indicated by the COVID-19 Community Level, individuals must follow those more protective requirements within the park. More protective state, local, tribal, or territorial mask-wearing requirements are hereby adopted as federal requirements in all units of the National Park System located within that state, locality, area subject to a federally recognized Indian tribe's regulatory jurisdiction, or territory, regardless of a particular park's jurisdictional status.
Additionally, all individuals must wear masks in or on public transportation conveyances and transportation hubs/facilities, to the extent required by current orders or directives issued by the CDC, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or other federal agencies with jurisdiction over those conveyances or areas. As of March 4, 2022, CDC and TSA orders or directives require all individuals regardless of vaccination status to wear masks in indoor areas of all forms of public transportation conveyances, including busses, trains, and boats/ferries, and in the indoor premises of transportation
hubs/facilities. Individuals are not required to wear masks while outdoors on conveyances or while outdoors on the premises of transportation hubs/facilities.
Why Change is Warranted:
Pursuant to Executive Order 13991 of January 20, 2021, "Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing," federal agencies follow public health measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force to reduce the spread of COVID-19. On February 25, 2022, the CDC issued updated guidance for making decisions about COVID-19 prevention strategies related to COVID-19 Community Levels, which measure the impact of COVID-19 illness on community health and healthcare systems.
On February 28, 2022, based on this new CDC guidance, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued "Initial Implementation Guidance for Federal Agencies on COVID-19 Community Levels and Mask-Wearing," which provides federal agencies with guidance they should follow in utilizing the CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels to determine the appropriate mask-wearing and screening testing requirements for each federal facility at a given time. These changes adopted into the 2022 Superintendent's Compendium detail how the park will follow this updated guidance.
13.50 Closures or restrictions associated with road construction in 2022 and 2023
Planning for major construction on the Park Road during 2022 and 2023 in the Polychrome area is underway as of early 2022. Proposed temporary closures or restrictions to access on sections of the Park Road will be part of the overall planning process and may be incorporated into the Superintendent's Compendium at a later date and may require additional compliance. Public notification will occur with any closure or access restrictions.
The changes described above represent minor changes in amounts or types of visitor use for the purpose of ensuring visitor safety and resource protection in accordance with existing regulations.
A public comment period regarding proposed changes to the compendium was open from January 15, 2022 - February 15, 2022. No public comments were received during this time.
General information about park compendiums:
The Superintendent's Compendium is the summary of park specific rules implemented under the discretionary authority of the park Superintendent. The park compendium is updated annually and is a written compilation that addresses designations, closures, permit requirements, and other restrictions and/or specifications imposed under the discretionary authority of the superintendent. The Superintendent's Compendium is prepared in accordance with the delegated authority contained within the regulations in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I, Parts 1 through 7, as authorized by Title 54, United States Code, Section 100101 and 100751, and establishes regulatory provisions for Denali National Park and Preserve. Parts 1 through 6 are general regulations applicable to all areas of the National Park System, and Part 13 contains special regulations specific to individual parks in Alaska.
The park compendium does not contain those regulations found in 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and other United States Codes (U.S.C.) and CFR Titles which are enforced without further elaboration at the park level.
Regulations set forth in the Superintendent's Compendium are categorically excluded under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC 4321 et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508); U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) regulations (43 CFR Part 46); DOI Manual part 516; and NPS Director's Order 12 - Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-Making.