Dan Creek Mining Plan of Operations (MPO) & RWCA (Tract WRST 30-103)

The National Park Service (NPS) is evaluating a proposal submitted by Mr. Randy Elliott for the purpose of accessing and conducting a gold placer mining operation on patented mining claims located on Dan Creek within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST). Elliott, the operator of the claims, submitted a Mining Plan of Operations (MPO) as required by Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 9A, Section 9.9, detailing his proposed means and methods.

The Dan Creek claims are privately-owned property which was patented in 1912 without surface use restrictions. This environmental assessment (EA) examines and analyzes the proposed mining plan and reasonable alternatives to ensure that it satisfies the requirements of 36 CFR 9.10, and would not significantly injure or adversely affect federally owned land.

The EA provides an overview of the proposed project and analyzes two alternatives and their impacts on the environment: Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, and Alternative 2, the Proposed Action Alternative to authorize access to Dan Creek and proposed mining operations with National Park Service stipulations. It has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500 et seq.)

Contact Information

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Attention: Danny Rosenkrans
PO Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573
(907) 822-7240, danny_rosenkrans@nps.gov