An Environmental Assessment evaluating issuance of a Right-of-Way Certificate of Access (RWCA) for the North Johnson Tract within Lake Clark National Park is now available for public comment. The primary purpose and need of the proposed project is to provide access across the park's North Johnson Tract lands to the subsurface land owner Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) and their lessee, HighGold for purposes of subsurface mineral exploration. CIRI and HighGold, requested a RWCA under section 1110(b) of Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) for mineral exploration. The subsurface rights to the North Johnson Tract are owned by CIRI while the surface rights are managed by the NPS as part of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. RWCAs are permits issued by the NPS to private land holders to cross NPS lands to access private lands within parks and preserves established by ANILCA. The National Park Service's preferred alternative proposes an eight-year seasonal permit that would allow helicopter access and exploratory drilling for up to 150 days between June 1 and October 31 annually. Comments are open from September 16, 2020 through October 16, 2020.
Contact Information
Susanne Green
907-781-3080