Telecommunication Facilities in Wilderness

The National Park Service is considering actions to establish or upgrade telecommunications systems at several locations and add new weather stations in Denali National Park and Preserve. Some locations in the park have had telecommunication facilities for decades, and weather instruments have been tried on Mt. McKinley for twenty years. Testing of some new sites for remote repeaters has led to a plan for improved coverage for the park radio system, for in-park internet connections, and for voice connections. Radio communications are spotty in several locations along the Denali Park Road, and agency and public programs are becoming more web-based and staff at remote locations need to have secure access to the internet. New telecommunication and weather installations are needed to improve park operations for visitor protection and services, resources management, research, education, park administration and facilities maintenance.

The Environmental Assessment evaluates two action alternatives. The preferred alternative would keep the microwave wireless repeater sites in wilderness that have been recently tested, while moving repeater equipment out of the historic Herning Cabin to a nearby spot on the Mt. Eielson bench. This alternative would also authorize fixed weather stations at 16,200 feet and 17,200 feet on Mt. McKinley. The other action alternative would move the Herning Cabin equipment to a peak west of the Muldrow Glacier and would only authorize one weather station on Mt. McKinley. Both alternatives would authorize a new weather station to be placed in the Toklat Basin north of the Old Park boundary.

Contact Information

Please submit your comments on this project site.

Comments and questions may also be directed to:
Steve Carwile, Compliance Officer
Denali National Park and Preserve
907-644-3612
steve_carwile@nps.gov