Regional Report
DENALI N.P., Alaska—The National Park Service purchased the controversial Spruce Creek inholding in Denali in February, concluding an arduous, four-year process. NPS nearly purchased the 20-acre mining claim in 1997 when two businessmen outbid them and announced plans to build a commercial tourism facility. The new owners planned to construct a 10-mile road across national park land to reach their property, claiming the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act guaranteed them this right. NPCA was instrumental in proving that building new roads across parkland was not the intent of the law, advocating the purchase of the property by NPS as the best solution. The owners agreed and settled on a purchase agreement with NPS. Had the land's previous owners been successful in building a road across national park land, a dangerous precedent would have been set, as there are thousands of private inholdings scattered throughout Alaska's national parks, said Joan Frankevich, acting NPCA Alaska regional director.
CANYONLANDS N.P., Utah—A search for oil is under way on land between Canyonlands and Arches national parks in Utah. As part of the Bush administration's energy plan to increase development on federal land, 50,000-pound trucks have been thumping the ground between the parks, searching for oil with seismic measuring instruments. Oil companies have purchased leases to drill outside Canyonlands. Administration officials say the impact on the environment and park visitors will be minimal, but park officials fear the exploration will negatively affect the fragile soil surrounding the parks, and that exploration equipment will mar the parks' views.
