Hatcher Pass Management Plan Revision
Copies of the Hatcher
Pass Management Plan Now Available
at the Atwood Building Public
Information Center
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW), has initiated a planning process to revise the Hatcher Pass Management Plan (management plan). The management plan will cover both the East and West sides of Hatcher Pass (Miles 8 to 37, Hatcher Pass Road), including Independence Mine State Historical Park, Summit Lake State Recreation Site, Bald Mountain Ridge, Government Peak, Mile 16 Ski Run, Archangel Creek, Reed Lakes, Little Susitna River, Craigie Creek, Lucky Shot and Willow Mountain areas. The revised plan may include additional areas of state land to reflect new use patterns.
The purpose of the Hatcher Pass Management Plan is to provide the basis for decision-making on the management of land and resources on state and borough lands within the plan boundary. It is used by DMLW and the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) as the basis for overall area management and, by DPOR, in daily operational decisions. Borough land is also affected by the recommendations of the plan. DMLW and DPOR are working jointly to revise this management plan and will coordinate with the Borough throughout the plan revision process.
This management plan needs to be revised because it is outdated and no longer reflects the current use patterns and land ownership status. It has also been very difficult for either DMLW or DPOR to make management decisions and needs to be updated for the purpose of providing better guidance to both divisions as well. The original plan was finalized in 1986 and amended in 1989. A management plan is usually valid for a planning period of about 15 to 20 years. Plan revisions are usually undertaken by the DMLW at the end of this planning period or when conditions and initial planning assumptions have significantly changed. Both of these conditions exist within this management area.
Current and Previous Management Plans:
1989 Hatcher Pass Management Plan Amendment
1986 Hatcher Pass Management Plan
Plan Revision Process:
To provide a better understanding of this process, the major steps in plan revision follow:
- Gather Information. Information is collected about natural resources, land use and land ownership, recreational and other use patterns, cultural and mineral resources, and wildlife and habitat patterns. (A great deal of this is done in the beginning, but also occurs throughout the planning process.)
- Identify Issues. Public scoping meetings were held to learn about local interests and issues with state land. This also helped to get the word out that the planning process has begun. The meetings were held in late March and early April.
- Prepare Public Review Draft. Using resource information that has been gathered, an analysis of use patterns and resource conflicts, as well as public and agency comments, a draft plan is prepared for public review. This is likely to occur in December.
- Public Review Period. The Public Review Draft is made available, and public meetings are held to discuss the draft, receive comments, and identify parts that may need to be changed. A 60-day review period will be provided for public comment.
- Review Responses. Based on a review of comments received during the public review period, DNR determines if changes to the draft plan is warranted. An issue-response summary is prepared that identifies all substantive issues, identifies DNR’s response to those issues, and, if appropriate, recommends revisions to the draft plan.
- Adoption by Commissioner of DNR. The draft plan plus the changes recommended in the issue-response summary are adopted by the Commissioner. Following a final appeal period, the plan is then finalized and becomes the basis for management decisions on state land and borough land in the planning area.
Note: It is also likely that changes to state regulations governing the Generally Allowed Uses on state land (11 AAC 96.014) will be necessary. If so, it is intended that changes to the current regulations affecting the plan area will occur concurrently with the plan revision process. A similar review process will be used.
Public Scoping:
DMLW conducted
the public scoping phase for this project throughout 2009. During
that phase, DNR held multiple public meetings and meetings with
interest groups and gained insight into the current issues that
affect the public use of the Hatcher Pass Management Plan area.
Public involvement has been an essential aspect to our planning
process. It helped us to identify the current patterns of use,
learn about public concerns, and obtain recommendations from
the public about future management strategies for the area.
DMLW has completed
the public comment period of the Public Review Draft, which was
released on March 1st, 2010. Three public meetings were held
in Willow, Wasilla, and Anchorage. They were attended by over
150 people and nearly 70 people provided public testimony. Over
1,300 comments were received throughout the public comment period.
Public Meetings:
There are
no public meetings scheduled at this time.
Current Plan Status:
Currently, DMLW
is reviewing the numerous public comments received throughout the
public comment period. Once a thorough review has been completed,
we will release an Issue Response Summary to address public concerns.
The plan will then be updated where necessary and sent to the commissioner
for review and approval.
Submittal of Comments:
The
public comment period for the Public Review Draft ended. The public is
welcome to continue to submit comments at any time. We prefer that
these comments be submitted in electronic form via the comment
section on this page. This will permit individuals and groups to
submit comments directly to the staff revising the plan. Of course,
email, fax, and written comments may also be submitted. If you
would like to mail in your comment please use the mail in comment
form available on this webpage.
Agency Contact:
For questions and comments regarding this management plan, and to submit comments via email, fax, or mail, contact:
Philana Miles, Land Use Planner
Department of Natural Resources
Hatcher Pass Management Plan
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Email: dnr.mlw.hpmp@alaska.gov
Phone: (907) 269-8529
Fax: (907) 269-8915
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550 West 7th Ave, Suite 1050
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3579
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Div. of Forestry Plans
