Pub. L. 113-33

US - Public Laws

Pub. L. 113-33

Pub. L. 113-33 - Denali National Park Improvement Act

113th Congress

Affects: 16 U.S.C. §§ 3166; 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Denali National Park Improvement Act”.

SEC. 2. KANTISHNA HILLS MICROHYDRO PROJECT; LAND EXCHANGE.

(a) In this section:

(a)(1) The term “appurtenance” includes—

(a)(1)(A) transmission lines;

(a)(1)(B) distribution lines;

(a)(1)(C) signs;

(a)(1)(D) buried communication lines;

(a)(1)(E) necessary access routes for microhydro project construction, operation, and maintenance; and

(a)(1)(F) electric cables.

(a)(2) The term “Kantishna Hills area” means the area of the Park located within 2 miles of Moose Creek, as depicted on the map.

(a)(3) The term “map” means the map entitled “Kantishna Hills Micro-Hydro Area”, numbered 184/80,276, and dated August 27, 2010.

(a)(4)(A) The term “microhydro project” means a hydroelectric power generating facility with a maximum power generation capability of 100 kilowatts.

(a)(4)(B) The term “microhydro project” includes—

(a)(4)(B)(i) intake pipelines, including the intake pipeline located on Eureka Creek, approximately ½ mile upstream from the Park Road, as depicted on the map;

(a)(4)(B)(ii) each system appurtenance of the microhydro projects; and

(a)(4)(B)(iii) any distribution or transmission lines required to serve the Kantishna Hills area.

(a)(5) The term “Park” means the Denali National Park and Preserve.

(a)(6) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(b) 127 STAT. 515

(b)(1) The Secretary may issue permits for microhydro projects in the Kantishna Hills area.

(b)(2) Each permit under paragraph (1) shall be—

(b)(2)(A) issued in accordance with such terms and conditions as are generally applicable to rights-of-way within units of the National Park System; and

(b)(2)(B) subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.

(b)(3) Not later than 180 days after the date on which an applicant submits an application for the issuance of a permit under this subsection, the Secretary shall complete any analysis required by the National Environment Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) of any proposed or existing microhydro projects located in the Kantishna Hills area.

(c)(1) For the purpose of consolidating ownership of Park and Doyon Tourism, Inc. lands, including those lands affected solely by the Doyon Tourism microhydro project, and subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary may exchange Park land near or adjacent to land owned by Doyon Tourism, Inc., located at the mouth of Eureka Creek in sec. 13, T.16 S., R. 18 W., Fairbanks Meridian, for approximately 18 acres of land owned by Doyon Tourism, Inc., within the Galena patented mining claim.

(c)(2) The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(c)(3) The Secretary shall seek to complete the exchange under this subsection by not later than February 1, 2015.

(c)(4) The exchange under this subsection shall be subject to—

(c)(4)(A) the laws (including regulations) and policies applicable to exchanges of land administered by the National Park Service, including the laws and policies concerning land appraisals, equalization of values, and environmental compliance; and

(c)(4)(B) such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.

(c)(5) If the tracts proposed for exchange under this subsection are determined not to be equal in value, an equalization of values may be achieved by adjusting the quantity of acres described in paragraph (1).

(c)(6) The land acquired by the Secretary pursuant to the exchange under this subsection shall be administered as part of the Park.

SEC. 3. DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE.

(a) In this section:

(a)(1)(A) The term “appurtenance” includes cathodic protection or test stations, valves, signage, and buried communication and electric cables relating to the operation of high-pressure natural gas transmission.

(a)(1)(B) The term “appurtenance” does not include compressor stations.

(a)(2) The term “Park” means the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska.

(a)(3) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(b) The Secretary may issue right-of-way permits for—

(b)(1) a high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline (including appurtenances) in nonwilderness areas within the boundary of Denali National Park within, along, or near the approximately 7-mile segment of the George Parks Highway that runs through the Park; and

(b)(2) any distribution and transmission pipelines and appurtenances that the Secretary determines to be necessary to provide natural gas supply to the Park.

(c)(1) may be issued only—

(c)(1)(A) if the permit is consistent with the laws (including regulations) generally applicable to utility rights-of-way within units of the National Park System;

(c)(1)(B) in accordance with section 1106(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3166(a)); and

(c)(1)(C) if, following an appropriate analysis prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the route of the right-of-way is the route through the Park with the least adverse environmental effects for the Park; and

(c)(2) shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary.

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF THE WALTER HARPER TALKEETNA RANGER STATION.

(a) The Talkeetna Ranger Station located on B Street in Talkeetna, Alaska, approximately 100 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park, shall be known and designated as the “Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station”.

(b) Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Talkeetna Ranger Station referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station”.

Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 157 (H.R. 586):

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 159 (2013):

June 19, considered and passed Senate.

Sept. 10, considered and passed House.