State finalizes land plan amendments near Denali

images1  On January 20th, the State of Alaska issued a notice of adoption of the Tanana Basin Area Plan  Amendment.  The lands included in the document were from Cantwell, north to Anderson and west of  Cantwell on the Denali Highway.  The amendments were needed in order to convey lands from the state to the Denali Borough.

Some of the lands included in the amendment became controversial in the public process.  Two large parcels being considered were north of the Glitter Gulch area near Denali National Park’s entrance, and lands west of Healy on Stampede Trail. 

After soliciting public comment, the state decided NOT to include those lands in the conveyance. 

At their January meeting, the Denali Borough Assembly passed a resolution to have the Denali Borough Mayor appeal the state’s decision.   The Commissioner of D-N-R has 30 days to act on any requests for reconsideration.