Press Release Jan 20, 2012

National Parks Conservation Association Praises Approval of Wrangell-St. Elias Nabesna Road Plan

Statement by Jim Stratton, Senior Regional Director for Alaska, National Parks Conservation Association

“The National Park Service’s approved plan for Nabesna Road in Wrangell-St. Elias ushers in a new approach to trail management. This new plan focuses on protecting the fragile tundra and the wetlands of the Wrangells while improving access for locals who use these trails for hunting, fishing, berry-picking, and traveling to their remote cabins.”

“It took more than four years to get to this point, and will most likely take a few more years to complete the work, but it’s absolutely worth it for Alaska citizens as well as the thousands of visitors who visit and explore Wrangell-St. Elias each year.”

“Another benefit of this plan is that the Wrangell-St. Elias hiking trail system will be expanded for all park visitors, creating new places to explore on foot while enjoying our country’s largest national park.”

Additional Information: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, referred to as the mountain kingdom of North America, is the largest unit in the National Park System. The park includes the continent’s largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks, above 16,000 feet, as well as Mount St. Elias, the second highest peak in the United States.

The Record of Decision can be viewed or downloaded from the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve website at https://www.nps.gov/wrst or at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/.

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About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than one million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.

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