United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Mile 106.8 Richardson Hwy. P.O. Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573-0439
907 822 5234 Fax 907 822 7216
April 26th 2012
Dear McCarthy/Kennecott community,
In order for you to be better informed about planned National Park Service activities in the McCarthy/Kennicott area, I
would like to maintain the park tradition of sending you all a Spring Community Letter. I know that successful
management of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is directly linked to a healthy relationship between the
NPS and local communities. We are committed to regular communication regarding management of your public lands
and resources and will continue to actively seek your input.
I have already travelled out to McCarthy/Kennecott twice this spring and enjoyed meeting many of you at the recent
McCarthy Area Council meeting recently. I plan to be out your way again soon and look forward to meeting and working
with many of you.
Kennecott Stabilization (Maintenance):
Work will be conducted to stabilize the foundation of the Mill Building this summer. The NPS has contracted Twin Peaks
to do the drilling and anchoring of the cribbing walls from level one through level seven. This will include both interior
and exterior crib walls. Interior columns and trusses will also be repaired as part of this contract within these levels
along with the removal of ore from the upper ore bin. Due to the risk and hazards to visitors, the mill will be closed to
tours on July 10th through the end of the season. This could also affect the access to the General Manager’s Office.
Blasting cap mitigation will take place on the North side of the mill about mid-level where the service track enters the
mill. This is an old scatter, of blasting caps, outside of the mill from previous mining activity that was discovered in 2011
by NPS. This clean-up will involve raking, sifting and hand picking spent fuse and potential unexploded caps. Work will
take place August 6th and may continue to September 1st. Guards will be stationed to keep visitor traffic flowing past the
site.
A second blasting cap clean-up will take place behind the Leaching Plant. Due to the size of the scatter, NPS proposes to
consolidate the debris and bury it in the existing site. A geotextile fabric will be used to cover the debris, and then will
be covered with clean soils. This work will begin around mid-September. No visitor impact expected.
NPS will continue foundation stabilization of the West Bunkhouse, visitor access is restricted.
NPS will start foundation repairs to the South Sacking Shed of the Leaching Plant. This will involve excavation of the
foundation, jacking, concrete and foundation construction. The main visitor access door will be closed for the season.
Work on the Power Plant will include: Repair of the windows on the clerestory and ground level, painting the entire
structure, and applying a protective coating to the boilers and stacks. This work will involve scaffolding and a large man
lift to gain access for these repairs and maintenance activities. Access to the building may be limited due to positioning
of the man lift.
The road side cribbing will be replaced between the Machine Shop and the Power Plant. This may not take place until
late summer due to multi construction projects on that side of town.
We plan to drill a new water well to replace or supplement the existing low production well at NPS West Side
Development Site. The existing well only produces one half gallon per minute which does not meet NPS requirements.
The new well will be located adjacent to the existing well.
We are also planning to conduct a geomorphology study in the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark for the
purpose of drilling up to two potable water wells. This study will determine the best location for a producing well thus
minimizing disturbance in the NHL. The geomorphology study and well drilling will take place the summer of 2012.
Work at National Creek will finish with work on the flood wall by the foot bridge. There will be foot access to the creek,
from Silk Stocking Row, when the work is done.
Other maintenance activities include: Set up communications and power at the airport office. General road and trail
maintenance. A painting crew will prep and paint NPS buildings on the West McCarthy Development Site. For further
information contact Jon Colson, jon_colson@nps.gov, 907-960-1006
Interpretation:
The 2012 season will bring more fine-tuning to the Kennecott interpretation operation. Our opening dates will be Friday
May 25 through Labor Day or September 3, 2012. This year the Kennecott Visitor Center will have new daily operational
hours. We will be open 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 PM seven days a week. We will start opening the historic buildings by 9:30
am and they will close shortly after 7:00 PM each day. Please note there will be a few days at the end of May and the
beginning of June when the V.C. will have limited hours. To check on our early season hours call us at the visitor center
at 1-907-822-7476 or 554-1103. The interpretation staff will be updating the Kennecott area’s visitor services provider
lists in late May and early June if you have new business information or contacts be sure to let us know.
This year the McCarthy Road Information Station will continue to be an unmanned visitor service kiosk and information
Station. We will still have an outhouse, free day parking, and a phone at the site for visitors to call the Kennecott Visitor
Center during normal business hours. The Chitina Ranger Station is open Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00
P.M and it is a great place for Kennecott /McCarthy visitors to get the latest road information and learn a little of the
area’s history, and pick up the latest area’s services list. If you have not made a stop in Chitina in a while, stop in, say hi
to Earl Sanders and the rest of the crew, and see what they have done with the place.
Due to construction schedules, some of our normally opened public access buildings will have temporary closures.
Many start dates of the project are dependent on multiple factors and the park will not know exact dates until we are
closer to the construction season. We will inform the public and area businesses about any closures as far in advance as
possible.
We have continuing, updated and new program offerings this year:
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The park will be returning to the Kennicott Glacier Lodge for evening programs. Programs will be 45 minutes
and will be offered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting June 22 at 8:15 P.M. and run through the end of
August.
Wrangell St. Elias has a new web-based Junior Ranger book you can downloaded at www.nps.gov/wrst
Our new on-site Junior Ranger books can be picked up at any of the park’s visitor centers.
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The Interpretation staff will continue to hike out to the Root Glacier and be available to answer questions on the
trail or just say hi. FYI their favorite task while roving the trail is maintaining the Root Glacier Outhouse and
keeping all safe from the resident porcupine.
 We will have a new draft walking tour brochure this summer. The draft is based off work done last year at the
interpretive planning meeting in McCarthy. Over the course of the summer, we will be evaluating the
effectiveness of this brochure and working with the McCarthy Kennecott Museum to finalize the design and
content. Please submit any comments you have on the project to the visitor center.
 The park is introducing a new phenology tracking program with the National Phenology Network. The seasonal
observation program will be set up so people can participate at any level from one- time observations to an
individual or family who wants to track an area over the course of the summer. We will have data sheets and
information available starting Memorial Day weekend.
 The Far North Film Festival is coming to Kennecott. Dates for the program are June 26 and 27, 2012
 To keep updated on events at Wrangell St Elias National Park and Preserve follow us on YouTube, Twitter, and
Facebook.
For further information contact Erica Edmonds, erica_edmonds@nps.gov, 907-960-1025
Visitor and Resource Protection:
Meghan Siefert and Matt Smith will be returning in their previous capacity as Backcountry Rangers. Luke Hodgson is in
his second year as the Kennecott Area ranger and now has the added responsibility of the Emergency Medical Services
coordinator for WRST. We are adding Bekky Anderson to our staff this year as a seasonal protection ranger. Bekky
worked for Wrangell Mountain Air last year so she is already well oriented to the area.
We will continue to provide a prevention-based, law enforcement program in the Kennecott area this summer.
Emphasis will be placed on education and enforcement of regulations that protect visitor safety and the area’s natural
and cultural resources.
We are sponsoring a CPR/AED and Outdoor First Aid class on May 29th and 30th which will be open to community
members, if you are interested in participating please contact Luke Hodgson at luke_hodgson@nps.gov, 960-1023.
Dr. Jennifer Dow will be in McCarthy/Kennecott in early June to provide emergency medical response training and give
direction to NPS staff, local guide services and the KMVFD. Dr. Dow is an ER physician at AK. Regional Hospital and the
NPS Medical Director for Alaska.
We will be hosting a six day technical rope rescue (Rigging for Rescue) seminar. This class will take place primarily on the
Root Glacier, June 16th – 21st. The class is being offered free to area guides. We hope this and other training planned
this summer will improve our ability to perform rescue throughout WRST.
Without having a formal local EMS service we have to work together as a community to provide help to residents and
visitors in medical trouble. Medical response in McCarthy/Kennecott is, and has to be, a community effort. It has to be,
because no single business or agency has the ability to adequately respond to incidents involving multiple patients. This
includes the National Park Service. We will be updating and distributing the McCarthy/Kennecott emergency
responders call list in May. If you are trained at the Wilderness First Responder level or above and would like to be on
this community list please contact Luke Hodgson. We are continuing to work with the fire department to establish a
functioning local EMS service, progress is being made.
We have made progress in recent years at reducing bear/human conflicts on public land in the Kennicott Valley. We will
continue our bear safety education efforts as well as consistent ranger patrols to ensure proper food storage is
occurring. We are partnering with the Wrangell Mountains Center on a bear safety education brochure and a project to
showcase a bear resistant homestead. We will continue to give bear safety orientation talks to groups camping in
Donoho Basin. We have had three years of no emergency camping closures in Donoho Basin. We would like to thank
the local guide services and area residents for working hard to tackle bear/human conflict problems in the area.
For further information contact Stephens Harper, stephens_harper@nps.gov , 907-554-1144.
Concessions:
The Mill Tour Concession Contract expires 12/31/2012. The 2013 Kennecott Concession prospectus will be released
sometime this spring. The park is also working on a contract for Wrangell-Mountains Center to lease the Kennecott
Recreation Hall beginning this summer. For further information, contact Mark Keogh, mark_keogh@nps.gov 907-8227223
Planning:
Kennecott Operations Plan: Last summer the park made the proposed action package for this plan available for public
review and comment. McCarthy Area Council (MAC) provided a re-write which was signed by many local residents.
Friends of Kennicott and numerous individuals also provided comments. Portions of the re-write and comments have
been incorporated and the park has been working this winter on an Environmental Assessment (EA) that will accompany
the plan. A public review version of the EA will be available this coming summer. As a follow-up to actions suggested by
MAC and incorporated into the plan/EA, look for the following this summer:
A public meeting, May 30th, 6pm at Tony Zaks, as a follow-up to this letter, where park staff will discuss with the
community NPS projects and activities scheduled for this summer.
Community workshops on "light touch" management concepts and parking/shuttle turnaround.
Public meetings on the public review EA.
Proposed Kennecott water system: This water system would provide potable water and fire suppression capabilities.
Originally scheduled for construction in the summer of 2013, funding for this project has been delayed. A Value Analysis
conducted in Anchorage in March found that all design alternatives were too expensive, so scaled-down alternatives are
now being considered, including potential for development of groundwater. McCarthy/Kennecott was well represented
at the Value Analysis, with Rich Kirkwood, Barry Hecht, and Sally Gibert participating. This summer will see test-drilling
to explore the potential for groundwater and we will get interested parties out on the ground for a look at potential
alternatives. The Environmental Assessment for this project has been put on hold pending the drilling results.
Elizabeth Schafer will be back this summer assisting with park planning issues.
For further information contact Bruce Rogers, bruce_rogers@nps.gov, 907-822-7276.
Resource Management:
We will continue to operate the Long Lake salmon counting weir in cooperation with the Collins family.
A collaborative project with Dr. Gary McCracken working on bats is starting this summer. This project will involve some
mist netting and capture of bats in the McCarthy/ Kennecott area especially around streams and ponds. We are trying to
find out more about bat distribution and habitat usage in the park.
Hand removal of invasive weeds will continue. As part of our fight against invasive species we will be trying to organize
a native seed collection event that will benefit both the park and the community called "need for seed" (contact
AnnMarie_Lain@nps.gov) in late August. We will probably be looking for volunteers. These seeds will later be used for
re-vegetation projects around construction sites.
Fire Management burned about 800 brush piles near the University Subdivision in April. Plans are to finish pile burning
in the Fall. We will be looking for opportunities to coordinate hazard fuel reduction work along the MXY road in
conjunction with DNR Forestry. A fire fuel reduction project is planned around private land near the southern boundary
of the Kennecott Subdivision. This project will include “fire wise” thinning and clearing of fire fuel in order to protect
private property from wildfire. This summer will focus on collecting information to support NEPA analysis of potential
treatment areas.
WRST and ADF&G are planning a community, subsistence harvest survey that will be done in late March/early April
2013. Barbara Cellarius (WRST Subsistence Specialist) plans to attend the last MAC meeting of 2012 to introduce the
project and the first MAC meeting of 2013 to remind people about the project and start scheduling and conducting
interviews.
We anticipate continuing abandoned mine inventory and cleanup activities this summer in the Nizina and Chitistone
areas during the last couple of week of July. These operations will be helicopter supported. Work is targeted for Nizina
Ridge, Peavine, Glacier Creek, Dan Creek, Kennecott/Motherlode, Lakina and Bremner as well as elsewhere in the park
We anticipate releasing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment on May 14th. This EA will cover Randy
Elliott's Mining Operations at Dan Creek and Access. If you have any questions about this EA or the abandoned mines
project contact Danny Rosenkrans, danny_rosenkrans@nps.gov, (907) 822-7240
As you can see, we have much planned for the next few months. I wish you all well and hope you have a safe and
productive summer season.
Sincerely,
Rick Obernesser
Superintendent