Survey Work Starts at Monitoring Site near Stampede Road

A survey crew will begin work February 27^th at the proposed National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) monitoring site near Stampede Road.  This includes driving a large tracked vehicle to conduct geotechnical work, from around the gravel pit (at mile 5.2) southwest to the site.  The survey crews are not planning to interrupt public access, and are supposed to cross winter trails at a perpendicular angle to avoid impacting trail conditions.  The vehicle will remain at the site until the work is completed.  While there were a number of comments suggesting alternative sites, NEON would like to continue gathering information on this location. They expect that work this week will give them more information about options for access and electricity, and will return to Stampede this summer to present what they find and alternatives they’re considering.

A permit to approve cross country travel to do geotechnical work was issued February 1st.  Cross country travel with a vehicle over 1,500 pounds is the only part of the survey work that requires permitting by the state.  Clearly an error was made at some point in this permitting process, as the documents provided (by NEON) with the initial public notice actually stated that: “Geotechnical investigations are neither necessary nor desirable…and significant damage to the environment is avoided by not attempting to bring in a geotechnical drill rig.”  This error, along with the disappointment expressed by several members that such an oversight was made, has been pointed out to the state’s Permit Manager, AJ Wait, and also to NEON Environmental Permitting & Safety Coordinator, Erik Rissler.

While there is still some feeling that this project is moving too fast, both NEON and the state have been fairly responsive to local concerns, demonstrated by the withdrawal of the permit to develop the site.   This temporary work will likely give us an indication of what future development of the site would be like.  If you have any questions/comments/concerns about this permit email Friends of Stampede (friendsofstampede@gmail.com), or contact AJ Wait (aj.wait@alaska.gov) or Erik Rissler (erissler@neoninc.org) directly.

Friends of Stampede comments on NEON site November 30, 2011

Revised permit to approve cross country travel for geotechnical work, LAS 27697

Power Past the Panguingue Subdivision?

A proposed “ecological observation site” near Stampede Road, would extend power lines from the edge of the Panguingue Subdivision west towards Eightmile Lake.  The proposed Land Use Permit (through Alaska’s Division of Mining, Land and Water-DMLW) would allow development of a scientific site to monitor a variety of natural features in order to study climate as part of a nationwide monitoring network.  Infrastructure would include a 36 foot weather tower, “instrumentation hut” (10’x16’), and a ½ mile boardwalk to the site from the road.  Interested individuals are encouraged to comment on the proposed site.  Email notices to Friends of Stampede have received quite a bit of feedback.  A number of Friends have expressed concerns about the electrical infrastructure (i.e. power lines) associated with the project.  Some have suggested that the site be moved closer to the subdivision, and have also suggested using a site on the north side of Stampede Road, closer to existing subdivision road right-of-ways or by the gravel pit around mile five.  These alternatives would likely be less visible, and would keep the electrical grid in a concentrated residential area, rather than stretching towards Eightmile Lake.  The proposed site is on state lands with a primary focus on wildlife and recreation values (from DMLW’s Tanana Basin Area Plan).  While scientific research can and should happen along Stampede, many fear that extending power lines west of the residential area would impact these values, or could in the future. Legislation is currently being considered that would create a Stampede State Recreation Area around this site.  Friends of Stampede support this legislation.  We hope that a State Recreation Area, or some other formal designation, will help to guide any future development in this area so it doesn’t hurt the values that so many local residents (and visitors) are thankful for.

Concerns or comments?  Let your voice be heard by contacting AJ Wait, with the Division of Mining, Land and Water, on the state permit.  Consider forwarding your comments to the permit applicants, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) or their funders, to make sure that they are aware of local concerns!  Comments on this project are due by 5:00 pm, Wednesday, November 30^th.

As always, contact Friends of Stampede (friendsofstampede@gmail.com) with any questions.

 

Primary Contact for Permit Comments:

Alexander (AJ) Wait, Division of Mining, Land and Water: aj.wait@alaska.gov (phone: 907-451-2777)

Other Contact Information:

Jody Bolyard, National Ecological Observatory Network Director of Environmental Health and Safety: jbolyard@neoninc.org

Dr. Elizabeth Blood, National Science Foundation (provides funding for NEON, program director): eblood@nsf.gov

Documents and Links:

Ecological Observation Site Project Plan of Development

Ecological Observation Site Project Design Summary

Map of Stampede Observation Site

National Ecological Observatory Network website 

Celebrate John Allen Clean-Up on Stampede

It’s time for another clean-up here on Stampede!  This mid-summer event will be on Saturday, July 23rd, also a big clean-up weekend in Denali National Park known as John Allen Clean-Up.  As Stampede could be considered the “north access” to Denali, we thought it would be appropriate to share the date!  Meet at the Panguingue Fire Hall (just a bit down Antares Rd from Stampede) at 10am to coordinate carpooling and clean-up areas, and to pick up garbage bags.

Hope to see you there!

Flier: Stampede Mid-Summer Clean-Up 7.23.11

Stampede Spring Clean-Up

It’s time for spring cleaning!  The Panguingue Creek Homeowners Association (PCHA) and Friends of Stampede will be joining forces on Sunday, May 22nd, to clean up roads in the subdivision, and along Stampede Road from the Parks Highway to Eightmile Lake.  PCHA will be meeting at 9 am at the Panguingue Firehall (Antares Rd) and coordinating clean-up throughout the subdivision.  Friends will be meeting at 1 pm at the Firehall and coordinating clean-up along the rest of the Stampede Road.  Sign-up sheets for different sections of the road and garbage bags will be provided throughout the day at the Firehall, so even if you can’t meet at one of these times, feel free to stop by the Firehall to sign-up for an area and pick up materials! Garbage bags will be collected along the main road (Stampede, between the highway and Eightmile Lake) at 6 pm.  Garbage collected in the subdivision should be dropped off at the Firehall (not along the roads within the subdivision) by 7 pm, also the start of PCHA’s annual meeting. Local residents are welcome to attend and learn about subdivision news.  

 

Friends of Stampede is working on official “Adopting” Stampede road through the Department of Transportation.  As part of the Adopt-a-Highway program, we plan on cleaning up along the Stampede Road three times a year (spring, summer, fall), so look for more clean-up announcements in the future!  For more information on the May 22nd clean-up, please email (friendsofstampede@gmail.com) or call (907-687-2403)…hope to see you Sunday!

 

Flier: Stampede Spring Clean-Up 5.22.2011

 

Save the date: On Monday, May 23rd, the Tri-Valley Community Library will be hosting a presentation on permafrost and climate change research being conducted around Eightmile Lake.  Flier: EightmileLake Research Presentation 5.23.11

Initial Response Received on Stampede Trailwork

Friends of Stampede submitted formal comments on proposed trailwork by Alaska Travel Adventures (operator of Denali Jeep Safaris) along the Stampede trail.  We also passed along questions raised by members, and listed in our posting dated April 25th.  Read our comments, Friends of Stampede Comments on LAS 28037, and see the Division of Mining, Land and Water’s initial response below:

“I’ve talked to the applicant recently, going over some of the questions we received.  In a nutshell, if approved by us they would not do the trail work until breakup is completed and the material that is scraped off of crowns, it would be compacted (with a portable construction compactor) into the lower spots…they are doing a preseason inspection now along the trail and will get back to us with the specific locations they propose to work on. 
We will be doing a decision paper here shortly on their application and will address everything there. I will send you a copy of that when it’s completed.   Thanks again for the compilation of thoughtful comments.”

Stay posted for more updates…

Comments due April 26th on Stampede Trailwork

Friends of Stampede met on Sunday, April 17, and discussed trail improvements proposed by Alaska Travel Adventures (ATA), operator of Denali Jeep Safaris.  A decision was made to not oppose the work as a group, and instead spread the word so that residents are aware of the trail work, and are enabled to make comments of their own, if desired.  Many Friends have commented that trail work could improve conditions on the road-way, decreasing the number of people who are traveling off the beaten path to get around the worst sections of the trail.  Friends also expressed concern that this may only be a quick-fix, and that a need for trail work demonstrates that there have indeed been impacts to the Stampede Trail caused by increased use.  Specific questions and comments emailed or raised at the meeting include:

1. Besides moving the dirt around and filling in holes and diminishing the crown on the road, are any stabilization efforts planned, so that the road doesn’t look exactly the same again in another 4 years?  Is there a way to compact the materials after they re-grade? 
2. Why is this work being done during the “break-up” season?  Is this the best time of the year to complete the project?
3. Where exactly will the work take place?  The application specifies that the work covers several hundred yards of the road between Eightmile Lake and the company’s camp at Fish Creek, but no exact locations are pointed out.
4. What will be done to ensure a long-term solution to the trail damage?  The trail work proposal demonstrates that there have been impacts to the Stampede Trail.  Trail damage is addressed in ATA’s initial permit.   How has this trail damage been monitored, and what will be done to monitor it in the future? 
5. What role will the Division of Mining, Land and Water have in this and future trail work, to ensure long-term solutions? 

See our document library for the original ATA permit for the Stampede Road, and documents related to the current proposal.  You can comment on this project by contacting Stuart Pecheck at stuart.pecheck@alaska.gov (phone: 907-451-2733).  Comments are due April 26^th at 5 pm.

Stampede SRA Scheduled for Hearing in House Resource Committee

The House version of the Stampede State Recreation bill, HB 113, is scheduled to be heard in the House Resource Committee next Friday, April 8th!  Anyone interested in watching the hearing can see it live at 1 pm on the legislature’s streaming coverage at http://alaskalegislature.tv/.  You can listen to the audio or read the minutes after the hearing is over by visiting http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/ and searching for “HB 113.”  In January of this year, identical Stampede SRA bills were introduced in the Alaskan House and Senate (HB 113 and SB 60).  The bills will travel separately, and have been referred to first be heard in the House and Senate Resource Committees. There has been discussion of scheduling the Senate version of the bill, but no date has been set…stay tuned for more on that in upcoming weeks!

There are a few important actions you can take to support the HB 113…it is critical to get this support in to our legislators as the bill will be heard next week!  Send this information on to any friends or family that you think may be interested!
1. Sign our petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/friendsofstampede_stampede_sra/
2. Write a few lines to Senator Thomas and Representative Guttenberg to put your support behind the bill. The easiest way to send comment is to email their staff directly (grier_hopkins@legis.state.ak.us and jay_hardenbrook@legis.state.ak.us).
3. Contact Representatives serving on the House Resources Committee, to let them know you support HB 113, especially if you reside in one of their districts.  If you know someone else who does, encourage them to contact their Representative to voice support!  See the bottom of this email for information on Representatives that serve on the House Resource Committee.

If you know anyone who lives in districts of Committee members (or if you have interest in one of the districts), please pass on this information and encourage folks to contact their Representative to voice support and encourage passage of HB 113 through the House Resource Committee!

House Resources Committee Members  and Districts (hometowns are listed, along with Juneau phone numbers)
Co-Chair: Eric Feige, District 12 (Chickaloon)
Phone: 465-4859

Co-Chair: Paul Seaton, District 35 (Homer)
Phone: 465-2689

Vice-Chair: Peggy Wilson, District 2 (Wrangell)
Phone: 465-3824

Alan Dick, District 6 (Stony River)
Phone: 465-4527

Neal Foster, District 39 (Nome)
Phone: 465-3789

Bob Herron, District 38 (Bethel)
Phone: 465-4942

Cathy Munoz, District 4 (Juneau)
Phone: 465-3744

Berta Gardner, District 24 (Anchorage)
Phone: 465-4930

Scott Kawasaki, District 9 (Fairbanks)
Phone: 465-3466