Denali National Park Improvement Act

Summary: .   Denali National Park Improvement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for specified microhydro projects in the Kantishna Hills area within the Denali National Park and Preserve (the Park) in Alaska. Defines &quot;microhydro project&quot; as a hydroelectric power generating facility with a maximum power generation capability of 100 kilowatts and includes any distribution or transmission lines required to serve such area.  Requires the Secretary, within 180 days after submission of a permit application, to complete any analysis required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 respecting any proposed or existing microhydro projects in the area.  Directs the Secretary to exchange Park land near or adjacent to land owned by Doyon Tourism, Inc., located at the mouth of Eureka Creek for approximately 18 acres of land owned by Doyon Tourism within the Galena patented mining claim. Instructs the Secretary to seek to complete such exchange by February 2015. Permits an equalization of any unequal values of the tracts proposed for exchange by adjusting the quantity of the acreage owned by Doyon Tourism.  Requires the land acquired by the Secretary to be administered as part of the Park.  Authorizes the Secretary to issue right-of-way permits, subject to certain terms and conditions, for: (1) a high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline (including appurtenances) in nonwilderness areas within the boundary of the Park within, along, or near the approximately seven-mile segment of the George Parks Highway that runs through the Park; and (2) any distribution and transmission pipelines and appurtenances that the Secretary determines to be necessary to provide natural gas supply to the Park.  Designates the Talkeetna Ranger Station that is on B Street in Talkeetna, Alaska, and that is approximately 100 miles south of the entrance to the Park, as the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station. 

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) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appurtenance.--The term ``appurtenance'' includes--
                    (A) transmission lines;
                    (B) distribution lines;
                    (C) signs;
                    (D) buried communication lines;
                    (E) necessary access routes for microhydro project 
                construction, operation, and maintenance; and
                    (F) electric cables.
            (2) Kantishna hills area.--The term ``Kantishna Hills 
        area'' means the area of the Park located within 2 miles of 
        Moose Creek, as depicted on the map.
            (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
        ``Kantishna Hills Micro-Hydro Area'', numbered 184/80,276, and 
        dated August 27, 2010.
            (4) Microhydro project.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``microhydro project'' 
                means a hydroelectric power generating facility with a 
                maximum power generation capability of 100 kilowatts.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``microhydro project'' 
                includes--
                            (i) intake pipelines, including the intake 
                        pipeline located on Eureka Creek, approximately 
                        \1/2\ mile upstream from the Park Road, as 
                        depicted on the map;
                            (ii) each system appurtenance of the 
                        microhydro projects; and
                            (iii) any distribution or transmission 
                        lines required to serve the Kantishna Hills 
                        area.
            (5) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Denali National Park 
        and Preserve.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Permits for Microhydro Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may issue permits for 
        microhydro projects in the Kantishna Hills area.
            (2) Terms and conditions.--Each permit under paragraph (1) 
        shall be--
                    (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) subject to such other terms and conditions as 
                the Secretary determines to be necessary.
            (3) Completion of environmental analysis.--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) Land Exchange.--
            (1) In general.--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.
            (2) Map availability.--The map shall be on file and 
        available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
        the National Park Service.
            (3) Timing.--The Secretary shall seek to complete the 
        exchange under this subsection by not later than February 1, 
        2015.
            (4) Applicable laws; terms and conditions.--The exchange 
        under this subsection shall be subject to--
                    (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
                    (B) such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
                determines to be necessary.
            (5) Equalization of values.--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).
            (6) Administration.--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) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appurtenance.--
                    (A) In general.--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.
                    (B) Exclusions.--The term ``appurtenance'' does not 
                include compressor stations.
            (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Denali National Park 
        and Preserve in the State of Alaska.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Permit.--The Secretary may issue right-of-way permits for--
            (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
            (2) any distribution and transmission pipelines and 
        appurtenances that the Secretary determines to be necessary to 
        provide natural gas supply to the Park.
    (c) Terms and Conditions.--A permit authorized under subsection 
(b)--
            (1) may be issued only--
                    (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;
                    (B) in accordance with section 1106(a) of the 
                Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 
                U.S.C. 3166(a)); and
                    (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
            (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) Designation.--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) References.--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''.