§ 13.1914 Off-road motor vehicle use in the Nabesna District. ( a ) *What is the scope of this regulation?* The regulations contained in paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section apply to the use of motor vehicles off roads within the boundaries of the Nabesna District within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This section does not affect the use of snowmobiles or snowmachines.
( b ) *What terms do I need to know?* The following definitions apply only to the regulations in this section: *FEIS Wilderness Area* means an area of designated wilderness identified on the Upper Copper/Jacksina Wilderness map available at the Slana Ranger Station, the Main Park Visitor Center, the Tanada and Copper Lake trailheads, and on the park Web site.
*Frozen* means frost depth of 6 inches as measured with a soil probe and determined by the Superintendent.
*Improved* means a trail that is in a design-sustainable or maintainable condition as determined by the Superintendent.
*Nabesna District* means a designated area in the northern portion of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve as shown on a map available at the Slana Ranger Station, the Main Park Visitor Center, and on the park Web site.
*Recreational use* means the use of an off-road vehicle for any purpose other than for subsistence uses, which are defined in § 13.420, or access to inholdings in accordance with 43 CFR 36.10.
*Trail corridor* means an area extending 0.5 miles from either side of the centerline on the Black Mountain trails and portions of the Tanada Lake trail within the FEIS Wilderness Area.
( c ) *Must I obtain a permit to operate an off-road vehicle for recreational use?* ( 1 ) You must obtain a permit before operating an off-road vehicle for recreational use. Permits may be obtained at the Slana Ranger Station in Slana or the Main Park Visitor Center in Copper Center.
( 2 ) The Superintendent may issue permits for the recreational use of off-road vehicles on any of the following trails in the National Preserve: ( i ) Suslota Trail.
( ii ) Caribou Creek Trail.
( iii ) Trail Creek Trail.
( iv ) Lost Creek Trail.
( v ) Soda Lake Trail.
( vi ) Reeve Field Trail.
( 3 ) Permits may be issued for the recreational use of off-road vehicles only on designated trails that are either frozen or improved. A map showing trails designated for recreational off-road vehicle use, and a current list of frozen and improved trails, are available at Slana Ranger Station, the Main Visitor Center, and on the park's Web site.
( 4 ) You must obtain a permit for each off-road vehicle that you want to use for recreational purposes on designated off-road vehicle trails. The operator of the off-road vehicle must have the permit in his or her possession when the off-road vehicle is in use.
( 5 ) Violating any term or condition of a permit is prohibited.
( 6 ) The recreational use of off-road vehicles without a permit is prohibited.
( d ) *May I operate an off-road vehicle for subsistence uses in the FEIS Wilderness Area?* ( 1 ) In the FEIS Wilderness Area, local rural residents may operate off-road vehicles for subsistence uses as defined by this part on the following trails: ( i ) Black Mountain Trails.
( ii ) Tanada Lake Trail.
( 2 ) In the FEIS Wilderness Area, off-road vehicles may be operated off the designated trails only for the purpose of game retrieval in the designated trail corridors.
( 3 ) All other areas of the FEIS Wilderness Area are closed to subsistence ORV use and local rural residents may not operate an off-road vehicle for subsistence uses outside of the trails and trail corridors identified in paragraphs (d)(1)-(2) of this section.
( 4 ) Trails and trail corridors in the FEIS Wilderness Area, and the boundaries of the FEIS Wilderness Area, are shown on the Upper Copper/Jacksina Wilderness map available at the Slana Ranger Station, the Main Park Visitor Center, the Tanada and Copper Lake trailheads, and on the park Web site.
( e ) *Are there limits on the types of off-road vehicles that may be operated off roads in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve?* The following types of vehicles may not be used off roads for recreational or subsistence uses in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: ( 1 ) Nodwells or other tracked rigs greater than 5.5 feet in width or 4,000 pounds curb weight.
( 2 ) Street-legal highway vehicles.
( 3 ) Custom 4x4 jeeps, SUVs, or trucks designed for off-road use.
( 4 ) Original or modified “deuce and a half” cargo trucks.
( 5 ) Dozers, skid-steer loaders, excavators, or other construction equipment.
( 6 ) Motorcycles or dirt bikes.
( 7 ) Log skidders.
( 8 ) Wheeled vehicles (including all terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, and Argos) exceeding 1,500 pounds curb weight, not including trailers.
[79 FR 49238, Aug. 20, 2014]