[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54127-54128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27590]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Public Notice

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Public notice.

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SUMMARY: Public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service 
proposes to award 17 concession permits authorizing the operation of 
sport hunting guide-outfitter services for the public at Wrangell St. 
Elias National Preserve, Alaska for a period of five years from January 
1, 1998 through December 31, 2002. Currently there are sixteen 
concessioners providing the services described in this prospectus. One 
permit is for a hunt area for which there is no current operator.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should contact the Superintendent, 
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, P.O. Box 439, Copper 
Center, Alaska 99573 or by calling (907) 822-5234 for a copy of the 
prospectus.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These permits have been determined to be 
categorically excluded for the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act and no environmental document will be 
prepared.
    The 16 existing concessioners have performed their obligations to 
the satisfication of Secretary under existing permits which expire by 
limitation of time on December 31, 1997, and therefore pursuant to the 
provisions of Section 5 of the Act of October 9, 1965 (16 U.S.C. 20), 
are entitled to be given preference in the renewal of the permit, 
providing that the existing concessioners submit a responsive offer (a 
timely offer which meets the terms and conditions of the Prospectus). 
This means that the permit will be awarded to the party submitting the 
best offer, provided that if the best offer was not submitted by an 
existing concessioner, then the existing concessioner will be afforded 
the opportunity to match the best offer. If the existing concession 
agrees to match the best offer, then the permit will be awarded to the 
existing concessioner. If the existing concessioner does not submit a 
responsive offer, the right of preference in renewal shall be 
considered to have been waived, and the permit will then be awarded to 
the party that has submitted the best responsive offer. The Secretary 
will consider and evaluate all offers received as a result of this 
notice.
    There is no incumbent concessioner for the 17th permit, and 
accordingly, no preference will be awarded to an applicant for this 
guide area.
    Any offer, including that of the existing concessioner, must be 
received by the Superintendent, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and 
Preserve, P.O.

[[Page 54128]]

Box 439, Copper Center, AK 99573, not later than on or before the 
sixtieth (60th) day following publication of this notice to be 
considered and evaluated.
Judith Gottieb,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 97-27590 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M