Denali National Park Improvement Act

To provide for certain improvements to the Denali National Park and Preserve in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Denali National Park Improvement Act 2. Kantishna Hills microhydro project; land exchange (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Appurtenance The term appurtenance (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 (3) Map The term map Kantishna Hills Micro-Hydro Area (4) Microhydro project (A) In general The term microhydro project (B) Inclusions The term microhydro project (i) intake pipelines, including the intake pipeline located on Eureka Creek, approximately ½ (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 (6) Secretary The term Secretary (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. (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. 3. Denali National Park and Preserve natural gas pipeline (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Appurtenance (A) In general The term appurtenance (B) Exclusions The term appurtenance (2) Park The term Park (3) Secretary The term Secretary (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) (C) if, following an appropriate analysis prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (2) shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be necessary. 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 September 20, 2013 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

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 "microhydro project" 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.