BLM closes NPR-A tundra travel

The Bureau of Land Management has announced the closure of winter off-road tundra travel in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska for this winter. The closure became effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 12. Snow and weather conditions in the reserve are no longer adequate for overland tundra travel, the agency said in a May 10 notice.

While the Alaska Department of Natural Resources sets the rules and dates for off-road travel on state land in the Alaska Arctic, BLM performs a similar role for federal land in the NPR-A. But, whereas the state manages winter off-road travel by setting start and end dates for tundra travel, based on parameters for ground temperatures and snow cover, several years ago BLM switched to a more performance based system. Under this system, off-road permits are issued on a project-by-project basis, using performance based standards for environmental protection.

But, while the BLM approach does not involved the setting of any specific start date for winter tundra travel, the agency’s regulations require the stipulation of an end-date, by when off-road operations must cease for the season, Stacie McIntosh from BLM explained to Petroleum News. Hence the closure date that BLM has announced.

- Alan Bailey