Tundra travel allowed on eastern coast

The eastern coastal area of Alaska’s North Slope opened for tundra travel Jan. 31.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Mining, Land and Water said soil temperatures and snow cover within the eastern coastal area met criteria for opening, which is six inches of snow and a soil temperature below minus 5 degrees Celsius at a depth of 30 centimeters.

The western coastal area opened for tundra travel in late December; the upper foothills area opened in early January.

The division noted that the opening applies only to operators who have valid off-road vehicle travel permits to operate on state-owned lands on the North Slope.

The division also that that although snow cover is good in the eastern coastal area, it may be thin in some areas and those areas should be avoided or special construction methods used to protect the tundra surface.

Site inspections will be conducted periodically by state personnel to ensure compliance, the division said.

The division said in late December that the majority of ice roads being constructed for this winter’s exploration season are in the western coastal region.

—Petroleum News