Eastern area open for snowmobile travel

Petroleum News

Both the state's North Slope eastern and western coastal areas are now open for winter off-road snowmobile travel.

The western coastal area was opened Nov. 1 and the eastern coastal area Nov. 9.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mining, Land and Water said openings apply only to operators with valid off-road vehicle travel permits to operate on state lands on the North Slope and apply to snowmobile travel only.

Those who have valid off-road travel permits issued by DNR who wish to conduct snowmobile travel need to contact their permit-issuing division for approval of snowmobile travel. Both DMLW and the Division of Oil and Gas issue the permits. Any snowmobile use must be reported on tundra travel completion reports for this season.

While snow cover is appropriate for snowmobile travel, snow depths and soil temperature criteria have not been met for general off-road travel.

For questions, contact the DMLW northern regional land section in Fairbanks at 907-451-2740 or the DNR off-road travel permit issuing division.

--PETROLEUM NEWS