Regulations last checked for updates: May 09, 2024

Title 36 - Parks, Forests, and Public Property last revised: May 06, 2024
§ 13.20 - Obstruction of airstrips.

(a) A person may not place an object on the surface of an airstrip that, because of its nature or location, might cause injury or damage to an aircraft or person riding in the aircraft.

(b) A person may not dig a hole or make any kind of excavation, or drive a sled, tractor, truck, or any kind of vehicle upon an airstrip that might make ruts, or tracks, or add to an accumulation of tracks so as to endanger aircraft using the airstrip or persons riding in the aircraft.

§ 13.25 - Camping.

(a) Camping is authorized in park areas except where such use is prohibited or otherwise restricted by the Superintendent in accordance with this section, the provisions of § 13.50, or as set forth for specific park areas in subparts H through V of this part.

(b) Site time-limits. Camping is authorized for 14 consecutive days in one location. Camping is prohibited after 14 consecutive days in one location unless the camp is moved at least 2 miles or unless authorized by the Superintendent. A camp and associated equipment must be relocated immediately if determined by the Superintendent to be interfering with public access or other public interests or adversely impacting park resources.

(c) Designated campgrounds. Except at designated campgrounds, camping is prohibited on NPS facilities. The Superintendent may establish restrictions, terms, and conditions for camping in designated campgrounds. Violating restrictions, terms, and conditions is prohibited.

§ 13.26 - Picnicking.

Picnicking is authorized in park areas except where such activity is prohibited or otherwise restricted by the Superintendent. The public will be notified by one or more of the following methods—

(a) Signs posted at conspicuous locations, such as normal points of entry or reasonable intervals along the boundary of the affected park locale;

(b) Maps available in the office of the Superintendent and other places convenient to the public;

(c) Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area; or

(d) Other appropriate methods, including park Web sites, brochures, maps, and handouts.

§ 13.30 - Weapons, traps and nets.

(a) Irritant chemical devices, including bear spray, may be carried, possessed, and used in accordance with applicable Federal and non-conflicting State laws, except when prohibited or restricted under § 13.50.

(b) Paragraphs (d) through (g) of this section apply to all park areas in Alaska except Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Sitka National Historical Park and the former Mt. McKinley National Park, Glacier Bay National Monument and Katmai National Monument.

(c) Except as provided in this section and § 2.4 of this chapter, the following are prohibited—

(1) Possessing a weapon, trap, or net;

(2) Carrying a weapon, trap, or net;

(3) Using a weapon, trap, or net.

(d) Firearms may be carried, possessed, and used within park areas in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, except where such carrying, possession, or use is prohibited or otherwise restricted under § 13.50.

(e) Traps, bows and other implements (other than firearms) authorized by applicable State and Federal law for the taking of fish and wildlife may be carried, possessed, and used within park areas only during those times when the taking of fish and wildlife is authorized by applicable law or regulation.

(f) In addition to the authorities provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, weapons (other than firearms), traps, and nets may be possessed within park areas provided such weapons, traps, or nets are within or upon a device or animal used for transportation and are unloaded and cased or otherwise packed in such a manner as to prevent their ready use while in a park area.

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, local rural residents who are authorized to engage in subsistence uses, including the taking of wildlife under § 13.480, may use, possess, or carry traps, nets and other weapons in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws.

§ 13.35 - Preservation of natural features.

(a) This section applies to all park areas in Alaska except Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Sitka National Historical Park, the former Mt. McKinley National Park, and the former Katmai National Monument.

(b) Gathering or collecting natural products is prohibited except as allowed by this section, § 2.1 of this chapter, or part 13, subparts F through V. For purposes of this paragraph, “natural products” includes living or dead fish and wildlife or parts or products thereof, plants or parts or products thereof, live or dead wood, fungi, seashells, rocks, and minerals.

(c) Gathering or collecting, by hand and for personal use only, of the following renewable resources is permitted—

(1) Natural plant food items, including fruits, berries and mushrooms, but not including threatened or endangered species;

(2) Driftwood and uninhabited seashells;

(3) Such plant materials and minerals as are essential to the conduct of traditional ceremonies by Native Americans; and

(4) Dead wood on the ground for use as fuel for campfires within the park area.

(d) The Superintendent may authorize, with or without conditions, the collection of dead standing wood in all or a portion of a park area. Collecting dead or downed wood in violation of terms and conditions is prohibited.

(e) Surface collection, by hand (including hand-held gold pans) and for personal recreational use only, of rocks and minerals is permitted, with the following exceptions:

(1) Collection of silver, platinum, gemstones and fossils is prohibited; and

(2) Collection methods that may result in disturbance of the ground surface, such as the use of shovels, pickaxes, sluice boxes, and dredges, are prohibited.

(f) The Superintendent may limit the size and quantity of the natural products that may be gathered or possessed.

(1) Under conditions where it is found that significant adverse impact on park resources, wildlife populations, subsistence uses, or visitor enjoyment of resources will result, the Superintendent will prohibit the gathering or otherwise restrict the collecting of natural products.

(2) The Superintendent will notify the public of portions of a park area in which closures or restrictions apply by:

(i) Publishing a notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the State and providing a map available for public inspection in the office of the Superintendent; or

(ii) Posting appropriate signs.

(g) Subsistence. Nothing in this section shall apply to local rural residents authorized to take renewable resources.

§ 13.40 - Taking of fish.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) Fishing. Fishing is permitted in all park areas in accordance with applicable State and Federal law, and such laws are hereby adopted and made a part of these regulations to the extent they are not inconsistent with § 2.3 of this chapter.

(c) Commercial fishing. The exercise of valid commercial fishing rights or privileges obtained prior to December 2, 1980, pursuant to existing law in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, the Malaspina Glacier Forelands area of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve, and the Dry Bay area of Glacier Bay National Preserve, including the use of these park areas for existing campsites, cabins and other structures, motorized vehicles, and aircraft landings on existing airstrips, may continue provided that all such use is directly incident to the exercise of those rights or privileges.

(1) Restrictions. The Superintendent may restrict or revoke the exercise of a valid commercial fishing right or privilege based upon specific findings, following public notice and an opportunity for response, that continuation of such use of a park area constitutes a direct threat to or significant impairment of the values and purposes for which the park area was established.

(2) Expansion of uses. (i) A person holding a valid commercial fishing right or privilege may expand his or her level of use of a park area beyond the level of such use in 1979 only pursuant to the terms of a permit issued by the Superintendent.

(ii) The Superintendent may deny a permit or otherwise restrict the expanded use of a park area directly incident to the exercise of such rights or privileges, if the Superintendent determines, after conducting a public hearing in the affected locality, that the expanded use constitutes either:

(A) A significant expansion of the use of a park area beyond the level of such use during 1979 (taking into consideration the relative levels of use in the general vicinity, as well as the applicant's levels of use); or

(B) A direct threat to, or significant impairment of, the values and purposes for which the park area was established.

(d) Use of native species as bait. Use of species native to Alaska as bait for fishing is allowed in accordance with non-conflicting State law and regulations.

(e) Closures and restrictions. The Superintendent may prohibit or restrict the non-subsistence taking of fish in accordance with the provisions of § 13.50.

[71 FR 69333, Nov. 30, 2006, as amended at 80 FR 64343, Oct. 23, 2015]
§ 13.42 - Taking of wildlife in national preserves.

(a) Hunting and trapping are allowed in national preserves in accordance with applicable Federal and non-conflicting State law and regulation.

(b) Violating a provision of either Federal or non-conflicting State law or regulation is prohibited.

(c) Engaging in trapping activities as the employee of another person is prohibited.

(d) It shall be unlawful for a person having been airborne to use a firearm or any other weapon to take or assist in taking any species of bear, caribou, Sitka black-tailed deer, elk, coyote, arctic and red fox, mountain goat, moose, Dall sheep, lynx, bison, musk ox, wolf and wolverine until after 3 a.m. on the day following the day in which the flying occurred. This prohibition does not apply to flights on regularly scheduled commercial airlines between regularly maintained public airports.

(e) Persons transporting wildlife through park areas must identify themselves and the location where the wildlife was taken when requested by NPS law enforcement personnel.

(f)-(g) [Reserved]

(h) The Superintendent may prohibit or restrict the non-subsistence taking of wildlife in accordance with the provisions of § 13.50.

(i) A person may not intentionally obstruct or hinder another person's lawful hunting or trapping by:

(1) Placing oneself in a location in which human presence may alter the behavior of the game that another person is attempting to take or the imminent feasibility of taking game by another person; or

(2) Creating a visual, aural, olfactory, or physical stimulus in order to alter the behavior of the game that another person is attempting to take.

(j) Collecting, capturing, or possessing living wildlife is prohibited unless expressly authorized by federal statute or pursuant to § 2.5 of this chapter. A falconry permit or other permit issued by the State of Alaska does not provide the required authorization. These collecting activities are not hunting or trapping activities and therefore are not allowed in national preserves under paragraph (a) of this section. This regulation does not prohibit the use of trained raptors for hunting activities where authorized by applicable federal and state law.

[80 FR 64343, Oct. 23, 2015, as amended at 82 FR 3632, Jan. 12, 2017; 85 FR 35191, June 9, 2020]
§ 13.45 - Unattended or abandoned property.

(a) This section applies to all park areas in Alaska except Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Sitka National Historical Park, or as further restricted for specific park areas in subparts H through V of this part.

(b) Personal property. (1) Leaving personal property longer than 4 months is prohibited. The Superintendent may authorize property to be left in place for more than 4 months.

(2) Identification information is required for all personal property left in park areas. Identification information consists of the owner's name, home address, telephone number, date that the property was left, and the type of fuel if the property contains fuel. This information must be—

(i) Labeled on the property; or

(ii) Provided to the Superintendent.

(3) All property must be stored in such a manner that wildlife is unable to access the contents. Storing property in a manner that wildlife can access contents is prohibited.

(4) Leaving fuel in more than one location in a park area or leaving more than 30 gallons of fuel is prohibited unless authorized by the Superintendent.

(5) Storing fuel within 100 feet of a water source, high water mark of a body of water, or mean high tide is prohibited unless stored in a spill proof overpack container or authorized by the Superintendent. Fuel must be contained in an undamaged and closed fuel container designed for fuel storage. Fueling from containers must occur in such a manner that any spillage would be prevented from coming into contact with water, soil, or vegetation. Failure to properly contain or prevent spillage is prohibited.

(6) Leaving property unattended for longer than 24 hours on facilities is prohibited unless authorized by the Superintendent.

(7) Property left in violation of this section is prohibited and subject to impoundment and, if abandoned, disposal or forfeiture.

(c) The Superintendent may designate areas where personal property may not be left unattended for any time period, establish limits on the amount and type of personal property that may be left unattended, prescribe the manner in which personal property may be left unattended, or establish limits on the length of time personal property may be left unattended. Such designations and restrictions shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation within the State, posted at community post offices within the vicinity affected, made available for broadcast on local radio stations in a manner reasonably calculated to inform residents in the affected community, and designated on a map which shall be available for public inspection at the office of the Superintendent, or designated by the posting of appropriate signs, or both.

(d) In the event unattended property interferes with the safe and orderly management of a park area or is causing damage to the resources of the area, it may be impounded by the Superintendent at any time.

§ 13.50 - Closure and restriction procedures.

(a) Applicability and authority. The Superintendent will follow the provisions of this section to close an area or restrict an activity, or terminate or relax a closure or restriction, in NPS areas in Alaska.

(b) Factors. In determining whether to close an area or restrict an activity, or whether to terminate or relax a closure or restriction, the Superintendent must ensure that the activity or area is managed in a manner compatible with the purposes for which the park area was established. The Superintendent's decision under this paragraph must therefore be guided by factors such as public health and safety, resource protection, protection of cultural or scientific values, subsistence uses, conservation of endangered or threatened species, and other management considerations.

(c) Rulemaking requirements. This paragraph applies only to a closure or restriction, or the termination or relaxation of such, which is of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern of the area; adversely affect the area's natural, aesthetic, scenic, or cultural values; or require a long-term modification in the resource management objectives of the area. Except in emergency situations, the closure or restriction, or the termination or relaxation of such, must be published as a rulemaking in the Federal Register.

(d) Written determination. Except in emergency situations, prior to implementing or terminating a closure or restriction, the superintendent shall prepare a written determination justifying the action. That determination shall set forth the reasons the closure or restriction authorized by paragraph (a) of this section has been established. This determination will be posted on the NPS Web site at www.nps.gov.

(e) Restrictions on taking fish or wildlife. (1) Except in emergencies, the NPS will consult with the State agency having responsibility over fishing, hunting, or trapping and provide an opportunity for public comment, including one or more public meetings near the affected NPS unit, prior to implementing a closure or restriction on taking fish or wildlife.

(2) Emergency closures or restrictions may not exceed a period of 60 days and may not be extended without following the nonemergency procedures of this section.

(f) Notice. A list of closures and restrictions will be compiled in writing and updated annually. The list will be posted on the NPS Web site at www.nps.gov and made available at park headquarters. Additional means of notice reasonably likely to inform residents in the affected vicinity will also be provided where available, such as:

(1) Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the State or in local newspapers;

(2) Use of electronic media, such as the internet and email lists;

(3) Radio broadcast; or

(4) Posting of signs in the local vicinity.

(g) Violating a closure or restriction is prohibited.

[80 FR 64344, Oct. 23, 2015]
§ 13.55 - Permits.

(a) Application. (1) Application for a permit required by any section of this part shall be submitted to the Superintendent having jurisdiction over the affected park area, or in the absence of the Superintendent, the Regional Director. If the applicant is unable or does not wish to submit the application in written form, the Superintendent shall provide the applicant an opportunity to present the application orally and shall keep a record of such oral application.

(2) The Superintendent shall grant or deny the application in writing within 45 days. If this deadline cannot be met for good cause, the Superintendent shall so notify the applicant in writing. If the permit application is denied, the Superintendent shall specify in writing the reasons for the denial.

(b) Denial and appeal procedures. (1) An applicant whose application for a permit, required pursuant to this part, has been denied by the Superintendent has the right to have the application reconsidered by the Regional Director by contacting him/her within 180 days of the issuance of the denial. For purposes of reconsideration, the permit applicant shall present the following information:

(i) Any statement or documentation, in addition to that included in the initial application, which demonstrates that the applicant satisfies the criteria set forth in the section under which the permit application is made.

(ii) The basis for the permit applicant's disagreement with the Superintendent's findings and conclusions; and

(iii) Whether or not the permit applicant requests an informal hearing before the Regional Director.

(2) The Regional Director shall provide a hearing if requested by the applicant. After consideration of the written materials and oral hearing, if any, and within a reasonable period of time, the Regional Director shall affirm, reverse, or modify the denial of the Superintendent and shall set forth in writing the basis for the decision. A copy of the decision shall be forwarded promptly to the applicant and shall constitute final agency action.

authority: 16 U.S.C. 3101
source: 71 FR 69333, Nov. 30, 2006, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 36 CFR 13.40