These regulations govern the conduct of the mineral resource assessment activities authorized under § 1010 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), 16 U.S.C. 3101, et seq., in units of the National Park System in Alaska. The regulations are designed to ensure that authorized Federal agencies and their contractors carry out mineral resource assessment activities in an environmentally sound manner that does not result in lasting environmental impacts that appreciably alter the natural character of the units, or biological or ecological systems in the units; is compatible with the purposes for which the units are established; and ensures that all units are left unimpaired and preserved for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

These regulations apply to all activities conducted by authorized agencies and their contractors on public lands in units of the National Park System in Alaska under the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment program (AMRAP) as authorized by section 1010 of ANILCA. AMRAP activities conducted under this subpart shall be performed in accordance with ANILCA, the regulations in this subpart, the terms and conditions of an approved permit, and other applicable statutes and regulations, and amendments thereto.

The terms used in this subpart shall have the following meaning:

(a) AMRAP means the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program authorized by section 1010 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), 16 U.S.C. 3150.

(b) AMRAP Activities means any project, method, technique or other activity incidental to mineral resource assessments conducted by authorized AMRAP agencies or their contractors in units of the National Park System in Alaska pursuant to section 1010 of ANILCA under an approved permit. AMRAP activities include access into, across, through, or over a unit of the National Park System for the conduct of those activities. Only mineral resource assessment methods or techniques that do not result in lasting impacts on park resources and values may be permitted as AMRAP activities. Mineral resource assessment techniques may include aerial photography; remote sensing; hand-sampling of geologic materials; hand-sampling or hand-augering methods for geochemical analyses; and geophysical techniques such as magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, chemical, radioactive, and gravitational methods. Mineral resource assessment activities may be permitted as long as:

(1) No explosives are used;

(2) They are consistent with § 9.306; and

(3) They are consistent with the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and National Park Service policies concerning wilderness management and the use of motorized equipment in wilderness areas.

Core and test drilling, including exploratory drilling of oil and gas test wells, are explicitly prohibited as AMRAP activities in units of the National Park System.

(c) AMRAP agencies means those agencies of the U.S. Department of the Interior that are authorized by the Secretary to perform mineral resource assessment activities pursuant to section 1010 of ANILCA.

(d) Superintendent means the Superintendent, or his/her designee, of the unit of the National Park System in Alaska where AMRAP activities are conducted or proposed to be conducted.

(a) To facilitate compliance with this Subpart, each AMRAP agency will designate a coordinator for AMRAP activities in Alaska who will be the central point of communications with the NPS. The AMRAP agency is responsible for notifying the Regional Director of such designation.

(b) By January 1 of each year, the designated coordinators for the AMRAP agencies will, in consultation with the Regional Director, schedule an interagency meeting to be held by January 31 of each year. Representatives of the AMRAP agencies and the NPS will meet to develop a mutually agreeable schedule of AMRAP projects and activities in Alaska units of the National Park System. Where practicable, AMRAP agencies will consolidate their field activities, including access and field camps, to minimize disturbance to park resources and values.

(a) By February 15 of each year, the designated coordinator of each AMRAP agency will forward to the Regional Director an application pursuant to § 9.304(b) for proposed AMRAP projects and activities discussed and reviewed at the annual coordination meeting held under § 9.303(b). Applications requiring additional information will be promptly returned to, or discussed with, the coordinator of the involved AMRAP agency to resolve any deficiencies.

(b) Applications will be submitted in a form and manner prescribed by the Regional Director and will contain at a minimum:

(1) The name of the AMRAP agency and responsible office and, where applicable, its designated contractual representative that will conduct the proposed activities;

(2) The name, office address and telephone numbers of the AMRAP agency persons or contractor persons who will supervise the proposed activities, and a list of all individual's names, addresses and telephone numbers who will be present at field activities;

(3) A list of any previous AMRAP activities or prior geologic and mineral resource assessments that have occurred in the proposed study area;

(4) A discussion of overall project objectives, schedules and products, and how the proposed activities for the current application relate to those objectives;

(5) A description of the activities proposed for approval, including a detailed description of the collection techniques, sampling methods and equipment to be used in each area;

(6) Topographic maps identifying the specific areas in units of the National Park System where the agency proposes to conduct each AMRAP activity;

(7) The approximate dates on which the AMRAP activities for each area are proposed to be commenced and completed;

(8) A description of access means and routes for each area in which work is proposed including an estimate of the number of flights or number of vehicle trips;

(9) A description of the field support requirements proposed for locations on lands within units of the National Park System, including camp sites, fuel storage areas, and any other requirements;

(10) A discussion which documents that proposed activities will be carried out in an environmentally sound manner utilizing the least impacting technology suitable for the purposes of the project; and

(11) A description of how any disturbed areas, such as camp sites, will be reclaimed.

Each AMRAP agency is responsible for obtaining all required Federal, State, and local permits and must provide sufficient information to the NPS to ensure appropriate compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), and other applicable statutes.

(a) The Regional Director will review applications submitted pursuant to § 9.304 and will ensure that final action is taken on such applications by April 15 of each year. If additional review time is necessary to ensure compliance with this Subpart or with other applicable laws, Executive Orders and regulations, the Regional Director will promptly notify the AMRAP agency coordinator of the anticipated date of a final decision.

(b) The Regional Director is responsible for approving AMRAP activities in units of the National Park System in Alaska.

(c) To be approved, proposed AMRAP activities must be designed to be carried out in an environmentally sound manner, as determined in appropriate environmental documentation, that:

(1) Does not result in lasting environmental impacts that appreciably alter the natural character of the units or the integrity of the biological or ecological systems in the units; and

(2) Is compatible with the purposes and values for which the units are established; and

(3) Does not adversely affect the natural and cultural resources, visitor use, or administration of the area.

(a) AMRAP activities approved by the Regional Director may be conducted in units of the National Park System pursuant to a permit issued by the Superintendent in accordance with this subpart, 36 CFR 1.6, and other applicable regulations, guidelines and policies.

(b) The NPS may restrict the conduct of AMRAP activities in certain areas and during sensitive periods, such as nesting, calving and spawning seasons, to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife or to comply with existing policies or directives.

(c) All project areas affected by AMRAP activities shall be left in an unimpaired state by the AMRAP agency and its contractors. All costs borne by the NPS in cleaning or restoring an area affected by AMRAP activities will be recoverable from the AMRAP agency.

(d) Copies of all published information or written reports resulting from AMRAP activities conducted in units of the National Park System shall be provided to the Regional Director.

(e) The NPS reserves the right, without prior notice to the AMRAP agency or its contractors, to observe or inspect AMRAP activities to determine whether such activities are being conducted pursuant to this subpart and the terms and conditions of the approved permit.

(a) A proposal to modify, supplement, or otherwise amend an approved permit shall be made by an AMRAP agency by written request to the Regional Director. The Regional Director shall review and promptly act on the proposed modification pursuant to the standards set forth in § 9.306. An AMRAP agency may not undertake any of the activities proposed in the modification until the Regional Director approves the modification and the Superintendent amends the approved permit.

(b) The Superintendent may modify, suspend or cancel an AMRAP agency's permit by notifying the agency in writing, or orally in an emergency situation, when the Superintendent determines that:

(1) Changes to the permit are necessary to address conditions not previously anticipated; or

(2) There is imminent threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate harm or danger to public health and safety, or the natural and cultural resources and values of the unit; or

(3) The AMRAP agency or its contractors fails to comply with the provisions of ANILCA or of any other applicable law or regulation, the provisions and conditions of the approved permit and any modification thereto, or any written or field orders issued by the Superintendent.

(c) Modification, suspension, or cancellation of an approved permit pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section shall be effective immediately upon receipt of oral or written notice from the Regional Director or the Superintendent. Notices issued orally shall be followed by written notice sent by certified mail within three (3) working days confirming and explaining the action. Suspensions shall remain in effect until the basis for the suspension has been corrected to the satisfaction of the Superintendent. Cancellation notices shall state the reason for cancellation and shall be sent by the Superintendent to the AMRAP agency at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the date the cancellation will become effective.

(d) Suspension or cancellation of a permit to conduct AMRAP activities shall not relieve the AMRAP agency or its contractors of the obligation to restore any location in accordance with the requirements of this subpart and to comply with all other obligations specified in this subpart and in the permit.

Written appeals made within 30 days of notification of a final decision by the Regional Director pursuant to this subpart shall be reviewed by the Director of the National Park Service. Resolution of any outstanding issues shall follow current Department of the Interior procedures for resolving interagency disputes.