(a) Subsistence resident zone communities. The following communities and areas are included within the resident zone for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway/Northway Village/Northway Junction, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, Tonsina, and Yakutat.

(b) Subsistence resident zone boundaries. Boundaries for communities and areas added to the park resident zone will be determined by the Superintendent after consultation with the affected area or community. If the Superintendent and community are not able to agree on a boundary within two years, the boundary of the area or community added will be the boundary of the Census Designated Place, or other area designation, used by the Alaska Department of Labor for census purposes for that community or area. Copies of the boundary map will be available in the park headquarters office.

(c) Subsistence aircraft exemption. In extraordinary cases where no reasonable alternative exists local rural residents who permanently reside in the following exempted community(ies) may use aircraft for access to lands and waters within the park for subsistence purposes in accordance with a permit issued by the Superintendent: Yakutat (for access to the Malaspina Forelands Area only).

(d) Use of bait for taking bears. (1) The superintendent may issue individual, annual permits allowing the use of human-produced food items as bait for taking bears upon a finding that:

(i) Such use is compatible with the purposes and values for which the area was established (e.g. does not create a user conflict); and

(ii) The permit applicant does not have reasonable access to natural bait that may be used under § 13.480(b)(1).

(2) Permits will identify specific locations within the park area where the bait station may be established and will not include areas where the use of such materials could create a user conflict.

A map showing the boundaries of the KNHL is available at the park visitor center. The following activities are prohibited within the KNHL—

(a) Entering closed structures or passing beyond barricades;

(b) Entering mine tunnels and other mine openings;

(c) Camping in or on any historic structure; and

(d) Camping within the mill site of the KNHL. The mill site consists of the collection of buildings clustered around the mill building on both sides of National Creek. For purposes of this subpart, the mill site is the area bounded by Bonanza Creek to the north, the Kennicott Glacier to the west, the 2,200 foot contour line to the east, and Sweet Creek to the south. The mill site is depicted on a map available at the park visitor center; and

(e) Lighting or maintaining a fire within the mill site as defined in paragraph (d) of this section.

For purposes of this subpart, the HVCDA consists of all park areas within a 1/2 mile radius of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Headquarters building, other than the Valdez Trail. The following activities are prohibited within the HVCDA:

(a) Lighting or maintaining a fire;

(b) Camping;

(c) Entering the area after visiting hours (visiting hours will be posted at the entrance gate).

For purposes of this subpart, the Slana Developed Area consists of all park areas within a 1/4 mile radius of the Slana Ranger Station.

The Superintendent may prohibit or otherwise restrict activities in the KNHL, Headquarters/Visitor Center Developed Area, and Slana Developed Area to protect public health and safety or park resources. Information on closures and restrictions will be available at the park visitor center. Violating these closures or restrictions is prohibited. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subpart, the Superintendent may issue a Special Use Permit to authorize uses in the KNHL and either developed area.

(a) A solid waste disposal site may accept non-National Park Service solid waste generated within the boundaries of the park area.

(b) A solid waste disposal site may be located within one mile of facilities as defined by this part so long as it does not degrade natural or cultural resources of the park area.

(c) A transfer station located wholly on nonfederal lands within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve may be operated without the permit required by §§ 6.4(b) and 6.9(a) only if:

(1) The solid waste is generated within the boundaries of the park area;

(2) The Regional Director determines that the operation will not degrade any of the natural or cultural resources of the park area; and

(3) The transfer station complies with the provisions of part 6 of this chapter.

(d) For purposes of this section, a transfer station means a public use facility for the deposit and temporary storage of solid waste, excluding a facility for the storage of a regulated hazardous waste.

(a) What is the scope of this regulation? The regulations contained in paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section apply to the use of motor vehicles off roads within the boundaries of the Nabesna District within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This section does not affect the use of snowmobiles or snowmachines.

(b) What terms do I need to know? The following definitions apply only to the regulations in this section:

FEIS Wilderness Area means an area of designated wilderness identified on the Upper Copper/Jacksina Wilderness map available at the Slana Ranger Station, the Main Park Visitor Center, the Tanada and Copper Lake trailheads, and on the park Web site.

Frozen means frost depth of 6 inches as measured with a soil probe and determined by the Superintendent.

Improved means a trail that is in a design-sustainable or maintainable condition as determined by the Superintendent.

Nabesna District means a designated area in the northern portion of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve as shown on a map available at the Slana Ranger Station, the Main Park Visitor Center, and on the park Web site.

Recreational use means the use of an off-road vehicle for any purpose other than for subsistence uses, which are defined in § 13.420, or access to inholdings in accordance with 43 CFR 36.10.

Trail corridor means an area extending 0.5 miles from either side of the centerline on the Black Mountain trails and portions of the Tanada Lake trail within the FEIS Wilderness Area.

(c) Must I obtain a permit to operate an off-road vehicle for recreational use? (1) You must obtain a permit before operating an off-road vehicle for recreational use. Permits may be obtained at the Slana Ranger Station in Slana or the Main Park Visitor Center in Copper Center.

(2) The Superintendent may issue permits for the recreational use of off-road vehicles on any of the following trails in the National Preserve:

(i) Suslota Trail.

(ii) Caribou Creek Trail.

(iii) Trail Creek Trail.

(iv) Lost Creek Trail.

(v) Soda Lake Trail.

(vi) Reeve Field Trail.

(3) Permits may be issued for the recreational use of off-road vehicles only on designated trails that are either frozen or improved. A map showing trails designated for recreational off-road vehicle use, and a current list of frozen and improved trails, are available at Slana Ranger Station, the Main Visitor Center, and on the park's Web site.

(4) You must obtain a permit for each off-road vehicle that you want to use for recreational purposes on designated off-road vehicle trails. The operator of the off-road vehicle must have the permit in his or her possession when the off-road vehicle is in use.

(5) Violating any term or condition of a permit is prohibited.

(6) The recreational use of off-road vehicles without a permit is prohibited.

(d) May I operate an off-road vehicle for subsistence uses in the FEIS Wilderness Area? (1) In the FEIS Wilderness Area, local rural residents may operate off-road vehicles for subsistence uses as defined by this part on the following trails:

(i) Black Mountain Trails.

(ii) Tanada Lake Trail.

(2) In the FEIS Wilderness Area, off-road vehicles may be operated off the designated trails only for the purpose of game retrieval in the designated trail corridors.

(3) All other areas of the FEIS Wilderness Area are closed to subsistence ORV use and local rural residents may not operate an off-road vehicle for subsistence uses outside of the trails and trail corridors identified in paragraphs (d)(1)-(2) of this section.

(4) Trails and trail corridors in the FEIS Wilderness Area, and the boundaries of the FEIS Wilderness Area, are shown on the Upper Copper/Jacksina Wilderness map available at the Slana Ranger Station, the Main Park Visitor Center, the Tanada and Copper Lake trailheads, and on the park Web site.

(e) Are there limits on the types of off-road vehicles that may be operated off roads in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve? The following types of vehicles may not be used off roads for recreational or subsistence uses in the Nabesna District of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve:

(1) Nodwells or other tracked rigs greater than 5.5 feet in width or 4,000 pounds curb weight.

(2) Street-legal highway vehicles.

(3) Custom 4x4 jeeps, SUVs, or trucks designed for off-road use.

(4) Original or modified “deuce and a half” cargo trucks.

(5) Dozers, skid-steer loaders, excavators, or other construction equipment.

(6) Motorcycles or dirt bikes.

(7) Log skidders.

(8) Wheeled vehicles (including all terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, and Argos) exceeding 1,500 pounds curb weight, not including trailers.