FAIRBANKS — A bill to allow a major natural gas pipeline cross the eastern end of Denali National Park and Preserve passed the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.
The Denali Park Improvement Act, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, also would allow construction of a small hydroelectric dam near Wonder Lake. The dam would be built by Doyon, Limited, Interior Alaska’s regional nonprofit Native corporation, to provide power to the Kantishna Roadhouse.
The bill also would rename the Talkeetna ranger station for Walter Harper, who in 1913 became the first man to stand atop Denali.
Jim Stratton, National Parks Conservation Association director for Alaska, praised the legislation, calling it a “win-win-win” in a statement.