Juneau -- In response to the National Park Service's plan to close 2 million acres of Denali National Park to snowmachine access, Senator Rick Halford (R- Chugiak) introduced SJR 5 today.

"Access to public lands is a right due all Alaskans," Halford said. "The Park Service proposal is not in the best interest of our constituents, it is not supported by sound science, and it is contrary to the letter and spirit of the federal law."

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), passed in 1980, guarantees traditional access to Denali National Park and the other Federal Conservation Units throughout Alaska. The law outlines a specific process for any restriction of this public access. That process has not been followed by the Park Service in proposing this controversial temporary closure, said Halford. Halford's resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources for consideration. The resolution is gaining support in the Senate. In addition to Halford, eight other senators have signed on as co-sponsors. They include: Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), Pete Kelly (R-Fairbanks), Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell), Gary Wilken (R-Fairbanks), Dave Donley (R-Anchorage), Jerry Ward (R-Anchorage), Loren Leman (R-Anchorage), and Mike Miller (R-North Pole).

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