Both coastal areas open for tundra travel

Petroleum News

Both the eastern and western coastal areas of North Slope state lands are open for tundra travel, with a Dec. 23 opening for the eastern coastal area followed by a Dec. 30 opening for the western coastal area. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mining, Land and Water said it has documented that soil temperatures and snow cover have met the criteria for opening: 6 inches of snow and soil temperatures colder than -5 degrees C at a depth of 30 centimeters.

Openings apply only to operators with valid off-road vehicle travel permits to operate on state-owned North Slope lands.

The division cautioned that while overall snow cover is good areas with thin snow cover should be avoided or special construction methods used to protect the tundra service.

The division said questions should be directed to the appropriate DNR permitting section.

--Petroleum News