North Slope closed to off-road travel

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mining, Land and Water said Dec. 9 that all tundra opening areas on the North Slope remain closed for off-road travel.

The division said staff will be on the Slope the week of Dec. 16 with the next travel report likely posted Dec. 20.

Both snow depths and soil temperatures of -5 degrees C at 30 centimeters are required.

In the eastern coastal area three of six stations have met the 6-inch snow depth criteria, but soil temperature criteria have not been met at any of the stations.

In the western coastal areas, all monitoring stations have met the 6-inch snow depth criteria, but none have met the soil temperature criteria.

Three of five stations in the Lower Foothills area have met the 9-inch snow depth criteria, but none have met the soil temperature criteria.

All monitoring stations in the upper foothills have met the 9-inch snow depth criteria, but none have met the soil temperature criteria.

Eastern and western coastal areas of the Slope did open for snowmobile travel Oct. 24, for those with valid off-road travel permits for state-owned lands.

--Petroleum News