-OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE COMMERCIAL VISITOR SERVICES IN ALASKA NATIONAL PARKS Description: : Pursuant to the Act of October 9, 1965 (79 Stat. 969; 16 U.S.C. 20 et seq.), notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to extend or award the following concession permits. This action is necessary to allow the continuation of the same services previously provided by these concessioners while planning and prospectus preparation is completed for these parks. The current concessioners have performed their obligations to the satisfaction of the Secretary and retain their rights of preference, if any, under this administrative action of extending the existing permits or awarding new permits. The following concession permits will be extended for a period of one year though December 31, 1998: Wrangell St. Elias National Preserve: AAA Alaskan Outfitters (WRST001-94), Alaska Trophy Hunting and Fishing (WRST002-94), Devil's Mountain Guiding Service (WRST003-94), Ellis Big Game Guide and Outfitter (WRST004-94), Gunlogson Enterprises (WRST005-94), Jungles, Deserts, Mtns (WRST007-94), Lynch Guiding Service (WRST008-94), Nabesna Glacier Guide Service (WRST009-94), Northern Air Trophy (WRST010-94), Pioneer Outfitters (WRST011-94), Ptarmigan Lake Lodge (WRST012-94), Solo Creek Guide Area (WRST013-94), Ultima Thule Outfitters (WRST014-94), Ultima Thule Outfitters (WRST015-94), Wrangell R Ranch (WRST016-94). The following concession permits will be extended for a period of one year though December 31, 1999: Lake Clark National Preserve: Alaska Wilderness Trips (LACL002-95), Northward Bound (GLBA901-96); Gates of the Arctic National Preserve: Richard Guthrie (GAAR001-95). The following concession permits will be extended for a period of two years through December 31, 1999: Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve: E.A. Adventures (YUCH001-93). The following new concession permits will be awarded for a period of two years though December 31, 1999: Aniakchak National Preserve: Cinder River Lodge (ANIA906-98), Katmai Guide Service (ANIA903-98), King Guide Service (ANIA904-98); Denali National Park & Preserve: Alaska Remote Guide Service (DENA901-98), Kichatna Guide Service (DENA904-98), Denali Wilderness Enterprises (DENA003-98); Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: Cunard Line Limited (GLBA043-98), Kloster Cruise Limited (GLBA007-98), Princess Cruises (GLBA003-98), World Explorer Cruises (GLBA006-98), Celebrity Cruise Line (GLBA046-98), Hanseatic Cruise Line (GLBA047-98), Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (GLBA048-98), Seabourn Cruises (GLBA049-98), Carnival Cruise Line (GLBA050-98); Katmai National Park & Preserve: Adventure Unlimited (KATM003-98), Branch River Air Service (KATM005-98), Bristol Bay Sportfishing Lodge (KATM006-98), Mike Cusack's King Salmon Lodge (KATM007-98), No See Um Lodge (KATM002-98), Shasta Ventures (KATM004-98), King Guide Service (KATM902-98), Rainbow River Lodge (KATM901-98). The following new concession permits will be awarded for a period of three years through December 31, 2000: Alaska National Parks: Alaska Natural History Association (ARO001-98); Denali National Park & Preserve: Alaska Denali Guiding (DENA008-98), American Alpine Institute (DENA010-98), Denali Backcountry Lodge (DENA016-98), Doyon Services, Inc. (DENA015-98); Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: Alaska Discovery (GLBA008-98, GLBA009-98), Gary Gray (GLBA033-98, GLBA901-98), Mountain Travel-Sobek (GLBA014-98), Dolphin Charters (GLBA030-98), Elfin Cove Sportfishing Lodge (GLBA028-98), Fairweather Charters (GLBA024-98), Glacier Bay Country Inn (GLBA031-98), Grand Pacific Charters (GLBA016-98), Gustavus Marine Charters (GLBA027-98), Lisianski Charters (GLBA026-98), Marine Adventure Sailing Tours (GLBA027-98), Princeton Hall (GLBA025-98), Seawolf Wilderness Adventures (GLBA032-98), Sewind Charters (GLBA021-98), John Latham (GLBA902-98), Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks (GLBA035-98), Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West (GLBA039-98), Clipper Cruise Line (GLBA037-98), Discovery Shipping (GLBA045-98), Glacier Bay Adventures (GLBA044-98), Special Expeditions (GLBA038-98) Glacier Bay Park Concessions (GLBA041-98); Noatak National Preserve: Midnight Sun Adventures (NOAT901-98), Mountain Monarchs of Alaska (NOAT906-98), Arctic Rivers Guide Service (NOAT904-98). These concession permits will expire on or before December 31, 1997 or 1998 unless extended or awarded. The National Park Service will not renew these permits for an extended period until planning can be conducted to determine the future direction for concession services at these parks and prospectuses prepared. The necessary planning processes and prospectus preparation are expected to begin shortly and will affect the future of these concessions. These processes are expected to take one to three years to complete. Until the planning processes and prospectuses are completed, it will not be in the best interest of the National Park Service to enter into long term concession permits. For this reason, it is the intention of the National Park Service to extend the current permits or award new permits to the current operators for terms ranging from one to three years beginning on January 1, 1998 or 1999, as specified in this notice. Information about this notice can be sought from Chief, Concessions Management, Alaska Support Office, Attention: Kevin Apgar, National Park Service, 2525 Gambell Street, Room 107, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2892, e-mail: kevin_apgar@nps.gov

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