The state is out with an updated plan for managing a large swath of the central interior. The draft Yukon Tanana area plan encompasses over 9 million acres from the Denali borough north to the village of Rampart and from Fairbanks west to Tanana. Department of Natural Resources planner Brandon McCuthcheon says the document accounts for changes since its last update in 1991.
The plan classifies state lands for various uses and many areas have overlapping designations, allowing for multiple uses. McCuthcheon says the public has provided input.
The draft Yukon Tanana area plan is out for public review through the end of August. A similar plan for state lands from Fairbanks to the Canadian border is due out soon.
Listen for the full story
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.