Alaskan Military Complex Adds Complexity

The word Alaska comes from the Aleut word Alyeska meaning “The Great Land”, and it does indeed hold some of the greatest opportunities for outdoor recreation in America. With a whopping 238 million acres of public land known for its lush coastal temperate rainforests, high mountain peaks, crystal clear lakes and massive glaciers, Alaska provides a breadth of opportunity for expedition seekers, including NOLS. Not surprisingly, the same undeveloped expanses also provide unique training opportunities for our nation’s armed forces.

Currently the Alaskan Command is stitching together a 25-year master plan for the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), which includes an expansion of the services’ existing air, sea, and land training ranges. The JPARC is an amalgamation of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Special Forces for testing and training in realistic combat scenarios. It was initially developed to support cold war tactics. The intent of this expansion is for JPARC to reflect the defense advancements of the 21^st century. Planners are currently accepting public comments as part of an Environmental Impact Statement that is underway for the JPARC Modernization and Enhancement proposal, which will study the environmental effects of the project. Some of the projected actions under analysis include establishing new Military Operation Areas, designating zones for restricted airspace and airspace corridors, expanding access to training areas, and developing new ranges and facilities.

NOLS will be weighing in on this issue, as an increased frequency of training exercises and low-flying aircraft could have a significant impact on the quality of NOLS expeditions in the Talkeetna Mountains. It is also possible that the expansion of JPARC could inhibit the ability to run evacuations and re-rations by aircraft.

If you have an interest in proposed activities in the area, consider submitting comments to the Alaskan Command on the proposed Environmental Impact Statement. The comment period ends February 18^th. To learn more on the issue please visit the JPARC designated website or contact us at [email protected].

Photos courtesy of Ashley Wise