Proclamation 4616

by Jimmy Carter

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

In the creation of Mount McKinley National Park the southern half of the mountain's massif was inadvertently excluded from the Park. The creation of Denali National Monument will bring within the protection of the National Park System the entirety of this, the highest peak on the North American continent. This face markedly differs from the north side for it has a more gradual rise and a significant system of glaciers. It is also the approach route used historically by those seeking to scale Mount McKinley.

Certain of the glaciers on the south face are among the largest in Alaska, reaching up to 45 miles in length. Yet, only the very uppermost parts are presently within the National Park. Their protection is enhanced by the creation of this monument.

In the southwest area of the monument hereby created are the geologically unique Cathedral Spires. From this granitic pluton mass radiate eight major glacial troughs exhibiting cirques and headwalls rising 5,000 feet from their bases.

The monument also protects significant habitat for the McKinley caribou herd which has provided a basis for scientific study since the early twentieth century. Associated with the herd in this ecosystem are other scientifically important mammals such as grizzly bear, wolf and wolverine.

The Toklat River region includes a unique area of warm springs which attracts an unusual late run of Chum salmon. This run provides an important late fall food source for the grizzly bear population of the area which, because of its accessibility, has been the subject of many scientific studies.

The land withdrawn and reserved by this Proclamation for the protection of the geological, biological and other phenomena enumerated above supports now, as it has in the past, the unique subsistence culture of the local residents. The continued existence of this culture, which depends on subsistence hunting, and its availability for study, enhance the historic and scientific values of the natural objects protected herein because of the ongoing interaction of the subsistence culture with those objects. Accordingly, the opportunity for the local residents to engage in subsistence hunting is a value to be protected and will continue under the administration of the monument.

Section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431), authorizes the President, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments, and to reserve as part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIMMY CARTER, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by Section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431), do proclaim that there are hereby set apart and reserved as the Denali National Monument all lands, including submerged lands, and waters owned or controlled by the United States within the boundaries of the area depicted as the Denali National Monument on the map numbered DENA-90,007 attached to and forming a part of this Proclamation. The area reserved consists of approximately 3,890,000 acres, and is the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected. Lands, including submerged lands, and waters within these boundaries not owned by the United States shall be reserved as a part of the monument upon acquisition of title thereto by the United States.

A11 lands, including submerged lands, and all waters within the boundaries of this monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from entry, location, selection, sale or other disposition under the public land laws, other than exchange. There is also reserved all water necessary to the proper care and management of those objects protected by this monument and for the proper administration of the monument in accordance with applicable laws.

The establishment of this monument is subject to valid existing rights, including, but not limited to, valid selections under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and under or confirmed in the Alaska Statehood Act (48 U.S.C. Note preceding Section 21).

Nothing in this Proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation or appropriation, including any withdrawal under Section 17 (d) (1) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1616(d)(1)); however, the national monument shall be the dominant reservation. Nothing in this Proclamation is intended to modify or revoke the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding dated September 1, 1972, entered into between the State of Alaska and the United States as part of the negotiated settlement of Alaska v. Morton, Civil No. A-48-72 (D. Alaska, Complaint filed April 10, 1972).

The-Secretary of the Interior shall promulgate such regulations as are appropriate, including regulation of the opportunity to engage in a subsistence lifestyle by local residents. The Secretary may close the national monument, or any portion thereof, to subsistence uses of a particular fish, wildlife or plant population if necessary for reasons of public safety, administration, or to ensure the natural stability or continued viability of such population.

Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy or remove any feature of this monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and third.

JIMMY CARTER

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 2:58 p.m., December 1, 1978]