GVEA seeks permanent power line easement through Big Delta State Historical Park

A permanent power line easement through Big Delta State Historical Park is under public review, with comments due by 5 p.m. July 31.

Golden Valley Electric Association has applied under Alaska Statute 38.05.850 to run a new distribution line through the park in perpetuity, a term the Division of Mining, Land and Water says is standard for public utility easements on state land. The proposed corridor measures 240 feet long and 30 feet wide, crossing state park land eight miles north of Delta Junction to reach the adjacent Whitestone boat launch property. The park sits at Mile 274.5 of the Richardson Highway on the banks of the Tanana River, near the historic Rika's Landing building.

The new application follows a related 2024 decision in which DNR's Northern Regional Land Office approved a separate easement formalizing GVEA infrastructure at the same park that has been in place since approximately 1960 and provides electrical service to park facilities. DNR waived back fees on that prior easement and required GVEA to pay a one-time land use fee of $0.56 per linear foot after an as-built survey. The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation raised no objections to that action, provided it receives advance notice of planned outages, clearing, or other maintenance activities that may affect the park, a condition DNR incorporated as a stipulation.

Written comments must reach Diana Lehman at DNR's Northern Regional Land Office in Fairbanks by July 31. Lehman can be reached at 907-451-2722 or [email protected].