August 24, 2000
Alaska State Director
Bureau of Land Management
222 West 7th Avenue, No. 13
Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7955
Subject: Renewal of BLM Lease of the Campbell Tract
Dear State Director:
The Arctic Orienteering Club uses the Campbell Tract property to
run many races during the year. Our club of over 2000 members has
used the area for many years and has hosted the United States
National Orienteering Championships using the tract. We maintain
detailed maps of the area for use at the meets and also for use
by BLM at the Science Center and the general public. The Campbell
Tract and adjoining Bicentennial Park lands are a fantastic
orienteering area within the city.
Our club has become aware that the current BLM lease of the
Campbell Tract will expire shortly and the BLM has requested
renewal of the lease. Our membership at our annual meeting held
at the Science Center voted unanimously to support BLM's renewal
of the lease of the entire parcel. Our club feels the BLM has
managed the parcel well and in the public's best interest. We
feel that if the BLM's lease is renewed the lands will be managed
in a prudent manner and for the benefit of the community. Our
club enjoys using the lands and would not want to see the land
broken up into smaller parcels with other land uses. For these
reasons we urge you to place renewing BLM's lease of the Campbell
tract as a high priority.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this matter. We also
request a public hearing be held to allow further comment to be
gathered and the tracts users to be heard.
Sincerely,
Arctic Orienteering Club
Daniel Billman
President
13740 McDonell Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99516