[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6797-6799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3614]



[[Page 6797]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AK-930-1110-00]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Management of the Northeastern 
Portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), Request for 
Information, and Call for Nominations and Comments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare and Integrated Activity Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement on Management of the northeastern 
portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, Request for 
Information, and Call for Nominations and Comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), as amended; the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as amended; 
Title I of the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 (42 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq), as amended by the Department of the Interior and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1981, Pub. L. 96-
514, 94 Stat. 2957, 2964 (codified in 42 U.S.C. 6508); the Alaska 
National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Pub. L. 96-487, 94 Stat. 
2371, section 810, 16 U.S.C. 3120; and the regulations at 43 CFR Parts 
2360 and 3130; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State 
Office, is preparing an Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the northeast portion of the National 
Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). This Notice also serves as a Request 
for Information (Request) and Call for Nominations (Call) and Comments 
per 43 CFR 3130.1 and 3131.2.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this Notice is to invite 
suggestions and the submittal of relevant information for the proposed 
IAP/EIS. Potential issues include, but are not limited to, wildlife 
resources (terrestrial and aquatic) protection, mineral resource 
development (including oil and gas leasing, pursuant to 43 CFR Part 
3130), subsistence resources and activities and possible impacts on 
subsistence from various management alternatives, access recreation and 
visual resources, threatened and endangered species, and historic, 
cultural, soil, water, and vegetation resources. Potential management 
actions and activities which may have environmental and subsistence 
impacts for the area include mineral material extraction, leasable 
mineral exploration and development, recreation, commercial 
development, modification of the existing Special Areas and 
identification of any new areas for additional resource protection.
    Information, comments, and nominations on specific issues to be 
addressed in the plan are sought from all interested parties. This 
early planning and consultation step is important for ensuring that all 
interests and concerns are communicated to the Department of the 
Interior for future decisions in land use, planning, and management.

Description of the Area:

    The area subject to this Notice is composed of those BLM-
administered lands, subject to valid existing rights, in the 
northeastern portion of NPR-A. The northeastern portion of NPR-A is 
described as beginning on the NPR-A boundary on the township line 
between T.3 S., R. 5 W. and T. 3 S., R. 6 W., Umiat Meridian (U.M.), 
and thence northerly along the township lines to the northeast corner 
of T. 2 N., R. 6 W., U.M., thence westerly along the township line to 
the right bank of the Ikpikpuk River, thence northerly along the right 
bank of the Ikpikpuk River to the northern boundary of NPR-A, thence in 
a generally easterly and southerly direction following the boundary of 
NPR-A to the point of beginning. This area consists of approximately 
4.6 million acres. A large scale map of the plan area (which also 
serves as the Call map) showing boundaries of the area on a township-
by-township basis is available from the Alaska State Office, BLM, 222 
West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501, telephone (907) 271-3369.

Responses

    BLM seeks information and comments on issues relating to the future 
land use, planning, and management of the northeast corder of NPR-A. 
The bureau requests information and comments on resources, such as 
wildlife and subsistence resources, as well as current and potential 
future activities on these lands, including possible development of the 
area's oil and gas potential. For example, the agency is interested in 
learning what areas of particular value for various species and uses, 
and what measures should be considered to protect resources and uses 
from potentially impacting activities.
    Comments are also sought on any potential conflicts with approved 
coastal management plans (CMPs) and other land use plans that may 
result from possible future activities in the area. These comments 
should identify specific policies of concern as listed in CMPs or other 
plans, the nature of the conflicts foreseen, and steps that BLM could 
take to avoid or mitigate the potential conflicts. Comments may be in 
terms of broad areas or restricted to particular townships of concern.
    Comments are sought on activities and measures to protect surface 
resources within the plan area, including fish and wildlife, historical 
and scenic values. Comments are sought on subsistence uses and needs 
within the plan area and possible impacts on subsistence from other 
uses of the area. Comments should include recommendations for 
particular sections of the plan area that are of value for surface and 
subsurface resources, as well as conditions, restrictions and 
prohibitions that would protect surface resources.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 3131.1 and 3131.2, relevant information related 
to possible oil and gas leasing is requested for the plan area. Oil and 
gas companies are specifically requested to nominate within the plan 
area, areas that they would like to have considered for oil and gas 
leasing. Nominations must be depicted on the Call map by outlining the 
area(s) of interest along township lines. Nominators are asked to 
submit a list of townships nominated to facilitate correct 
interpretation of their nominations on the Call map. Although the 
identifies of those submitting nominations for oil and gas leasing 
become a matter of public record, the individual nominations will be 
held confidential consistent with applicable law.
    Nominators also are requested to rank townships nominated for oil 
and gas leasing according to priority of interest[(e.g., priority 1 
(high), 2 (medium), or 3 (low)]. Townships nonominated that do not 
indicate priorities will be considered priority 3. Nominators are 
encouraged to be specific in indicating townships by priority. Blanket 
priorities on large areas are not useful in the analysis of industry 
interest. The telephone number and name of a person to contact in the 
nominator's organization for additional information should be included 
in the response.
    The regulations at 43 CFR part 3130 limit the size of an oil and 
gas lease tract within the NPR-A boundaries to no more than 60,000 
acres (43 CFR 3130.4-1). Although nominations are to be submitted along 
township lines, comments are also being sought on the preferred size of 
tracts for leasing in this area, not to exceed 60,000 acres.
    Responses to this request for information and comments, and call 
for

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nominations must be received no later than 45 days following 
publication of this document in the Federal Register. Nominations must 
be submitted in envelopes labeled ``Nominations Related to the NPA-A 
IAP/EIS'' to protect the confidentiality of the nonominations. The 
original Call map with nonominations must be submitted to the NRP-A 
Planning Team Leader, Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue 
#13, 

,  
99513-7599.
    Information, comments, and nominations submitted in responses to 
this publication will assist in early scoping and later development of 
alternative for the IAP/EIS and will help identify areas for potential 
activities, including oil and gas development and resource protection.

Tentative Schedule

    Approximate dates for actions and decisions in the planning process 
for this proposal are:

                                                                        
                                                                        
Comments Due on Notice, Request, and     March 31, 1997.                
 Call.                                                                  
Scoping meetings (precise dates          March-April 1997.              
 announced later).                                                      
Draft IAP/EIS available for comment....  October 31, 1997.              
Public meetings/hearings...............  Nov.-Dec. 1997.                
Comments due on Draft IAP/EIS..........  December 31, 1997.             
Final IAP/EIS available for public       May 15, 1998.                  
 review.                                                                
Record of Decision.....................  August 15, 1998.               
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jim Ducker, (907) 271-3369 or jducker 
ak.blm.gov, or Curt Wilson, (907) 271-5546 or [email protected]. Both 
can be reached by mail at 222 W. 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513-
7599.
Tom Allen,
State Director, Alaska.

Attachment--Map of Plan Area

BILLING CODE 4310-70-M

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN13FE97.001



[FR Doc. 96-3614 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-C