[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8469-8470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4190]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Development of the Palau Compact Road, Babeldaob Island, 
Republic of Palau

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior Announces that the revised 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for development of the Palau 
Compact Road, Babeldaob, Island, Republic of Palau is available for 
public review and comment.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary will consider written information 
and commments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement received by 
[April 6, 1998].

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS should be submitted to Mr. Allen 
Chin, CEPOH-ED-E, U.S. Army Engineer District, Honolulu, Fort Shafter, 
HI 96858-5440. A limited number of copies of the document may be 
obtained by writing to the above address or by calling 808-438-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Allen Chin, CEPOH-ED-E, U.S. Army Engineer District, Honolulu, Fort 
Shafter, HI 96858-5440, telephone (808) 438-6974.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proponent for the Proposed Action is the 
United States Department of the Interior as program manager and on 
behalf of the United States of America.
    The Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the Republic of 
Palau (ROP), which became effective on October 1, 1994, requires the 
United States Government (USG) to provide a road system to the people 
of Palau in order to assist the ROP to advance the economic development 
and self-sufficiency of the Palau people. To fulfill this statutory and 
treaty requirement, the USG and the ROP are cooperating to construct a 
major road system on the island of Babeldaob in accordance with Section 
212(a) of the Compact of Free Association and as implemented by certain 
nation-to-nation agreements.
    The Department of the Interior published a Notice of Intent to 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in the Federal 
Register on March 7, 1996. Scoping meetings were held for governmental 
agencies and the public on April 24, 1996. The Notice of Availability 
of the DEIS was announced in the Federal Register in May 1997. A public 
hearing to present the DEIS was held on May 21, 1997 in Palau. 
Subsequent to the preparation of the DEIS, additional studies were 
conducted on impacts of quarrying for the project as well as dredging 
plans by the local states. The DEIS was revised to incorporate the 
results of these studies and to address public and agency comments on 
the original DEIS. After receipt of comments on the revised DEIS, a 
Final EIS will be prepared.

[[Page 8470]]

    The Proposed Action calls for construction of a safe, high-quality, 
all-weather, two-lane vehicular road system on the island of Babeldaob. 
This roadway has been configured as a loop system with a northern spur 
to serve as a direct transportation and communication link between the 
10 states on Babeldaob Island. Additionally, the road would provide 
access through, or be near known areas having potential for 
agriculture, forestry, mining and quarrying, industry and tourism, and 
water resource and port development. It would also provide a land-based 
transportation corridor to and from the proposed site of the Republic 
of Palau's new capital in Melekeok State.
    The selection of a Proposed Action in this revised DEIS does not 
constitute a final decision. The Final EIS, as modified by all previous 
comments, will be used by the Department of the Interior in reaching a 
final decision and developing a final array of measures to avoid, 
reduce, or mitigate adverse impacts. The Record of Decision will be 
approved at least 30 days after publication of the Final EIS to allow 
for public review and comment.
    Copies of the revised DEIS are also available for inspection at the 
following locations: Republic of Palau Ministry of Resources and 
Development, Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, and the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers Palau Compact Road Field Office, on the third 
floor of the WCTC Building in Koror.

    Dated: February 12, 1998.
Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Police and Compliance, Department of 
the Interior.
[FR Doc. 98-4190 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
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