[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 9855-9856] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-4936] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Intent to Revise and Combine the Alaska Peninsula/ Becharof National Wildlife Refuge Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plans and to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior ACTION: Notice and solicitation of comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Service (Service) intends to revise and combine the comprehensive conservation plans (comprehensive plans) for the Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges, Alaska. The Service furnishes this notice in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations to advise agencies and the public of its intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information regarding the scope of issues to be addressed in the revised comprehensive management plan and its accompanying environmental impact statement. The outdated plans need to be revised to respond to changed laws, regulations, and circumstances. A revised plan covering the entire refuge complex will enable the Service to better manage the Refuge and will reduce the general management direction to one document from the 12 documents covering the topics today. DATES: Comments should be received no later than June 1, 1998. ADDRESSES: Address comments to Bob Steven, Refuge Planning Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 786-3499; fax (907) 786-3965. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, contact Helen Clough, Refuge Planning, at (907) 586-7240 ext. 239, fax (907) 586-9391. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (NILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) was signed into law on December 2, 1980. The broad purpose of this law is to provide for the disposition and use of a variety of federally owned lands in Alaska. Section 303 of ANILCA established Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges. ANILCA states that the purposes for which Alaska Peninsula and Becharof Refuges were established and shall be managed include: to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity; to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats; to provide the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents; and to ensure water quality and necessary water quantity within the refuge. The Alaska Peninsula comprehensive plan was completed in 1987. The Becharof comprehensive plan was completed in 1985. In 1988, draft and final supplemental environmental impact statements and records of decision were prepared for the Alaska Peninsula and Becharof comprehensive plans addressing their wilderness reviews. In 1987, the Service decided to manage the Ugashik and Chignik units of Alaska Peninsula Refuge, the 5,800 acre Seal Cape area of Alaska Maritime Refuge, and Becharof Refuge as a ``complex.'' These units share a contiguous boundary and common resources and resource issues. A public use management plan was prepared for the refuge complex and approved in 1994. All together, there are 12 documents that comprise the comprehensive plan for the refuge complex. The Pavlof Unit of the Alaska Peninsula Refuge is managed as part of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Complex and changes to its management will be addressed when that plan is revised. Section 304(g) of ANILCA states that comprehensive conservation plans shall [[Page 9856]] be prepared and ``from time to time'' revised for each refuge. Before plans are prepared the following shall be identified and described: the populations and habitats of the fish and wildlife resources of the refuge; the special values of the refuge, as well as any other archaeological, cultural, ecological, geological, historical, paleontological, scenic, or wilderness value of the refuge; areas of the refuge that are suitable for use as administrative sites or visitor facilities, or for visitor services; present and potential requirements for access; and significant problems which may adversely affect the populations and habitats of fish and wildlife. Plans shall: designate areas within the refuge according to their respective resources and values; specify programs for conserving fish and wildlife and maintaining the special values of the refuge; specify uses which may be compatible with the major purposes of the refuge; and identify opportunities to be provided for fish and wildlife-oriented recreation, ecological research, environmental education and interpretation of refuge resources and values, if they are compatible with the purposes of the refuge. In preparing and revising plans consultation is required with appropriate State agencies and Native corporations and public hearing are to be held at ``locations as may be appropriate to insure that residents of local villages and political subdivisions of the State which will be primarily affected by the administration of the refuge concerned have opportunity to present their views with respect to the plan or revisions.'' Before adopting a plan, public notice in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public views and comment was required. The plans state that every three to five years the Service will review public comments, local and state government recommendations, staff recommendations, and research studies to determine if revisions to the plan are necessary. If major changes are proposed, public meetings may be held, or new environmental assessment/environmental impact statements may be necessary. Full review and updating of the plans will occur every 15 to 20 years, more often if necessary. In 1996 the Service began reviewing the numerous documents that comprise the comprehensive plan for the complex to determine if the ``plan'' should be revised. A number of discrepancies between the two plans were noted including: (1) Conflicting management direction (where one plan allows an activity in a management category and the other plan does not); (2) topics are not addressed by both plans (one plan has management direction for a topic and the other plan does not mention the topic); and (3) format inconsistencies (in some cases the management direction is organized so differently that it is almost impossible to accurately compare). Much of the management direction in the plans is out of date due to changes in laws, regulations, and circumstances (e.g. federal management of subsistence hunting on Alaska refuges which began in 1991). Therefore, the Service decided to revise the plans and prepare one revised comprehensive conservation plan for the refuge complex. This notice formally begins the revision of the comprehensive plan for the Alaska Peninsula/Becharof National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In addition to soliciting public comments through this notice, public comments on issues to be addressed in the revision will be solicited through a newsletter to be mailed to approximately 6,000 individuals and organizations on the mailing list. The comprehensive plan revision will be one agenda topic during a series of community meetings to be held in Chignik, Chignik Lagoon, Chignik Lake, Egegik, Ivanof Bay, Naknek, Perryville, Pilot Point, Port Heiden, and South Naknek in March and April 1998. Once issues are identified, the Service will identify options to address the issues and prepare a draft comprehensive plan and draft environmental impact statement. This document is scheduled to be released for public review in the fall of 1999. After public review and comment on the draft plan and environmental impact statement, including public hearings, a final plan and environmental impact statement will be prepared and released. Electronic Access Interested persons may submit comments and data by electronic mail (E-mail) to: Bob__S[email protected]. Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. WordPerfect file format up to Version 6.1 is also acceptable. Additional information may be obtained electronically by contacting Helen Clough at Helen__C[email protected]. Dated: February 17, 1998. David B. Allen, Regional Director, Anchorage, Alaska. [FR Doc. 98-4936 Filed 2-25-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M