[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53461-53462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26554]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AK-050-1220-04]
Limits of Acceptable Change, Gulkana River, AK
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to hold planning and scoping meetings to
discuss and develop limits of acceptable change for the Gulkana River,
AK and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969 and the Alaska National Interest and Conservation Act (ANILCA) of
1980.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to conduct a
Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) planning process for the Gulkana
River area. The recommendations developed during the LAC planning
process will be used to update the Gulkana National Wild River
Management Plan and develop a Lower Gulkana River Management Plan. The
LAC process will be conducted by a third party contractor. Based on the
recommendations developed during the LAC process, the BLM will
determine the appropriate level of compliance required under Section
102 (2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
DATES: Public meetings will be held in Glennallen, AK on October 19,
1998 beginning at 2, 4:30, and 7 pm at the Caribou Cafe Banquet Room,
Mile 187, Glenn Highway, Glennallen, AK, (907) 822-3656. In Fairbanks,
AK on October 21, 1998 meetings will be held at 2, 4:30 and 7 pm at the
Noel Wein (FSNB) Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK,
(907) 459-1020. In Anchorage on October 23, 1998 at 2, 4:30 and 7 pm at
Z.J. Loussac Public Library Conference Room, 3600 Denali Street,
Anchorage, AK (907) 343-2906.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Gulkana River Studies
Team, P.O. 2372, Durango, CO 81302. The e-mail address is
[email protected]. A website with pertinent information has been
established at www.gulkanariver.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gulkana River Studies Team. 1-800-439-
0410; Kathy Liska, Glennallen Field Office, Bureau of Land Management
(907) 822-3217.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulkana LAC planning process is being
coordinated by a third party consultant to the Bureau of Land
Management, Glennallen Field Office. The purpose of this contract is to
conduct a Limits of Acceptable Change planning process for the Gulkana
River, AK.
The West and Middle Forks and the mainstem of the Gulkana River are
included in the National Wild and Scenic River system. In 1980 Congress
designated 181 miles of the Gulkana River as ``Wild'' pursuant to the
1968 Wild and Scenic River Act. The three stretches of river exhibit
general inaccessibility, except by trails, with watersheds essentially
primitive with unpolluted waters and represent vestiges of primitive
America.
The Limits of Acceptable Change study includes the existing Wild
River Corridor and the following areas: (1) A 9,840 acre area along the
South Branch West Fork, west of the existing Wild River Corridor. This
stretch has been considered for additional designation as a wild river;
and, (2) The Gulkana River from the southern limits of the existing
Wild River Corridor at Sourdough Creek to the confluence with the
Copper River, plus adjacent land generally between the river and the
Richardson Highway and about 1 mile west of the river.
The objectives of the Limits of Acceptable Change process include
three components: (1) Provide recommendations to update the Gulkana
National Wild River Management Plan and create a citizen-driven Lower
Gulkana River Management Plan; (2) Produce documents required to comply
with potential National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) actions and
ANILCA Sec 810; and, (3) Develop and implement a monitoring program to
measure and evaluate changes in natural and social conditions, with
corresponding management actions that
[[Page 53462]]
may be needed to maintain or achieve desired future conditions.
The desired outcome of the Limits of Acceptable Change planning
process is to develop a consensus among the various stakeholders as to
the best ways to manage the Gulkana River corridor within legislative
constraints. Existing regulatory guidance for management of the Gulkana
River corridor is provided by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968) and
the Alaska National Interest Lands and Conservation Act (1980).
In December 1983 the Bureau of Land Management completed the
initial River Management Plan for the Gulkana River. That report was
entitled ``Gulkana River. A Component of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System''. In that document the specific boundaries and
management policies were established for the Gulkana National Wild
River.
With increasing use and improved access to the Gulkana River
system, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to update the River
Management Plan through the use of the Limits of Acceptable Change.
Results from the LAC planning process will be utilized by the Bureau of
Land Management to determine what level of NEPA compliance and
environmental analysis will be required to implement the proposed
recommendations.
Dated: September 28, 1998.
Kathy J. Liska,
District Outdoor Recreation Planner, Glennallen Field Office.
[FR Doc. 98-26554 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
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