[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55139-55140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27528]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Wild and Scenic River 
Study and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower 
Sheenjek River in Alaska

AGENCIES: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Revised Draft Wild and Scenic 
River Study and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service announces the availability of a 
revised draft Wild and Scenic River Study and Legislative Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska. The document 
describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a proposed action 
and a no-action alternative. The proposed action would recommend for 
designation the 99-mile segment of the Lower Sheenjek River as a 
National Wild River. Designation would ensure long-term protection of 
the river's outstanding values through a river management plan for the 
lower river. Under the no-action alternative the lower Sheenjek River 
would not be recommended for designation. The no-action alternative 
would continue existing management conditions on the river. This notice 
announces the dates and locations of public meetings to solicit 
comments on the Draft Legislative EIS.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Legislative EIS must be received no later 
than January 15, 1999. Hearing dates, times, and locations are listed 
under Supplementary Information, below.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft Legislative EIS should be submitted to 
Sheenjek River Study, National Park Service, 2525 Gambell Street, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2892. FAX at (907) 257-2499, or by electronic 
mail to: SheenjekRiverC[email protected]. Copies of the draft DCP/EIS are 
available upon request from the aforementioned address.

[[Page 55140]]

    Copies of the DEIS are available for public inspection at the 
following locations:
     Yukon Flats Refuge office in Fairbanks, AK. (101) 12th 
Ave., Room 264),
     Noel Wien Public Library in Fairbanks, AK. (1215 Cowles 
Street),
     Fort Yukon Village Office and Public Library,
     National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office (Anchorage, 
AK.) 2525 Gambell Street, Room 405),
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Alaska Regional Office (Anchorage, 
AK., 1011 East Tudor Road, External Affairs Office, 1st Floor),
     Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (3150 C 
Street, Suite 100), and
     Anchorage Loussac Public Library (3600 Denali Street).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jack Mosby, Program Manager--Rivers, Trails, and Conservation 
Assistance, National Park Service, 2525 Gambell Street, Anchorage, AK 
99503-2892. Telephone (907) 257-2650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), 
the National Park Service, has prepared a revised draft Wild and Scenic 
River Study and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska. Information meetings and public 
hearings are scheduled in Alaska on the dates and at the times and 
locations indicated below.
     December 8, Anchorage, Loussac Public Library, 3600 
Denali, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
     December 9, Fairbanks, Alaska Public Lands Information 
Center, 250 Cushman Street, Suite 1A, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
     December 10, Fort Yukon, Village Office, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
    The Lower Sheenjek River study corridor (two miles on either side 
of the river) was evaluated and found to meet the eligibility criteria 
as it is ``free flowing'' and contains one or more ``outstandingly 
remarkable values'' {cultural (subsistence), wildlife, scenic, and 
recreation}. It was recommended as a ``wild river'' due to the lack of 
development along the river corridor. Alternatives presented in the 
DEIS explore the impacts of the designation versus non-designation. 
Alternative A (the proposed action) recommends the Lower Sheenjek River 
within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge be recommended for 
Congressional action for addition to the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System for its outstandingly remarkable cultural, wildlife, 
scenic, and recreational values. The segment would be classified as 
wild, and management of the federal lands would remain with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service. Management objectives would focus on keeping 
the river free from water resource development, major extractive 
resource development, minimizing the impact of recreation use on the 
rivers' outstandingly remarkable values, and generally maintaining the 
undeveloped character of the river corridor. No expenditures for 
administrative or public use facilities would be required under this 
alternative, although some funds would be spent on corridor 
administration (estimated at less than $5,000 per year). No land 
acquisition is needed. Alternative B (no action) would continue 
existing conditions on the refuge. The river's resource values would 
not receive any additional protection or management attention relative 
to other rivers or resources in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife 
Refuge.

    Dated: October 8, 1998.
Robert D. Barbee,
Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 98-27528 Filed 10-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M