[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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