[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64734-64735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31259]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AK-932-1430-01; F-020174, F-35871, F-35872]


Notice of Proposed Extension of Withdrawal and Opportunity for 
Public Meeting; Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Army has filed applications to 
extend the withdrawal of approximately 869,862 acres of public lands 
for the Fort Wainwright Yukon Training Area, the Fort Greely West 
Training Area, and the Fort Greely East Training Area. The lands were 
originally withdrawn by Public Law 99-606 of November 6, 1986. The 
withdrawal will expire on November 5, 2001, unless extended. This 
withdrawal extension requires legislative action by Congress pursuant 
to the Act of February 28, 1958, 43 U.S.C. 155-158, commonly known as 
the Engle Act. The lands are currently withdrawn from all forms of 
appropriation under the public land laws, the mining laws, the mineral 
leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws pursuant to Public Law 
99-606.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before February 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Alaska State Director, BLM 
Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Avenue, No. 13, Anchorage, Alaska 
99513-7599.


[[Page 64735]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robbie J. Havens, BLM Alaska State 
Office, 907-271-5049.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 5, 1998, the Department of the 
Army filed applications to extend the withdrawal for the Fort 
Wainwright Yukon Training Area (formerly known as the Fort Wainwright 
Maneuver Area), the Fort Greely West Training Area (formerly known as 
the Fort Greely Maneuver Area), and the Fort Greely East Training Area 
(formerly known as the Fort Greely Air Drop Zone). The Army has 
determined there is a continuing military need for the lands and filed 
the applications for extension in accordance with Section 8 (a)(1) and 
(2) of Public Law 99-606. The legal descriptions for the lands are as 
published in the 52 FR 5506-5507, February 23, 1987; 52 FR 8405, March 
17, 1987; 52 FR 17485, May 8, 1987; and the 54 FR 48782, November 7, 
1989. The areas described aggregate approximately 869,862 acres.
    A copy of the legal descriptions are available by contacting Robbie 
J. Havens at the address or phone number listed above.
    The Fort Wainwright Yukon Training Area, the Fort Greely West 
Training Area, and the Fort Greely East Training Area, are used by the 
Army for military maneuvering, training, artillery firing, aerial 
gunnery, infantry tactics, equipment development and testing, as well 
as other defense related purposes. The sites are used to train in an 
extremely cold environment and to test the effect of this environment 
on military equipment, and are used by the Army, the Air Force, and 
other military units.
    This withdrawal extension requires legislative action by Congress 
pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1958, 43 U.S.C. 155-158.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension may 
present their views in writing to the Alaska State Director of the 
Bureau of Land Management.
    There will be three public meetings. The purpose of these meetings 
is for interested persons to comment on the proposed extension of the 
withdrawal and the associated draft legislative environmental impact 
statement. Each meeting for the public hearings will be conducted as 
open houses that will begin at 2:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m. 
People interested in the proposed extension of the land withdrawal and 
the associated draft legislative environmental impact statement will 
have the opportunity to make formal remarks.
    The three meetings will be conducted at the following locations on 
the dates indicated:

January 5, 1999, Diamond Willow Club, Delta Ave. & First Street, 
Building 701, Fort Greely, Alaska.
January 6, 1999, Carlson Center, Pioneer Room, 2010 Second Avenue, 
Fairbanks, Alaska.
January 7, 1999, William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center, Board 
Room, 555 West Fifth Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska.
Michael W. Haskins,
Acting Supervisor, Lands and Minerals Group, Division of Lands, 
Minerals, and Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-31259 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P