[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 71298] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-34155] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of the Secretary Alaska Land Managers Forum AGENCY: Office of the Secretary. ACTION: Notice, reestablishment of Advisory Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice is published in accordance with section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (1988) and 41 CFR 101.6-1015(a). Following consultation with the General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget, notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior is administratively reestablishing an advisory committee known as the Alaska Land Managers Forum. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Secretary on Alaska land and resources issues. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah L. Williams, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior for Alaska, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior, 1689 C Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-5151, (907) 271-5485. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 40 years since Statehood, land ownership and management in Alaska has undergone a massive change. In 1959, nearly all of Alaska (99.8 percent) was owned by the Federal Government, and most of this land (365 million acres) was public domain under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. Today, the State has received title to 90 million acres of a 104.5 million acre entitlement. Alaska Natives, through village and regional corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, have become major land holders (37 million acres interim conveyed or patented) with the eventual ownership of 45.5 million acres. Finally, over 145 million acres in Federal ownership are in national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges. These changes in land status have, in turn, generated changes in the roles and relationships of the State and Federal agencies in Alaska. Also, Native corporations, as owners of 12 percent of the State's land area, have become major participants in the complexities of land and resource management. Since Statehood, there have been several different types of cooperative planning entities charged with making an overview of Alaska issues and developing comprehensive recommendations to the State and Federal Governments. None of these planning entities exist today. The Secretary of the Interior is reestablishing the Alaska Land Managers Forum Advisory Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App.), for the purpose of advising him on land and resource issues in Alaska. Memership on the Forum consists of individuals appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. Appointed as cochairs are the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior for Alaska as the Federal Cochair, the Lt. Governor of the State of Alaska as the State Cochair, and the President of the Alaska Federation of Natives (or designee) as the Alaska Native Cochair. In addition, the charter provides for appointing the commissioners or directors of specified State agencies, the State directors of specified Federal land management agencies, and the heads of two Alaska Native organizations. Administrative establishment of the Alaska Land Managers Forum is necessary and in the public interest. Dated: September 16, 1998. Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior. Certification I hereby certify that the administrative reestablishment of the Alaska Land Managers Forum Advisory Committee is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Department of the Interior by the several acts which regulate management of Federal lands in Alaska. Dated: September 16, 1998. Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior. [FR Doc. 98-34155 Filed 12-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-RP-M