[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10158-10159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5165]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AK-050-1220-04]


Limits of Acceptable Change, Gulkana River, Alaska

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 Fairbanks, AK on March 8, 1999 
beginning at 2:00 P.M. for open house and 3:00 meeting; and, 5:30 P.M. 
for open house and 6:30 meeting, at the North Star Borough (Noel Wien) 
Public Library, Fairbanks, AK (459-1020). In Anchorage, AK on March 9, 
1999 meetings will be held at 2:00 P.M. for open house and 3:00 
meeting; and, 5:30 P.M. open house and 6:30 meeting, at the Z.J. 
Loussac Public Library Conference Room, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage, AK 
(343-2906). In Gulkana Village on March 11, 1999 meetings will be held 
at 2:00 P.M. open house and 3:00 meeting; and, 5:30 P.M. open house and 
6:30 meeting, at the Gulkana Village Community Hall, Mile 127 
Richardson Highway, Gulkana, AK.

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 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

[[Page 10159]]

(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.
    Publication of this notice was delayed due to transport and 
delivery problems to the Office of the Federal Register.

    Dated: February 8, 1999.
Kathy J. Liska,
District Outdoor Recreation Planner, Glennallen Field Office.
[FR Doc. 99-5165 Filed 2-26-99; 11:39 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P