[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57475-57476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28665]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AK-930-1310-AG]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Activity Plan IAP/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Management of the Northwestern
Portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A); Request for
Information; and Call for Nominations and Comments
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), as amended; the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as amended;
Title I of the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 (42
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), as amended by the Department of the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1981, Pub. L. 96-
514, 94 Stat. 2957, 2964 (codified in 42 U.S.C. 6508); the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Pub. L. 96-487, 94 Stat.
2371, section 810, 16 U.S.C. 3120; and the regulations at 43 CFR parts
2360 and 3130; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State
Office, is preparing an Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the northwest portion of the National
Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). This Notice also serves as a Request
for Information (Request) and Call for Nominations (Call) and Comments
per 43 CFR 3130.1 and 3131.2.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this Notice is to invite
suggestions and the submittal of relevant information for the proposed
IAP/EIS. Potential issues include, but are not limited to, wildlife
resources protection (terrestrial and aquatic); oil and gas leasing and
development (pursuant to 43 CFR Part 3130); subsistence resources and
activities and possible impacts on subsistence from various management
alternatives; access, recreation, and visual resources; threatened and
endangered species; and historic; cultural, soil, water, and vegetation
resources. Potential management actions and activities which may have
environmental and subsistence impacts for the area include mineral
material extraction; oil and gas exploration and development;
wilderness; recreation; commercial development; recommendations for
wilderness designations; modifications of existing Special Areas; and
identification of any new areas for additional resource protection.
Information, comments, and nominations on specific issues to be
addressed in the plan are sought from all interested parties. This
early planning and consultation step is important for ensuring that all
interests and concerns are communicated to the Department of the
Interior for future decisions in land use, planning, and management.
Description of the Area
The area subject to this Notice is composed of those BLM-
administered lands, subject to valid existing rights, in the
northwestern portion of NPR-A. The northwestern portion of NPR-A is
described as: Beginning on the western boundary NPR-A on the east--west
township line between T.8 N., R.40 W., and T.9 N., R.39 W., Umiat
Meridan (UM.); Thence proceed easterly along the township line to the
northeast corner of T.8 N., R.26 W., UM.; Thence proceed southerly
along the township line to the southeast corner of T.7 N., R.26 W.,
UM.; Thence proceed easterly along the township line to the
northeastern corner of T.6 N., R.25 W., UM.; Thence proceed southerly
along the township line to the southeast corner of T.5 N., R.25 W.,
UM.; Thence proceed easterly along the township line to the northeast
corner of T.4 N., R.24 W., UM.; Thence proceed southerly along the
township line to the southeast corner of T.1 N., R.24 W., UM.; Thence
proceed easterly along the township line to the northeast corner of T.1
S., R.24 W., UM.; Thence proceed southerly along the township line to
the southeast corner of T.4 S., R.24 W., UM.; Thence proceed easterly
along the township line to a point where the left bank of the Colville
River meets the southern township line of T.4 S., R.15 W., UM.; Thence
proceed in a generally easterly direction following the left bank of
the Colville River to a point where the Colville River intercepts the
eastern boundary of T.3 S., R.6 W., UM.; Thence proceed northerly
following the township lines to the northeast corner of T.2 N., R.6 W.,
UM.; Thence proceed westerly following the township line to the right
bank of the Ikpikpuk River on the south township line of T.3 N., R.12
W., UM.; Thence proceed northerly along the right bank of the Ikpikpuk
River to the northern boundary of NPR-A; Thence follow the boundary of
NPR-A in a general westerly and then southerly direction to the point
of beginning of this description. This planning area consists of
approximately 9,980,000 acres of which approximately 9,437,000 are
federal and approximately 543,000 acres are in private ownership. A
large scale map of the plan area (which also serves as the Call map)
showing boundaries of the area by township is available from the Alaska
State Office, BLM, 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501, telephone
(907) 271-5546.
Public Participation
BLM seeks information and comments on issues relating to the future
land use, planning, and management of the northwest portion of NPR-A.
Also requested is information and comments on resources, such as
wilderness, wildlife and subsistence resources, as well as current and
potential future activities on these lands, including possible
development of the area's oil and gas potential. The agency is
interested in learning what areas are of particular value for various
species and uses, and what measures should be considered to protect
resources and uses from potentially impacting activities. Comments are
also sought on any potential conflicts with approved coastal management
plans (CMPs) and other land use plans that may result from possible
future activities in the area. These comments should identify specific
policies of concern as listed in CMPs or other plans, the nature of the
conflicts foreseen, and steps that BLM could take to avoid or mitigate
the potential conflicts. Comments may be in terms of broad areas or
focused on particular townships of concern. Comments are sought on
activities and measures to protect surface resources within the plan
area, including fish and wildlife, historical and scenic values.
Comments are sought on subsistence uses and needs within the plan area
and possible impacts on subsistence from other uses of the area.
Comments should include recommendations for particular
[[Page 57476]]
sections of the plan area that are of value for surface and subsurface
resources, as well as conditions, restrictions, and prohibitions that
would protect surface resources. Comments, including names and street
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review during
regular business hours. Individual respondents may request
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address
from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information
Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written
comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law.
All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their
entirety.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 3131.1 and 3131.2, relevant information related
to possible oil and gas leasing is requested for the plan area. Oil and
gas companies are specifically requested to nominate areas within the
plan area that they would like to have considered for oil and gas
leasing. Nominations must be depicted on the Call map by outlining the
area(s) of interest along township lines. Nominators are asked to
submit a list of townships nominated to facilitate correct
interpretation of their nominations on the Call map. Although the
identities of those submitting nominations for oil and gas leasing
become a matter of public record, the individual nominations will be
held confidential consistent with applicable law. Nominators also are
requested to rank townships nominated for oil and gas leasing according
to priority of interest [(e.g., priority 1 (high), 2 (medium), or 3
(low)]. Townships nominated that do not indicate priorities will be
considered priority 3. Nominators are encouraged to be specific in
indicating townships by priority. Blanket priorities on large areas are
not useful in the analysis of industry interest. The telephone number
and name of a person to contact in the nominator's organization for
additional information should be included in the response. The
regulations at 43 CFR part 3130 limit the size of an oil and gas lease
tract within the NPR-A boundaries to no more than 60,000 acres (43 CFR
3130.4-1). Although nominations are to be submitted along township
lines, comments are also being sought on the preferred size of tracts
for leasing in this area, not to exceed 60,000 acres.
Responses to this request for information and comments, and call
for nominations must be received no later than 45 days following
publication of this document in the Federal Register. Nominations must
be submitted in envelopes labeled ``Nominations Related to the NPR-A
IAP/EIS'' to protect the confidentiality of the nominations. The
original Call map with nominations must be submitted to the NPR-A
Planning Team Leader, Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue
#13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599. Information, comments, and nominations
submitted in responses to this publication will assist in early scoping
and later development of alternatives for the IAP/EIS and will help
identify areas for potential activities, including oil and gas
development and resource protection.
Tentative Schedule
Approximate dates for actions and decisions in the planning process
for this proposal are:
Comments are due on Notice, Request, and Call--December 15, 2001.
Scoping meetings are scheduled for the following Alaska
communities:
Point Lay--December 3, 2001
Anaktuvuk Pass--December 4, 2001
Wainwright--December 5, 2001
Atqasuk--December 6, 2001
Barrow--December 10, 2001
Nuiqsut--December 11, 2001
Fairbanks--January 15, 2002
Anchorage--January 16, 2002
All meetings will begin at 7:00 PM. Meeting locations will be
announced later.
Draft IAP/EIS available for comment--November 19, 2002.
Public meetings/hearings--December, 2002--January, 2003.
Comments due on Draft IAP/EIS--January 30, 2003.
Final IAP/EIS available for public view--October 2, 2003.
Record of Decision--November 3, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curt Wilson, (907) 271-5546 or
[email protected]. He can be reached by mail at 222 W. 7th Avenue,
#13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599.
Francis R. Cherry, Jr.,
State Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 01-28665 Filed 11-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-M