[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