[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66475-66476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29302]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Revise a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Kanuti National 
Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks, AK

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to revise the 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Plan) and to develop an Environmental 
Impact Statement, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and 
its implementing regulations, for the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. 
The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended, and with 
Service planning policy to advise other agencies and the public of our 
intentions and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to be addressed in the environmental documents.
    Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements 
will inform people of opportunities to provide written input throughout 
the planning process. Public meetings will be held in communities near 
the refuge (e.g., Bettles, Evansville, Allakaket, Alatna, Coldfoot, 
Hughes, and Fairbanks).
    The draft and final Plans and associated Environmental Impact 
Statement will be available for viewing and downloading at 
www.r7.fws.gov/planning.

ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for further 
information to Peter Wikoff, Planning Team Leader, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd. MS-231, Anchorage, AK 99503 or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Peter Wikoff, Planning Team Leader, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd. MS-231, Anchorage, 
AK 99503 or [email protected]. Additional information 
concerning the plan can be found at http://

[[Page 66476]]

www.r7.fws.gov/planning and concerning the refuge at http://refuges.fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Federal law (National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Administration Act) [16 U.S.C. 
668dd-668ee]), the Service is to manage all lands within the National 
Wildlife Refuge System in accordance with an approved Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan. Section 304(g) of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act (Pub. L. 96-487, 94 Stat. 2371) also directs that 
these plans be prepared. The Plan guides management decisions and 
identifies Refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for 
achieving Refuge purposes. During the planning process, the planning 
team reviews a wide range of Refuge administrative requirements, 
including conservation of the refuge's fish and wildlife populations 
and habitats in their natural diversity; facilitation of subsistence 
use by local residents and access for traditional recreational 
activities; and conservation of resource values, including cultural 
resources, wilderness, and wild rivers. The final revised Plan will 
detail the programs, activities, and measures necessary to best 
administer the Refuge to protect these values and to fulfill Refuge 
purposes. In this Comprehensive Conservation Plan and associated 
Environmental Impact Statement, the Service will describe and evaluate 
a range of reasonable alternatives and the anticipated impacts of each. 
Public input into the planning process is essential.
    The Plan will provide other agencies and the public with 
information to facilitate understanding of the desired conditions for 
the Refuge and how the Service will implement management strategies.
    The Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in 
accordance with procedures for implementing the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370d).
    The Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge lies on the Arctic Circle about 
100 miles south of the Brooks Range and 150 miles northwest of 
Fairbanks, Alaska. The Refuge lies in a basin formed by the Koyukuk and 
Kanuti rivers and encompasses approximately 1.6 million acres. The 
Refuge landscape consists of rolling hills, wetlands, ponds, and 
streams. It supports waterfowl, furbearers, wolves, moose, caribou, and 
bears.
    The Alaska National Interests Land Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 
1980 (Section 302[4][B]) established the Refuge and stated that the 
purposes for which the Kanuti Refuge was established and would be 
managed include:
    (i) To conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their 
natural diversity including, but not limited to, white-fronted geese 
and other waterfowl and migratory birds, moose, caribou (including 
participation in coordinated ecological studies and management of the 
Western Arctic caribou herd), and furbearers;
    (ii) To fulfill the international treaty obligation of the United 
Sates with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats;
    (iii) To provide, in a manner consistent with the purposes set 
forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the opportunity for continued 
subsistence uses by local residents; and
    (iv) To ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner 
consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality 
and necessary water quantity within the refuge.
    The Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Kanuti was completed in 
1987. It is being revised consistent with Section 304(g) of the Alaska 
National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997, and Service planning policy.

    Dated: November 7, 2003.
Rowan Gould,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 03-29302 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P