[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67467-67468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30035]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-931-1310-DQ-NPRA]


Notice of Availability of the Northwest National Petroleum 
Reserve--Alaska Final Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Northwest National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska (NPR-A) Final 
Integrated Activity Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (IAP/EIS) will 
be made available to the public for a 30-day period beginning on the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) files a Notice of 
Availability of the Final IAP/EIS in the Federal Register. The EPA 
notice is expected to be filed on or about November 28, 2003. A Record 
of Decision (ROD) will be issued after the 30-day availability period. 
The ROD will identify the selected alternative as well as mitigation 
measures.
    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has worked closely with the 
North Slope Borough and the State of Alaska in developing the Final 
IAP/EIS. The Minerals Management Service of the Department of the 
Interior has also assisted the BLM in developing the document.

ADDRESSES: The Final IAP/EIS will be available in either hard copy or 
on compact disk at the Alaska State Office, Public Information Center 
at 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599. Copies of the 
Final IAP/EIS will also be available at the following locations: Tuzzy 
Public Library, Barrow, Alaska; City of Nuiqsut, Nuiqsut, Alaska; City 
of Atqasuk, Atqasuk, Alaska; City of Anaktuvuk, Pass, Anaktuvuk Pass, 
Alaska; City of Wainwright, Wainwright, Alaska; and City of Point Lay, 
Point Lay, Alaska.
    The Final IAP/EIS will also be available on BLM's Web site at 
http://www.ak.blm.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curt Wilson, BLM Alaska State Office, 
(907) 271-5546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Planning Area boundary encompasses 
approximately 9.4 million acres located in the northwestern portion of 
the NPR-A. Within the 9.4 million acre Planning Area are approximately 
8.8 million acres of federal surface and 9.1 million acres of federal 
subsurface estate. The Planning Area is roughly bounded on the east by 
the Ikpikpuk River. The southern boundary extends along a portion of 
the Colville River and then proceeds along township and section lines 
in a ``stair-step'' fashion to the northwestern corner of the NPR-A at 
Icy Cape on the Arctic Ocean. The northern boundary from Icy Cape to 
the mouth of the Ikpikpuk River follows the Arctic Ocean coastline 
encompassing the bays, lagoons, inlets, and tidal waters between the 
NPR--'s outlying islands and the mainland. The Final IAP/EIS addresses 
three primary questions regarding management of the Northwest portion 
of the NPR-A. First, what lands, if any, will be made available for oil 
and gas leasing? Second, what measures will BLM use to protect 
important surface resources during oil and gas exploration and 
development activities? Third, what non-oil and gas land use 
allocations should BLM consider for the Northwest portion of the NPR-A?
    The release of the Final IAP/EIS concludes a planning and 
environmental analysis process for the Northwest portion of the NPR-A 
which started in November, 2002. A Draft IAP/EIS was made available for 
a 60-day comment period on January 17, 2003. Scoping and comment 
meetings on the Draft IAP/EIS were held in Nuiqsut, Atqasuk, Barrow, 
Wainwright, Point Lay, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. The Planning Area 
provides particularly important habitat for caribou, waterfowl, and 
other species. Many of the local residents of the area rely on 
harvesting these resources for subsistence purposes. Ensuring adequate 
protection of these resources has been one of the main focuses of 
public comment. The BLM held public hearings on subsistence in 
conjunction with the public meetings held on the Draft IAP/EIS.
    The Final IAP/EIS describes the Preferred Alternative which was 
developed in consideration of more than 96,000 public comments on the 
four alternatives included in the Draft IAP/EIS. All the significant 
elements of the Preferred Alternative were included in one or more of 
the alternatives presented in the Draft IAP/EIS.
    Under the Preferred Alternative, all 9.1 million acres of BLM 
administered subsurface estate within the Planning Area would be 
available for oil and gas leasing. No areas would be recommended as 
Wilderness Study Areas or Wild and Scenic Rivers. Leasing, however, 
would be deferred for 10 years in the western portion of the Planning 
Area, which encompasses approximately 1,570,000 acres. The Preferred 
Alternative also recommends the Kasegaluk Lagoon and adjacent lands for 
designation as a Special Area and prohibits permanent oil and gas 
facilities within this 102,000-acre proposed Special Area. Under the 
Preferred Alternative, setbacks have been established prohibiting 
permanent facilities within 1/4 to 1 mile along major rivers, deep 
water lakes and coastal areas to protect subsistence resources/
activities and other important surface resources. Multi-year studies 
are required prior to development to protect spectacled and Steller's 
eiders, yellow-billed loons, brant and caribou. Other stipulations and 
required operating procedures establish restrictions and guidance that 
apply to waste prevention and spills, water use, winter overland moves 
and seismic activity, exploratory drilling, aircraft use and 
subsistence consultation.
    The no action alternative calls for continuation of current 
management, and no leasing would occur. Alternatives A through C make 
progressively less land, especially

[[Page 67468]]

environmentally sensitive land, available for oil and gas leasing. 
Alternative A makes 100 percent available for oil and gas leasing, 
Alternative B makes 96 percent available, and Alternative C makes 47 
percent available. Stipulations would provide protection for natural 
and cultural resources under all alternatives, but their nature, number 
and scope varies between the alternatives.
    Authority for developing this document is derived from the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act, the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production 
Act of 1976, as amended, and the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA).

Henri R. Bisson,
State Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 03-30035 Filed 11-26-03; 4:43 pm]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P