[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 7008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3102]



[[Page 7008]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-932-1410-ET; F-14895]


Public Land Order No. 7596; Withdrawal of Public Lands for 
Mekoryuk Village Selection; Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public land order.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This order withdraws approximately 12,155 acres of public land 
located within the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge from all forms 
of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining and 
mineral leasing laws, pursuant to Section 22(j)(2) of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act. This action also reserves the land for selection 
by the NIMA Corporation, the village corporation for Mekoryuk. This 
withdrawal is for a period of 120 days; however, any land selected 
shall remain withdrawn by this order until it is conveyed. Any land 
described herein that is not selected by the corporation will remain 
withdrawn as part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, pursuant 
to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or will be 
subject to the terms and conditions of any other withdrawal or 
segregation of record.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 12, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robbie J. Havens, Bureau of Land 
Management, Alaska State Office, 222 W. 7th Avenue, No. 13, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99513-7599, 907-271-5477.

Order

    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by Section 22(j)(2) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 
U.S.C. 1621(j)(2) (2000), it is ordered as follows:
    1. Subject to valid existing rights, the following described public 
land, located within the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, is 
hereby withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the public land 
laws, including the mining and mineral leasing laws, and is hereby 
reserved for selection under Section 12 of the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1611 (2000), by the NIMA Corporation, the 
village corporation for Mekoryuk:

Seward Meridian

T. 1 N., R. 81 W., (unsurveyed)
    Secs. 5 to 8, inclusive;
    Secs. 17 to 36, inclusive, excepting therefrom Native Allotment 
Certificate 50-95-0444.

    The area described contains approximately 12,155 acres.

    2. Prior to conveyance of any of the land withdrawn by this order, 
the land shall be subject to administration by the Secretary of the 
Interior under applicable laws and regulations, and her authority to 
make contracts and to grant leases, permits, rights-of-way, or 
easements shall not be impaired by this withdrawal.
    3. This order constitutes final withdrawal action by the Secretary 
of the Interior under Section 22(j)(2) of the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1621(j)(2) (2000), to make lands available 
for selection by the NIMA Corporation, to fulfill the entitlement for 
the village of Mekoryuk, under Section 12 and Section 14(a) of the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1611 and 1613 (2000).
    4. This withdrawal will terminate 120 days from the effective date 
of this order; provided, any land selected shall remain withdrawn 
pursuant to this order until conveyed. Any land described in this order 
not selected by the corporation shall remain withdrawn as part of the 
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, pursuant to Section 303(7) of the 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 668(dd) 
(2000); or will be subject to the terms and conditions of any other 
withdrawal or segregation of record.
    5. It has been determined that this action is not expected to have 
any significant effect on subsistence uses and needs pursuant to 
Section 810(c) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, 
16 U.S.C. 3120(c)(2000) and this action is exempted from the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 note (2000), by 
Section 910 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, 43 
U.S.C. 1638 (2000).

    Dated: January 15, 2004.
Rebecca W. Watson,
Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 04-3102 Filed 2-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P