[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 10988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3026]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Land Exchange in 
Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, AK

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public scoping meeting schedule.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), plan to hold public 
scoping meetings to help us prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for a 
proposed land exchange within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge 
in Alaska. In our earlier notice of intent to prepare this EIS, we 
announced that scoping meetings would be held in February. However, we 
have extended the meeting schedule through early April. With this 
notice, we announce meeting dates and ask the public for suggestions 
and comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in our EIS.

DATES: The meeting dates are:
     April 3, 2006: Open house, 3-8 p.m., Fairbanks
     April 4, 2006: Open house, 3-8 p.m., Anchorage
     To be announced: We will also hold scoping meetings in the 
communities of Arctic Village, Beaver, Birch Creek, Central, 
Chalkyitsik, Circle, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, and Venetie. However, 
the schedule for these meetings will be highly dependent on local 
weather conditions and other village activities and commitments. Dates 
and times for these meetings will be announced locally.
    Comment period end date: We will accept public scoping comments 
received on or before April 15, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Meeting addresses:
    Anchorage: FWS Regional Office, 1011 East Tudor Road.
    Fairbanks: Noel Wien Library. 1215 Cowles Street.
    Address comments or questions to Cyndie Wolfe, Project Coordinator, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS-231, 
Anchorage, AK 99503. Comment forms and project information are 
available on the project Web site at: http://yukonflatseis.ensr.com. 
The comment form may be used to submit comments electronically on the 
project Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cyndie Wolfe, Project Coordinator, 
907-786-3463.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We plan to hold public scoping meetings to 
help us prepare an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370d) and its implementing regulations for a 
proposed land exchange and acquisition of certain lands owned by Doyon, 
Limited within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. In 
our earlier notice of intent to prepare this EIS (70 FR 60845, October 
19, 2005), we said that we would soon announce February 2006 dates for 
scoping meetings. However, we have extended the timeframe for those 
meetings to early April 2006. With this notice, we announce scheduled 
meeting dates and ask the public for suggestions and information on the 
scope of issues to be addressed in our EIS. We will accept comments 
received on or before April 15, 2006. For more information about the 
proposed land exchange, please see our earlier notice (70 FR 60845) or 
visit our project Web site at http://yukonflatseis.ensr.com. The draft 
EIS, tentatively scheduled for release in February 2007, will also be 
available for viewing and downloading at this URL.
    We will schedule additional public meetings to discuss the draft 
EIS. We also plan to use special mailings, newspaper articles, and 
other media releases to announce opportunities for the public to 
provide written and oral input.

    Dated: February 15, 2006.
Rowan Gould,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
 [FR Doc. E6-3026 Filed 3-2-06; 8:45 am]
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