[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57562-57563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15923]



[[Page 57562]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-040-06-1610-DP-087L]


Notice of Availability of Bay Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Bay planning area for 
lands adjacent to Bristol Bay and Goodnews Bay, Alaska and by this 
notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: Public comments on the draft RMP/EIS will be accepted until 90 
calendar days after the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM 
will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public 
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media news releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage Field Office, 
ATTN: Bay RMP, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK 99507.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia McClenahan, Project Lead 
(907) 267-1484, [email protected] or Gary Reimer, Field Manager, (907) 
267-1246, or in writing to the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bay Draft Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement covers approximately 1,176,269 acres of 
unencumbered land and 1,327,553 acres of State- and Native-selected 
land in the Bristol Bay and Goodnews Bay regions in southwestern 
Alaska. The Southwest Management Framework Plan (MFP), completed in 
1981, addresses only the use of the specific portion of these lands 
that lie within the Goodnews Block. A new RMP is necessary to plan for 
those lands not covered by the MFP, to address issues that have arisen 
since the MFP was written, and to meet current planning regulations.
    BLM published a Notice of Intent to prepare an RMP/EIS in the 
Federal Register on December 6, 2004. A 90-day formal scoping period 
began with publication of the Notice by the EPA. Public meetings were 
held in eight communities, and the following primary management 
concerns were identified: (1) What land tenure adjustments would allow 
BLM to consolidate discontiguous blocks of land to benefit users and 
land managers; (2) Which lands would be made available for oil, gas and 
hardrock mineral development, and how should these lands be managed to 
sustain natural and cultural resources; (3) How will access be provided 
to BLM-administered lands for various purposes, including recreation, 
subsistence activities, and general enjoyment of public lands while 
protecting natural and cultural resources; and (4) Should eligible 
rivers be recommended for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System.
    This draft RMP/EIS presents four alternatives to address the issues 
identified in scoping. These include a No Action Alternative and three 
action alternatives, including the Preferred Alternative. The No Action 
Alternative (A) would continue existing management of lands within the 
planning area. Alternative B emphasizes resource development. Under 
this alternative, constraints to protect renewable resource values or 
habitat, cultural and paleontological resources would be implemented on 
a project-by-project basis rather than across the planning area or by 
special designation. Alternative C proposes two Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern and three Wild River segments. No Special 
Recreation Management Areas are identified and off-highway vehicle 
(OHV) use would be limited to existing roads and trails. The Preferred 
Alternative (D) represents a variety of actions that the BLM believes 
best resolves the issues and management concerns in consideration of 
all values and programs. The Preferred Alternative proposes one Area of 
Critical Environmental Concern. No Special Recreation Management Areas 
are identified and off-highway vehicle use would be limited to existing 
roads and trails.
    As required by 43 CFR 1610.7-2, areas with potential for 
designation as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and 
protective management have been considered during the planning process. 
Two potential areas are considered for designation in Alternative C: 
Carter Spit ACEC (62,863 acres) and Bristol Bay ACEC (989,202 acres). 
Three river segments--portions of the Alagnak, Goodnews mainstem, and 
Goodnews middle fork rivers--are also proposed as Wild Rivers under 
Alternative C. One potential area (Carter Spit ACEC) is considered for 
designation under Alternative D. The following tables provide the 
names, acreages of each area, and summary descriptions of resource use 
limitations for Alternatives C and D.

         Table 1.--Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Wild Rivers Under Alternative C
 
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                 Name of area                       Acreage                 Resource use limitations
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Carter Spit ACEC..............................          62,863  Open to fluid mineral leasing with Stipulations
                                                                 and Required Operating Procedures, subject to
                                                                 conditions.
                                                ..............  Open to locatable mineral exploration and
                                                                 development with Required Operating Procedures,
                                                                 subject to conditions.
                                                ..............  Closed to sale of mineral materials (i.e. sand,
                                                                 gravel).
                                                ..............  Designated ``Limited'' OHV Use.
                                                ..............  Recreation managed as ``Semi-primitive
                                                                 Motorized.''
                                                ..............  Visual resources managed at Level III.
                                                ..............  Avoidance Area for rights-of-way.
                                                ..............  Develop Habitat Management Plan.
Bristol Bay ACEC..............................         989,202  Open to fluid mineral leasing with Stipulations
                                                                 and Required Operating Procedures, subject to
                                                                 conditions.
                                                ..............  Open to locatable mineral exploration and
                                                                 development with Required Operating Procedures,
                                                                 subject to conditions.

[[Page 57563]]

 
                                                ..............  Closed to sale of mineral materials (i.e. sand,
                                                                 gravel).
                                                ..............  Designated ``Limited'' OHV Use.
                                                ..............  Recreation managed as ``Semi-primitive
                                                                 Motorized.''
                                                ..............  Visual resources managed at Level III.
                                                ..............  Avoidance Area for rights-of-way.
                                                ..............  Develop Habitat Management Plan.
Wild River segments: Alagnak, Goodnews River            15,125  Visual resources managed at Level III.
 (Mainstem), Goodnews River (Middle Fork).                      Retain existing 17(d)(1)withdrawals until
                                                                 Congress acts.
                                                                Closed to sale of mineral materials (i.e. sand,
                                                                 gravel).
                                                                Avoidance Area for rights-of-way.
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     Table 2.--Proposed Area of Critical Environmental Concern Under
                              Alternative D
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Resource use
          Name of area               Acreage           limitations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carter Spit ACEC...............          62,863  Open to fluid mineral
                                                  leasing with
                                                  Stipulations and
                                                  Required Operating
                                                  Procedures, subject to
                                                  conditions.
                                 ..............  Open to locatable
                                                  mineral exploration
                                                  and development with
                                                  Required Operating
                                                  Procedures, subject to
                                                  conditions.
                                 ..............  Closed to sale of
                                                  mineral materials
                                                  (i.e. sand, gravel).
                                 ..............  Designated ``Limited''
                                                  OHV Use.
                                 ..............  Recreation managed as
                                                  ``Semi-primitive
                                                  Motorized.''
                                 ..............  Visual resources
                                                  managed at Level III.
                                 ..............  Avoidance Area for
                                                  rights-of-way.
                                 ..............  Develop Habitat
                                                  Management Plan.
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    Final acreage for areas designated as ACECs would also depend on 
the result of land conveyance to the State of Alaska and Native 
corporations.
    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.
    Copies of the Bay Draft RMP/EIS (paper or compact disc) are 
available at the BLM Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, 
Anchorage, AK 99507 and the BLM Alaska State Office, 222 W. 7th Avenue, 
Anchorage, AK 99513. The document is also available online and may be 
viewed at http://www.blm.gov/ak/ado.

    Dated: July 6, 2006.
Julia Dougan,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. E6-15923 Filed 9-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P