[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 56 (Friday, March 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15194-15195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5646]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-010-08-1610-DQ-086L]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Ring of 
Fire Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) management policies, the BLM announces the 
availability of the RMP/ROD for the Ring of Fire planning area, located 
in southeast and southcentral Alaska, Kodiak Island, and the Aleutian 
Islands.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Ring of Fire RMP/ROD are available upon 
request from the Field Manager, Anchorage Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 6881 Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, or via the Internet 
at http://www.blm.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Zaidlicz, Field Manager, 
Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, (907) 
267-1246 or toll free (800) 478-1263.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ring of Fire RMP was developed with 
broad public participation through a three-year collaborative planning 
process. This RMP/ROD addresses management of approximately 1.3 million 
acres of BLM-administered public lands and mineral estate in the 
planning area. The Ring of Fire RMP/ROD is designed to achieve or 
maintain desired future conditions developed through the planning 
process. It includes a series of management actions to meet the desired 
resource conditions for upland and riparian vegetation, wildlife 
habitats, cultural and visual resources, and recreation.
    The approved Ring of Fire RMP is the same as Alternative D in the 
Ring of Fire Proposed RMP/Final EIS, published in July 2006, with two 
exceptions:
    1. In response to a protest from the Alaska Coalition/American 
Rivers, the BLM will defer Wild and Scenic River suitability 
determinations for segments identified in the RMP as ``Eligible.'' The 
BLM will manage these rivers in a manner that maintains or enhances the 
values that supported the rivers' eligibility until land ownership in 
the planning area is finalized. At that time, suitability 
determinations will be made through an amendment to the Ring of Fire 
RMP.
    2. In response to a protest received from Lynn Canal Conservation, 
Inc., the BLM will defer the final determination on the establishment 
of an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) for the Haines 
Block lands. The BLM will reconsider the application of the Importance 
Criteria found in BLM Manual 1613 and will provide an additional 60-day 
comment period at that time to gather public input on the

[[Page 15195]]

Haines Block ACEC. Establishment of an ACEC would require an RMP 
amendment. In the interim, the lands will be managed as they are 
currently.
    All other portions of the Approved RMP are identical to those set 
forth in July 2006.
    No inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs 
were identified during the Governor's consistency review of the 
Proposed RMP/Final EIS.

    Dated: January 18, 2008.
Thomas P. Lonnie,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E8-5646 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
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