[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 40142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16227]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau Of Land Management

[LLAKF02000.L14300000.EQ0000; AKFF096399]


Notice of Realty Action; Non-Competitive Land Use Authorization 
of Public Lands in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of realty action.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering the 
issuance of a permit for mineral exploration on lands withdrawn for use 
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The 
proposal to conduct sampling associated with mineral assessment on the 
subject lands was provided by Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. (FGMI). The 
BLM has determined that the lands are suitable and available for 
issuance of a non-competitive permit for such purposes to FGMI under 
the authority of Section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA).

DATES: Comments must be received by the BLM Eastern Interior Field 
Office at the address below on or before August 11, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this notice to: Acting 
Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Interior Field 
Office, 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Gibson, Acting Field Office 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Interior Field Office, at 
the above address, by telephone at 907-474-2263, or by email at 
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunication device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 to contact the individual. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week to leave a message or a question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed FLPMA Section 302 permit would 
be located within the following lands:

Fairbanks Meridian, Alaska

T. 2 N., R. 2 E.,

    Sec. 7, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, W\1/2\, excepting lands described in Public Land Order 
7763;
    Sec. 18;
    Sec. 19, lot 1;
    Sec. 20, W\1/2\, W\1/2\E\1/2\ (partial), excepting lands 
described in Public Land Order 7682.
    The areas described aggregate approximately 1,966 acres within the 
Fairbanks North Star Borough.
    Although the subject lands are not covered by a BLM land use plan, 
the proposed mineral assessment activities are consistent with current 
and historic uses of BLM-managed lands in the area. The BLM has 
authorized similar mineral assessment activities on these lands in the 
past, and mining and mineral-related activities have been ongoing in 
this area for more than 100 years. No mineral assessment activities 
would take place on ground subject to valid existing rights pursuant to 
Public Land Order (PLO) 3708 (30 FR 8753, July 10,1965), as modified by 
PLO 6709 (54 FR 6919, February 15, 1989), and extended by PLO 7710 (73 
FR 35708, June 24, 2008). The lands affected are adjacent to Fort Knox, 
one of the largest operating gold mines in Alaska.
    In accordance with the requirements of PLO 3708, the BLM sought and 
received a letter of non-objection from NOAA stating that the mineral 
assessment activities proposed by FGMI will not interfere with the 
operation of its facilities so long as certain conditions identified by 
NOAA are incorporated into any permit.
    The proposed mineral assessment activities are anticipated to 
impact approximately 25 acres over a 3-year period. Approximately 250 
bore holes supporting the sampling would be drilled. Each drill site 
would require a drill pad approximately 2,400 square feet in size. 
Access would be provided by a combination of existing roads and trails 
and newly constructed trails 14 feet in width. Heavy equipment 
including caterpillars, low-boy transport trailers, and portable drill 
rigs would be utilized to take the samples.
    Should a permit be issued, the permit would not authorize any 
activity under the authority of the Mining Law and will not authorize 
mineral development or extraction beyond that associated with 
assessment sampling. Disturbed lands would be reclaimed in accordance 
with BLM regulations and standards.
    Pursuant to the regulations found in 43 CFR part 2920, BLM has 
determined that the public lands described above are available for 
issuance of a non-competitive permit to FGMI for mineral assessment 
purposes. The BLM will therefore accept an application filed by FGMI 
for such a permit under Section 302 of FLPMA. The BLM will complete an 
environmental analysis and make a decision regarding whether to deny or 
grant the application.
    Detailed information relating to the permit process and 
environmental analysis will be available for review at the location 
identified in ADDRESSES above. Comments regarding the proposed non-
competitive permit and the BLM's determination of the availability of 
the subject lands for the described use may be submitted in writing to 
the Acting Field Office Manager (see ADDRESSES, above) on or before 
August 11, 2014. All comments submitted will be evaluated by BLM's 
Eastern Interior Acting Field Office Manager prior to making a final 
decision on whether or not to authorize use of the subject lands for 
mineral assessment work.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address or other 
personal identifying information (PII) in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment may be made publically available at any 
time. While you may request that your PII be withheld from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority: 43CFR 2920.4.

Ted A. Murphy,
BLM Alaska Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-16227 Filed 7-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P