[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8305-8306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02666]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-NWRS-2022-N078; FF07R0200-FXRS12610700000-234]


Environmental Assessment for a Right-of-Way Application on the 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Extension of Time for Completion

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and 
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, we, the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, are preparing an environmental assessment for a

[[Page 8306]]

wintertime access to inholdings right-of-way (ROW) application that we 
have received from Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation. The application is for 
an ROW across the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Due to the 
complexity of the project, we are announcing our need to extend the 
timeframe for completing the EA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Glaspell, Chief, National 
Wildlife Refuge System in Alaska, Alaska Regional Office, by email at 
[email protected]; by U.S. mail at 1011 East Tudor 
Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; or by telephone at 907-786-3584. Information 
about the applicant's proposal is also available at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic. Individuals in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA; 
16 U.S.C 3111-3126), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
are preparing an environmental assessment (EA) for a wintertime access 
to inholdings right-of-way (ROW) application submitted by Kaktovik 
Inupiat Corporation (KIC). Submitted under section 1110(b) of ANILCA, 
the application is for a 20-year ROW across the lands and waters of the 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) between KIC lands located 
within the Refuge and the land-based winter transportation network west 
of the Refuge's western boundary. Due to the complexity of the project, 
we announce via this notice that we need to extend the timeframe for 
completing the EA.

Applicant's Proposed Activities

    The applicant has identified the following initial items for 
transport over the ROW during the term of the desired ROW permit, 
including but not limited to the following:
     Permanent school modules for Kaktovik and other building 
modules;
     Bi-directional movement of community vehicles;
     Diesel fuel, using double-walled fuel tanks, for the 
community powerplant; and
     Other consumables, as identified by the community.
    The number of round trips would vary year to year, depending on 
community needs. All products would be transported across the proposed 
winter overland trail on Rolligon vehicles, which exert low ground 
pressure. For detailed information regarding KIC's application, please 
go to https://www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic.

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    The purpose of the proposed action is to assure adequate and 
feasible access (to the extent it does not already exist) for economic 
and other purposes to KIC's inholdings within the Refuge while 
protecting the natural and other values of the Refuge. The need for the 
proposed action is established by KIC's application for an ROW pursuant 
to title XI, section 1110(b) of ANICLA and the Department's 
implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 36.

Potential Affected Resources

    Based on the proposed route and methods identified by KIC in their 
ROW application (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic), the Service has 
identified the following potentially affected resources:
     Polar bears and their critical habitat;
     Cultural and paleontological resources;
     Tundra, soils, permafrost, stream banks, and coastal 
banks;
     Proposed wilderness and wilderness character;
     Central Arctic and Porcupine caribou herds;
     Water;
     Public safety;
     Viewshed;
     Soundscape;
     Shorebirds and other avian species;
     The Hula Hula River (proposed by the Service as a wild and 
scenic river under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Act (Pub. 
L. 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.));
     Other marine mammal species in the vicinity of the project 
area;
     Other threatened and endangered species;
     Socioeconomics of the Kaktovik community; and
     Subsistence uses.

Next Steps

    The Service received the complete application from KIC on December 
21, 2021. Although departmental regulations in 43 CFR part 36 state 
that an EA or a draft environmental impact statement shall be completed 
within 9 months after the application filing date, those regulations 
allow for a longer time period if the lead agency determines, for good 
cause, that the 9-month period is insufficient. Due to the complexity 
of the project, the Service needs to extend the completion date for the 
EA. The Service will complete the draft EA by September 2023. Upon 
completion, the Service will make the draft EA available on the 
Refuge's website (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic) for a 45-day 
public comment period. Within 90 days after the draft EA comment period 
closing date, the Service will either prepare a final EA (and, if 
appropriate, a finding of no significant impact), or will commence 
development of an environmental impact statement.

Sara Boario,
Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2023-02666 Filed 2-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P