[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58181-58182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15743]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_AK_FRN_MO4500180291]


Special Areas Within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for information.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, is 
seeking written feedback from the public on the need to: identify 
additional significant resource values for existing Special Areas; 
modify the boundaries or management of existing Special Areas; or 
identify public lands that may qualify for designation as new Special 
Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).

DATES: Responses are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 16, 
2024.

[[Page 58182]]

Responses received after this deadline may not be taken into 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals and organizations should submit 
comments electronically to [email protected] and include 
``RFI: Special Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska'' in 
the subject line of the message. Submissions should be machine readable 
in PDF or Word format and should not be locked or password protected.
    Instructions: Response to this Request for Information (RFI) is 
voluntary. Responses should include the name of the person(s) or 
organization(s) filing the response. Responses containing references, 
studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely 
published should include copies of or electronic links to the 
referenced materials.
    The BLM may post responses to the RFI, without change, on its 
website and may use the information received as the BLM finds suitable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacie McIntosh, Senior Policy 
Analyst, at [email protected] or (907) 474-2398.
    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 for contacting 
Ms. McIntosh. 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: The Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act 
of 1976 (NPRPA), as amended, requires that the BLM assure the maximum 
protection of significant surface values ``within the Utukok River, the 
Teshekpuk Lake areas, and other areas designated by the Secretary of 
the Interior containing any significant subsistence, recreational, fish 
and wildlife, or historical or scenic value,'' consistent with the 
exploration for and production of oil and gas from the NPR-A. See 42 
U.S.C. 6504(a); see also 42 U.S.C. 6506a(n)(2). The NPRPA provides the 
Secretary of the Interior authority to designate areas with significant 
surface resource values as ``Special Areas'' within the Reserve.
    On April 19, 2024, the BLM announced a final rule modifying the 
procedures for the designation, de-designation, amendment, and change 
in management of Special Areas within the Reserve. The rule was 
published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024 (89 FR 38712) and 
became effective on June 6, 2024. Under the final rule, the BLM has 
flexibility in how, whether, and when to undertake changes to Special 
Area designations, including by undertaking a process to amend the 
Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) governing the NPR-A or by utilizing a 
separate process. See 43 CFR 2361.30.
    BLM-Alaska is now seeking written feedback and information from the 
public to inform whether to initiate a process to consider changes to 
the Special Areas identified in the current IAP. The BLM is 
particularly interested in receiving comments and feedback regarding 
whether: (1) the significant resource values protected by existing 
Special Areas are comprehensive or whether additional such values 
exist; (2) the boundaries of existing Special Areas should be modified; 
(3) additional measures in existing Special Areas may be necessary to 
assure maximum protection of significant surface resource values; and 
(4) new Special Areas should be designated. To be most helpful, 
feedback should provide as much specificity as possible, including the 
presence or absence of significant surface resource values in 
particular locations and rationale as to what additional measures may 
be required to protect significant resource values within certain 
boundaries.
    By issuing this notice, the BLM is not initiating or committing to 
initiate a process under 43 CFR 2361.30 but will use the information 
submitted to determine whether to do so. Should the BLM determine to 
take further action in response to this RFI, the BLM will follow the 
process set out in the final rule, including applicable opportunities 
for public engagement and Tribal consultation.

Steven M. Cohn,
State Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2024-15743 Filed 7-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-10-P