98-26554. Limits of Acceptable Change, Gulkana River, AK

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53461-53462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26554]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AK-050-1220-04]


Limits of Acceptable Change, Gulkana River, AK

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold planning and scoping meetings to 
discuss and develop limits of acceptable change for the Gulkana River, 
AK and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 and the Alaska National Interest and Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 
1980.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to conduct a 
Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) planning process for the Gulkana 
River area. The recommendations developed during the LAC planning 
process will be used to update the Gulkana National Wild River 
Management Plan and develop a Lower Gulkana River Management Plan. The 
LAC process will be conducted by a third party contractor. Based on the 
recommendations developed during the LAC process, the BLM will 
determine the appropriate level of compliance required under Section 
102 (2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

DATES: Public meetings will be held in Glennallen, AK on October 19, 
1998 beginning at 2, 4:30, and 7 pm at the Caribou Cafe Banquet Room, 
Mile 187, Glenn Highway, Glennallen, AK, [phone]. In Fairbanks, 
AK on October 21, 1998 meetings will be held at 2, 4:30 and 7 pm at the 
Noel Wein (FSNB) Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK, 
[phone]. In Anchorage on October 23, 1998 at 2, 4:30 and 7 pm at 
Z.J. Loussac Public Library Conference Room, 3600 Denali Street, 
Anchorage, AK [phone].

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Gulkana River Studies 
Team, P.O. 2372, Durango, CO 81302. The e-mail address is 
[e-mail]. A website with pertinent information has been 
established at www.gulkanariver.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gulkana River Studies Team. 1-800-439-
0410; Kathy Liska, Glennallen Field Office, Bureau of Land Management 
[phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulkana LAC planning process is being 
coordinated by a third party consultant to the Bureau of Land 
Management, Glennallen Field Office. The purpose of this contract is to 
conduct a Limits of Acceptable Change planning process for the Gulkana 
River, AK.
    The West and Middle Forks and the mainstem of the Gulkana River are 
included in the National Wild and Scenic River system. In 1980 Congress 
designated 181 miles of the Gulkana River as ``Wild'' pursuant to the 
1968 Wild and Scenic River Act. The three stretches of river exhibit 
general inaccessibility, except by trails, with watersheds essentially 
primitive with unpolluted waters and represent vestiges of primitive 
America.
    The Limits of Acceptable Change study includes the existing Wild 
River Corridor and the following areas: (1) A 9,840 acre area along the 
South Branch West Fork, west of the existing Wild River Corridor. This 
stretch has been considered for additional designation as a wild river; 
and, (2) The Gulkana River from the southern limits of the existing 
Wild River Corridor at Sourdough Creek to the confluence with the 
Copper River, plus adjacent land generally between the river and the 
Richardson Highway and about 1 mile west of the river.
    The objectives of the Limits of Acceptable Change process include 
three components: (1) Provide recommendations to update the Gulkana 
National Wild River Management Plan and create a citizen-driven Lower 
Gulkana River Management Plan; (2) Produce documents required to comply 
with potential National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) actions and 
ANILCA Sec 810; and, (3) Develop and implement a monitoring program to 
measure and evaluate changes in natural and social conditions, with 
corresponding management actions that

[[Page 53462]]

may be needed to maintain or achieve desired future conditions.
    The desired outcome of the Limits of Acceptable Change planning 
process is to develop a consensus among the various stakeholders as to 
the best ways to manage the Gulkana River corridor within legislative 
constraints. Existing regulatory guidance for management of the Gulkana 
River corridor is provided by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968) and 
the Alaska National Interest Lands and Conservation Act (1980).
    In December 1983 the Bureau of Land Management completed the 
initial River Management Plan for the Gulkana River. That report was 
entitled ``Gulkana River. A Component of the National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System''. In that document the specific boundaries and 
management policies were established for the Gulkana National Wild 
River.
    With increasing use and improved access to the Gulkana River 
system, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to update the River 
Management Plan through the use of the Limits of Acceptable Change. 
Results from the LAC planning process will be utilized by the Bureau of 
Land Management to determine what level of NEPA compliance and 
environmental analysis will be required to implement the proposed 
recommendations.

    Dated: September 28, 1998.
Kathy J. Liska,
District Outdoor Recreation Planner, Glennallen Field Office.
[FR Doc. 98-26554 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
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