96-3614. Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Management of the Northeastern Portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), Request for Information, and Call for ...  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 6797-6799]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-3614]
    
    
    
    [[Page 6797]]
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    [AK-930-1110-00]
    
    
    Notice of Intent To Prepare an Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/
    Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Management of the Northeastern 
    Portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), Request for 
    Information, and Call for Nominations and Comments
    
    AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
    
    ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare and Integrated Activity Plan/
    Environmental Impact Statement on Management of the northeastern 
    portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, Request for 
    Information, and Call for Nominations and Comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
    of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), as amended; the National 
    Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as amended; 
    Title I of the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 (42 
    U.S.C. 6501 et seq), as amended by the Department of the Interior and 
    Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1981, Pub. L. 96-
    514, 94 Stat. 2957, 2964 (codified in 42 U.S.C. 6508); the Alaska 
    National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Pub. L. 96-487, 94 Stat. 
    2371, section 810, 16 U.S.C. 3120; and the regulations at 43 CFR Parts 
    2360 and 3130; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State 
    Office, is preparing an Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/Environmental 
    Impact Statement (EIS) for the northeast portion of the National 
    Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). This Notice also serves as a Request 
    for Information (Request) and Call for Nominations (Call) and Comments 
    per 43 CFR 3130.1 and 3131.2.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this Notice is to invite 
    suggestions and the submittal of relevant information for the proposed 
    IAP/EIS. Potential issues include, but are not limited to, wildlife 
    resources (terrestrial and aquatic) protection, mineral resource 
    development (including oil and gas leasing, pursuant to 43 CFR Part 
    3130), subsistence resources and activities and possible impacts on 
    subsistence from various management alternatives, access recreation and 
    visual resources, threatened and endangered species, and historic, 
    cultural, soil, water, and vegetation resources. Potential management 
    actions and activities which may have environmental and subsistence 
    impacts for the area include mineral material extraction, leasable 
    mineral exploration and development, recreation, commercial 
    development, modification of the existing Special Areas and 
    identification of any new areas for additional resource protection.
        Information, comments, and nominations on specific issues to be 
    addressed in the plan are sought from all interested parties. This 
    early planning and consultation step is important for ensuring that all 
    interests and concerns are communicated to the Department of the 
    Interior for future decisions in land use, planning, and management.
    
    Description of the Area:
    
        The area subject to this Notice is composed of those BLM-
    administered lands, subject to valid existing rights, in the 
    northeastern portion of NPR-A. The northeastern portion of NPR-A is 
    described as beginning on the NPR-A boundary on the township line 
    between T.3 S., R. 5 W. and T. 3 S., R. 6 W., Umiat Meridian (U.M.), 
    and thence northerly along the township lines to the northeast corner 
    of T. 2 N., R. 6 W., U.M., thence westerly along the township line to 
    the right bank of the Ikpikpuk River, thence northerly along the right 
    bank of the Ikpikpuk River to the northern boundary of NPR-A, thence in 
    a generally easterly and southerly direction following the boundary of 
    NPR-A to the point of beginning. This area consists of approximately 
    4.6 million acres. A large scale map of the plan area (which also 
    serves as the Call map) showing boundaries of the area on a township-
    by-township basis is available from the Alaska State Office, BLM, 222 
    West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501, telephone (907) 271-3369.
    
    Responses
    
        BLM seeks information and comments on issues relating to the future 
    land use, planning, and management of the northeast corder of NPR-A. 
    The bureau requests information and comments on resources, such as 
    wildlife and subsistence resources, as well as current and potential 
    future activities on these lands, including possible development of the 
    area's oil and gas potential. For example, the agency is interested in 
    learning what areas of particular value for various species and uses, 
    and what measures should be considered to protect resources and uses 
    from potentially impacting activities.
        Comments are also sought on any potential conflicts with approved 
    coastal management plans (CMPs) and other land use plans that may 
    result from possible future activities in the area. These comments 
    should identify specific policies of concern as listed in CMPs or other 
    plans, the nature of the conflicts foreseen, and steps that BLM could 
    take to avoid or mitigate the potential conflicts. Comments may be in 
    terms of broad areas or restricted to particular townships of concern.
        Comments are sought on activities and measures to protect surface 
    resources within the plan area, including fish and wildlife, historical 
    and scenic values. Comments are sought on subsistence uses and needs 
    within the plan area and possible impacts on subsistence from other 
    uses of the area. Comments should include recommendations for 
    particular sections of the plan area that are of value for surface and 
    subsurface resources, as well as conditions, restrictions and 
    prohibitions that would protect surface resources.
        Pursuant to 43 CFR 3131.1 and 3131.2, relevant information related 
    to possible oil and gas leasing is requested for the plan area. Oil and 
    gas companies are specifically requested to nominate within the plan 
    area, areas that they would like to have considered for oil and gas 
    leasing. Nominations must be depicted on the Call map by outlining the 
    area(s) of interest along township lines. Nominators are asked to 
    submit a list of townships nominated to facilitate correct 
    interpretation of their nominations on the Call map. Although the 
    identifies of those submitting nominations for oil and gas leasing 
    become a matter of public record, the individual nominations will be 
    held confidential consistent with applicable law.
        Nominators also are requested to rank townships nominated for oil 
    and gas leasing according to priority of interest[(e.g., priority 1 
    (high), 2 (medium), or 3 (low)]. Townships nonominated that do not 
    indicate priorities will be considered priority 3. Nominators are 
    encouraged to be specific in indicating townships by priority. Blanket 
    priorities on large areas are not useful in the analysis of industry 
    interest. The telephone number and name of a person to contact in the 
    nominator's organization for additional information should be included 
    in the response.
        The regulations at 43 CFR part 3130 limit the size of an oil and 
    gas lease tract within the NPR-A boundaries to no more than 60,000 
    acres (43 CFR 3130.4-1). Although nominations are to be submitted along 
    township lines, comments are also being sought on the preferred size of 
    tracts for leasing in this area, not to exceed 60,000 acres.
        Responses to this request for information and comments, and call 
    for
    
    [[Page 6798]]
    
    nominations must be received no later than 45 days following 
    publication of this document in the Federal Register. Nominations must 
    be submitted in envelopes labeled ``Nominations Related to the NPA-A 
    IAP/EIS'' to protect the confidentiality of the nonominations. The 
    original Call map with nonominations must be submitted to the NRP-A 
    Planning Team Leader, Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue 
    #13, 
    
    ,  
    99513-7599.
        Information, comments, and nominations submitted in responses to 
    this publication will assist in early scoping and later development of 
    alternative for the IAP/EIS and will help identify areas for potential 
    activities, including oil and gas development and resource protection.
    
    Tentative Schedule
    
        Approximate dates for actions and decisions in the planning process 
    for this proposal are:
    
                                                                            
                                                                            
    Comments Due on Notice, Request, and     March 31, 1997.                
     Call.                                                                  
    Scoping meetings (precise dates          March-April 1997.              
     announced later).                                                      
    Draft IAP/EIS available for comment....  October 31, 1997.              
    Public meetings/hearings...............  Nov.-Dec. 1997.                
    Comments due on Draft IAP/EIS..........  December 31, 1997.             
    Final IAP/EIS available for public       May 15, 1998.                  
     review.                                                                
    Record of Decision.....................  August 15, 1998.               
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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jim Ducker, (907) 271-3369 or jducker 
    ak.blm.gov, or Curt Wilson, (907) 271-5546 or c1wilson@ak.blm.gov. Both 
    can be reached by mail at 222 W. 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513-
    7599.
    Tom Allen,
    State Director, Alaska.
    
    Attachment--Map of Plan Area
    
    BILLING CODE 4310-70-M
    
    [[Page 6799]]
    
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN13FE97.001
    
    
    
    [FR Doc. 96-3614 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-JA-C
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/13/1997
Department:
Interior Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Intent to Prepare and Integrated Activity Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement on Management of the northeastern portion of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, Request for Information, and Call for Nominations and Comments.
Document Number:
96-3614
Pages:
6797-6799 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
AK-930-1110-00
PDF File:
96-3614.pdf