98-9499. Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Draft Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 17887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9499]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AK-931-1310-00-NPRA]


Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Draft Integrated 
Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Announcement of public subsistence-related hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management announces a public subsistence-
related hearing concerning the Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-
Alaska Draft Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement 
(IAP/EIS). The planning area is roughly bounded by the Colville River 
to the east and south, the Ikpikpuk River to the west and the Beaufort 
Sea to the north. The planning area includes Teshekpuk Lake and 
neighboring habitat used by migratory waterfowl important to southwest 
Alaska subsistence users.
    Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 
requires the BLM to evaluate the effects of the alternative plans 
presented in this IAP/EIS on subsistence activities in the planning 
area, and to hold public hearings if it finds that any alternative 
might significantly restrict subsistence activities. The Association of 
Village Council Presidents has identified a potential of subsistence 
impacts in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta based upon activities that might 
affect migrating waterfowl on the Alaska North Slope. The Association 
of Village Council Presidents has requested a hearing in the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta area. Therefore, the BLM is holding a public hearing on 
the date given below.
    The IAP/EIS contains five alternatives for a land management plan 
for the 4.6 million-acre planning area and assessments of the impacts 
on the surface resources present there. These alternatives provide 
varying answers to two primary questions. First, will the BLM conduct 
oil and gas lease sales in the planning area and, if so, what lands 
will be made available for leasing? Second, what protections and 
enhancements will be implemented for natural and cultural resources and 
the activities that are based on these resources? The public hearing 
noted below will be to receive comments on the potential subsistence 
impacts to users in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

DATES: Oral and/or written comments may be presented at a public 
hearing to be held: May 12, 1998, 9 am; KVNA, Bethel, Alaska.
    Any change to the hearing schedule will be accompanied by 
appropriate public notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Terland (907-271-3344; 
[e-mail]) or Jim Ducker (907-271-3369; [e-mail]). 
They can be reached by mail at the Bureau of Land Management (930), 
Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for developing this IAP/EIS is 
derived from the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Naval 
Petroleum Reserves Production Act, and the National Environmental 
Policy Act. Authority for holding this hearing is derived from the 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
    Copies of the draft IAP/EIS are available for public review at the 
Kuskokwim Consortium Library in Bethel, at the BLM Alaska State Office, 
222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513, or through the internet 
at: http://aurora.ak.blm.gov/npra/.
Sally Wisely,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-9499 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-M