Notice of Availability of the Eastern Interior Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska, 50009-50010 [2016-17963]
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asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices
reasonably foreseeable development in
the 2012 NPR–A Integrated Activity
Plan (IAP) EIS and the 2014 GMT1
Supplemental EIS. The GMT2
Supplemental EIS will address
proposed changes to the previously
approved design and location of the site,
and any new information that could
affect Federal permitting decisions.
New information includes data from
ongoing multi-year studies on
hydrology, birds, caribou, vegetation,
wetlands, and subsistence use. In
addition, since 2004, the study of
climate change and its potential effects
has advanced considerably, and new
data resulting from this research will be
included in the environmental analysis.
The BLM adopted a new IAP for the
NPR–A in February 2013, which
contains updated protective measures.
The polar bear was listed as threatened
under the Endangered Species Act in
2008, and critical habitat has been
proposed within the NPR–A.
The proposed GMT2 project is similar
to the CD–7 project that was approved
in the 2004 ASDP ROD, with several
notable changes: A relocated drill site,
increased road and pipeline length due
to the relocation, and the elimination of
overhead powerlines. In addition, the
BLM is developing a Regional
Mitigation Strategy that will help to
guide the mitigation considerations in
the GMT2 NEPA process.
At present, the BLM has identified the
following preliminary issues for
evaluation in the Supplemental EIS: Air
quality; biological resources, including
special status species; cultural
resources; social impacts, including
subsistence use and environmental
justice; climate change effects; wetlands
and other waters of the United States;
and reasonably foreseeable future
activities.
The BLM will use NEPA public
participation requirements to assist the
agency in satisfying the public
involvement requirements under
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C.
306108), pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
The information about historic and
cultural resources within the area
potentially affected by the proposed
action will assist the BLM in identifying
and evaluating impacts to cultural
resources in the context of both NEPA
and Section 106 of the NHPA.
The BLM will consult with federally
recognized Indian tribes on a
government-to-government basis in
accordance with Executive Order 13175
and other policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets
and potential impacts to cultural
resources, will be given appropriate
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:42 Jul 28, 2016
Jkt 238001
consideration. Federal, state, and local
agencies and tribes that may be
interested in or affected by the proposed
action that the BLM is evaluating, are
invited to participate in the
development of the environmental
review as cooperating agencies.
Authority: 40 CFR 1502.9, 43 CFR part
3100
Ted Murphy,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–17962 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[16X.LLAKF02000.L16100000.DQ0000.
LXSS094L0000]
Notice of Availability of the Eastern
Interior Proposed Resource
Management Plan/Final Environmental
Impact Statement, Alaska
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a
Proposed Resource Management Plan
(RMP) and Final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Eastern Interior
Planning Area in Alaska, in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended. By this notice,
the BLM is announcing the plan’s
availability.
DATES: BLM planning regulations state
that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the
regulations may protest a Proposed
RMP/Final EIS. A person who meets
those regulatory conditions and wishes
to file a protest, must file the protest
within 30 days of the date that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes its Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: The BLM sent copies of the
Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
EIS to affected Federal, State, and local
government agencies, tribal
governments, Alaska Native
corporations, and other stakeholders.
Copies of the Eastern Interior Proposed
RMP/Final EIS are available for public
inspection in both Fairbanks and
Anchorage. You can view a copy at the
BLM Fairbanks District Office, 222
University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK
99709, and at the BLM Alaska State
Office, Public Information Center, 222
West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50009
99513. You can also review a copy of
the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
EIS on the Internet at www.blm.gov/ak/
eirmp.
All protests to the Eastern Interior
Proposed RMP/Final EIS must be in
writing and mailed to one of the
following addresses:
Regular Mail: BLM Director;
Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO–
210; P.O. Box 71383; Washington, DC
20024–1383.
Overnight Delivery: BLM Director;
Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO–
210; 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM;
Washington, DC 20003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeanie Cole, BLM Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, 907–474–
2340, email eastern_interior@
blm.gov.ADDRESS: BLM Fairbanks
District Office, 222 University Avenue,
Fairbanks AK 99709. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question with the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
EIS covers approximately 6.5 million
acres of BLM-administered lands in
interior Alaska. The plan is divided into
four subunits: The Fortymile, Steese,
Upper Black River, and White
Mountains subunits. BLM manages four
areas in the planning area as National
Conservation Lands (NCL): The Birch
Creek, Beaver Creek, and Fortymile
Wild and Scenic Rivers and the Steese
National Conservation Area. In addition
to the four NCL areas, the planning area
includes the White Mountains National
Recreation Area. The Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980,
as amended (ANILCA), designated and
applied special provisions for the four
NCL areas and the White Mountains
National Recreation Area.
The following BLM plans currently
guide management decisions for 4
million acres of the planning area:
Fortymile Management Framework Plan
(1980), Fortymile River Management
Plan (1983), Birch Creek River
Management Plan (1983), Beaver Creek
River Management Plan (1983), Steese
National Conservation Area RMP and
Record of Decision (ROD) (1986), and
White Mountains National Recreation
Area RMP and ROD (1986). No land use
plans currently cover the remaining 2.5
million acres of the planning area,
including the upper Black River area
E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM
29JYN1
50010
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices
and scattered parcels along the highway
system.
The Eastern Interior RMP will replace
the Fortymile Management Framework
Plan (1980), Steese National
Conservation Area RMP (1986), and the
White Mountains National Recreation
Area RMP (1986). The Eastern Interior
RMP will provide further direction for
management of the three Wild and
Scenic River planning areas.
Specifically, the three River
Management Plans (Fortymile, Birch
Creek, and Beaver Creek) will be
evaluated for consistency with the
Eastern Interior RMP and may be
modified in the future through
additional public engagement.
Following release of the Eastern
Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS, the
BLM will prepare four RODs: One ROD
for each of the four subunits within the
planning area (Fortymile, Steese, White
Mountains, and Upper Black River).
The EPA published a Notice of
Availability for the Eastern Interior Draft
RMP/Draft EIS in the Federal Register
on March 2, 2012 (77 FR 12835),
beginning a 150-day public comment
period. Later, the 150-day comment
period was extended pending
publication of a supplemental EIS for
the plan. The EPA published the Notice
of Availability of the supplemental EIS,
Hardrock Mineral Leasing in the White
Mountains National Recreation Area for
the Eastern Interior Draft RMP
(Supplement), in the Federal Register
on January 11, 2013 (78 FR 2397). That
notice began a 90-day public comment
period on the Supplement. The
comment period for both the Eastern
Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS and the
Hardrock Mineral Leasing Supplement
closed on April 11, 2013.
On January 2, 2015, the Federal
Register published the BLM’s Notice of
Availability of Additional Information
on Proposed Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACECs) (80 FR
52). The additional information about
the proposed Mosquito Flats ACEC
described what resource use limitations
would occur if it were designated in the
approved Eastern Interior RMP/Final
EIS. The January 2, 2015, Federal
Register notice started a 60-day
comment period on the proposed
ACECs. That comment period closed on
March 3, 2015.
The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/
Final EIS presents five alternatives,
including the No Action Alternative.
The BLM’s Alternative E (Proposed
RMP) balances the level of protection,
use, and enhancement of resources and
services for the planning area. The BLM
believes the Proposed RMP represents
the best mix and variety of actions to
resolve issues and management
concerns in consideration of all resource
values and programs. Pursuant to 43
CFR 1610.7–2, the BLM considers areas
with potential for designation as ACECs
and protective management during its
planning processes. The Eastern Interior
Proposed RMP/Final EIS considers the
designation of five potential ACECs.
Boundaries, size, and management
direction within potential ACECs vary
by Alternative. Of the five potential
ACECs, Table 1 lists the three ACECs
the BLM is considering for designation
in the Proposed RMP. All alternatives
considered in the plan will retain the
four existing Research Natural Areas.
TABLE 1—PROPOSED ACECS UNDER THE EASTERN INTERIOR ALTERNATIVE E (PROPOSED RMP)
Proposed ACEC name
Acres
362,000
Mosquito Flats ACEC ...............................
37,000
Salmon Fork ACEC ..................................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Fortymile ACEC ........................................
623,000
The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/
Final EIS considers and incorporates
comments that the BLM received on the
Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS, the
Supplement, and the Notice of
Availability of information about the
ACECs from the public and through
internal BLM and cooperating agency
reviews, as appropriate. The addition of
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) and
minor clarifications to text and maps in
the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
EIS resulted from these comments.
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) combines
planning decisions from different
alternatives analyzed in the Eastern
Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS, and is
qualitatively within the spectrum of
alternatives analyzed in that Draft RMP/
Draft EIS.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:42 Jul 28, 2016
Jkt 238001
Limitations
Limited off-highway vehicle (OHV) designation; summer OHV use only on approved
routes; limit trail density; winter motorized use in Dall sheep habitat may be restricted if monitoring indicates sheep displacement; seasonal limitation on uses
within one mile of ungulate mineral licks; closed to mineral leasing; recommended closed to locatable mineral location and entry.
Limited OHV designation; winter motorized use allowed, but may be restricted if
monitoring indicates degradation of wetlands; summer OHV use by permit only;
closed to mineral leasing; recommended closed to locatable mineral location and
entry; limit permitted uses and facility development to those which would not degrade wetlands.
Limited OHV designation; maintain water quality to support nesting bald eagles and
salmon habitat; minimize impacts on rare flora; closed to mineral leasing; recommended closed to mineral location and entry.
Instructions to file a protest with the
Director of the BLM regarding the
Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
EIS are in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ Letter of
the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All protests
must be in writing and mailed to the
appropriate address, as set forth in the
ADDRESSES section above. Emailed
protests will not be accepted as valid
protests unless the protesting party also
provides the original letter by either
regular or overnight mail, postmarked
by the close of the protest period. Under
these conditions, the BLM will consider
the emailed protest as an advance copy
and it will receive full consideration. If
you wish to provide the BLM with such
advance notification, please direct
emails to protest@blm.gov.
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Before including your phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your protest,
you should be aware that your entire
protest—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your protest to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR
1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5
Ted Murphy,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–17963 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM
29JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50009-50010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17963]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[16X.LLAKF02000.L16100000.DQ0000.LXSS094L0000]
Notice of Availability of the Eastern Interior Proposed Resource
Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed
Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Eastern Interior Planning Area in Alaska, in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended. By this
notice, the BLM is announcing the plan's availability.
DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the regulations may protest a Proposed RMP/
Final EIS. A person who meets those regulatory conditions and wishes to
file a protest, must file the protest within 30 days of the date that
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: The BLM sent copies of the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/
Final EIS to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies,
tribal governments, Alaska Native corporations, and other stakeholders.
Copies of the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS are available for
public inspection in both Fairbanks and Anchorage. You can view a copy
at the BLM Fairbanks District Office, 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks,
AK 99709, and at the BLM Alaska State Office, Public Information
Center, 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99513. You can also review a
copy of the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS on the Internet at
www.blm.gov/ak/eirmp.
All protests to the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS must be
in writing and mailed to one of the following addresses:
Regular Mail: BLM Director; Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO-210;
P.O. Box 71383; Washington, DC 20024-1383.
Overnight Delivery: BLM Director; Attention: Protest Coordinator,
WO-210; 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM; Washington, DC 20003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanie Cole, BLM Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, 907-474-2340, email
eastern_interior@blm.gov.ADDRESS: BLM Fairbanks District Office, 222
University Avenue, Fairbanks AK 99709. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS
covers approximately 6.5 million acres of BLM-administered lands in
interior Alaska. The plan is divided into four subunits: The Fortymile,
Steese, Upper Black River, and White Mountains subunits. BLM manages
four areas in the planning area as National Conservation Lands (NCL):
The Birch Creek, Beaver Creek, and Fortymile Wild and Scenic Rivers and
the Steese National Conservation Area. In addition to the four NCL
areas, the planning area includes the White Mountains National
Recreation Area. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of
1980, as amended (ANILCA), designated and applied special provisions
for the four NCL areas and the White Mountains National Recreation
Area.
The following BLM plans currently guide management decisions for 4
million acres of the planning area: Fortymile Management Framework Plan
(1980), Fortymile River Management Plan (1983), Birch Creek River
Management Plan (1983), Beaver Creek River Management Plan (1983),
Steese National Conservation Area RMP and Record of Decision (ROD)
(1986), and White Mountains National Recreation Area RMP and ROD
(1986). No land use plans currently cover the remaining 2.5 million
acres of the planning area, including the upper Black River area
[[Page 50010]]
and scattered parcels along the highway system.
The Eastern Interior RMP will replace the Fortymile Management
Framework Plan (1980), Steese National Conservation Area RMP (1986),
and the White Mountains National Recreation Area RMP (1986). The
Eastern Interior RMP will provide further direction for management of
the three Wild and Scenic River planning areas.
Specifically, the three River Management Plans (Fortymile, Birch
Creek, and Beaver Creek) will be evaluated for consistency with the
Eastern Interior RMP and may be modified in the future through
additional public engagement.
Following release of the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS,
the BLM will prepare four RODs: One ROD for each of the four subunits
within the planning area (Fortymile, Steese, White Mountains, and Upper
Black River).
The EPA published a Notice of Availability for the Eastern Interior
Draft RMP/Draft EIS in the Federal Register on March 2, 2012 (77 FR
12835), beginning a 150-day public comment period. Later, the 150-day
comment period was extended pending publication of a supplemental EIS
for the plan. The EPA published the Notice of Availability of the
supplemental EIS, Hardrock Mineral Leasing in the White Mountains
National Recreation Area for the Eastern Interior Draft RMP
(Supplement), in the Federal Register on January 11, 2013 (78 FR 2397).
That notice began a 90-day public comment period on the Supplement. The
comment period for both the Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS and
the Hardrock Mineral Leasing Supplement closed on April 11, 2013.
On January 2, 2015, the Federal Register published the BLM's Notice
of Availability of Additional Information on Proposed Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACECs) (80 FR 52). The additional information
about the proposed Mosquito Flats ACEC described what resource use
limitations would occur if it were designated in the approved Eastern
Interior RMP/Final EIS. The January 2, 2015, Federal Register notice
started a 60-day comment period on the proposed ACECs. That comment
period closed on March 3, 2015.
The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS presents five
alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. The BLM's
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) balances the level of protection, use, and
enhancement of resources and services for the planning area. The BLM
believes the Proposed RMP represents the best mix and variety of
actions to resolve issues and management concerns in consideration of
all resource values and programs. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2, the BLM
considers areas with potential for designation as ACECs and protective
management during its planning processes. The Eastern Interior Proposed
RMP/Final EIS considers the designation of five potential ACECs.
Boundaries, size, and management direction within potential ACECs vary
by Alternative. Of the five potential ACECs, Table 1 lists the three
ACECs the BLM is considering for designation in the Proposed RMP. All
alternatives considered in the plan will retain the four existing
Research Natural Areas.
Table 1--Proposed ACECs Under the Eastern Interior Alternative E
(Proposed RMP)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed ACEC name Acres Limitations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fortymile ACEC................. 362,000 Limited off-highway
vehicle (OHV)
designation; summer
OHV use only on
approved routes; limit
trail density; winter
motorized use in Dall
sheep habitat may be
restricted if
monitoring indicates
sheep displacement;
seasonal limitation on
uses within one mile
of ungulate mineral
licks; closed to
mineral leasing;
recommended closed to
locatable mineral
location and entry.
Mosquito Flats ACEC............ 37,000 Limited OHV
designation; winter
motorized use allowed,
but may be restricted
if monitoring
indicates degradation
of wetlands; summer
OHV use by permit
only; closed to
mineral leasing;
recommended closed to
locatable mineral
location and entry;
limit permitted uses
and facility
development to those
which would not
degrade wetlands.
Salmon Fork ACEC............... 623,000 Limited OHV
designation; maintain
water quality to
support nesting bald
eagles and salmon
habitat; minimize
impacts on rare flora;
closed to mineral
leasing; recommended
closed to mineral
location and entry.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS considers and
incorporates comments that the BLM received on the Eastern Interior
Draft RMP/Draft EIS, the Supplement, and the Notice of Availability of
information about the ACECs from the public and through internal BLM
and cooperating agency reviews, as appropriate. The addition of
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) and minor clarifications to text and maps
in the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS resulted from these
comments. Alternative E (Proposed RMP) combines planning decisions from
different alternatives analyzed in the Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft
EIS, and is qualitatively within the spectrum of alternatives analyzed
in that Draft RMP/Draft EIS.
Instructions to file a protest with the Director of the BLM
regarding the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS are in the ``Dear
Reader'' Letter of the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS and at
43 CFR 1610.5-2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the
appropriate address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above.
Emailed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the
protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or
overnight mail, postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under
these conditions, the BLM will consider the emailed protest as an
advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to
provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct emails to
protest@blm.gov.
Before including your phone number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware
that your entire protest--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your protest to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR
1610.5
Ted Murphy,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-17963 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P
