80 FR 60706 - Notice of Planning Area Boundary Changes for Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plans in Alaska; Amendment to Notices of Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plans for Central Yukon and Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Areas and Associated Environmental Impact Statements

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 194 (October 7, 2015)

The administrative boundaries between the Anchorage District Office and Fairbanks District Office have been changed. The administrative boundary adjustments affect two ongoing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planning efforts by shifting 2.8 million acres of the Central Yukon Planning Area, managed by the Fairbanks District Office, into the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area, managed by the Anchorage District Office; and by removing three islands from the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60706-60707]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25538]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[15X LLAKF02000.L16100000. DS0000.LXSILCYK0000]


Notice of Planning Area Boundary Changes for Bureau of Land 
Management Resource Management Plans in Alaska; Amendment to Notices of 
Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plans for Central Yukon and 
Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Areas and Associated Environmental 
Impact Statements

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The administrative boundaries between the Anchorage District 
Office and Fairbanks District Office have been changed. The 
administrative boundary adjustments affect two ongoing Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) planning efforts by shifting 2.8 million acres of the 
Central Yukon Planning Area, managed by the Fairbanks District Office, 
into the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area, managed by the 
Anchorage District Office; and by removing three islands from the 
Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area.

DATES: These boundary changes were effective on January 9, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bridget Psarianos or Serena Sweet, BLM 
Alaska State Office, 907-271-4208 and 907-271-4543, respectively. 
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: On January 9, 2015, the BLM Director 
approved administrative boundary adjustments between the Fairbanks 
District Office and the Anchorage District Office. The primary purposes 
for these administrative boundary changes are to improve service to the 
public, and to improve coordination efforts with local, Federal, and 
State agencies, tribal governments, and Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act (ANCSA) corporations. The changes create a contiguous management 
block of land in Western Alaska, facilitate better tribal consultation 
and coordination, and provide for improved landscape management 
planning for key habitats. The district offices conducted public 
outreach meetings with affected communities, ANCSA corporations, and 
other organizations and entities, and have received support for the 
proposed changes.
    The BLM issued notices of intent on June 14, 2013, and July 18, 
2013, respectively, to prepare resource management plans (RMPs) for the 
Central Yukon and Bering Sea-Western Interior planning areas. The 
administrative boundary adjustments will shift 2.8 million acres of the 
Central Yukon Planning Area into the Bering Sea-Western Interior 
Planning Area. The 2.8 million-acre area of land is referred to as the 
``Nulato Hills.'' The boundary adjustment transferred the eastern 
portion of the Nulato Hills, including all of those lands within the 
boundary of the NANA Corporation, an ANCSA corporation, from the 
Fairbanks District Office to the Anchorage Field Office.
    Three islands located off the coast of Alaska will also be removed 
from the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area. Saint Lawrence 
Island is removed from the planning area as the few remaining acres of 
BLM-managed land have been selected by two ANCSA village corporations, 
effectively leaving no public lands for the BLM to manage. Saint Mathew 
Island is removed from the planning area because all of the lands on 
the island are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
designated as ``Wilderness.'' Oil and gas development is prohibited on 
lands designated as Wilderness. Nunivak Island is also removed from the 
planning area. There are portions of the island that are not designated 
Wilderness and would be subject to BLM-administration of oil and gas 
leasing. However, these lands have a very low likelihood of oil and gas 
potential. Should future BLM oil and gas potential studies (or 
industry) indicate otherwise, oil and gas leasing would need to be 
found to be in the national interest and compatible with the purpose of 
the Nunivak Island National Wildlife Refuge. If this occurs, in 
compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act process, an 
amendment would be necessary for both the Bering Sea-Western Interior 
Resource Management Plan, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 
Yukon

[[Page 60707]]

Delta National Wildlife Refuge final Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
(1988).

    Authority: 43 CFR 1601.2.

Ted A. Murphy,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-25538 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P