81 FR 50009 - Notice of Availability of the Eastern Interior Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)
| Page Range | 50009-50010 | |
| FR Document | 2016-17963 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 50009-50010] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [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 [email protected].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 [email protected]. 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
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices 50009
reasonably foreseeable development in consideration. Federal, state, and local 99513. You can also review a copy of
the 2012 NPR–A Integrated Activity agencies and tribes that may be the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
Plan (IAP) EIS and the 2014 GMT1 interested in or affected by the proposed EIS on the Internet at www.blm.gov/ak/
Supplemental EIS. The GMT2 action that the BLM is evaluating, are eirmp.
Supplemental EIS will address invited to participate in the All protests to the Eastern Interior
proposed changes to the previously development of the environmental Proposed RMP/Final EIS must be in
approved design and location of the site, review as cooperating agencies. writing and mailed to one of the
and any new information that could Authority: 40 CFR 1502.9, 43 CFR part following addresses:
affect Federal permitting decisions. 3100 Regular Mail: BLM Director;
New information includes data from Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO–
ongoing multi-year studies on Ted Murphy, 210; P.O. Box 71383; Washington, DC
hydrology, birds, caribou, vegetation, Associate State Director. 20024–1383.
wetlands, and subsistence use. In [FR Doc. 2016–17962 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am] Overnight Delivery: BLM Director;
addition, since 2004, the study of BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO–
climate change and its potential effects 210; 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM;
has advanced considerably, and new Washington, DC 20003.
data resulting from this research will be DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
included in the environmental analysis. Jeanie Cole, BLM Planning and
The BLM adopted a new IAP for the Bureau of Land Management
Environmental Coordinator, 907–474–
NPR–A in February 2013, which [16X.LLAKF02000.L16100000.DQ0000. 2340, email
contains updated protective measures. LXSS094L0000] eastern_interior@blm.gov.ADDRESS: BLM
The polar bear was listed as threatened Fairbanks District Office, 222 University
under the Endangered Species Act in Notice of Availability of the Eastern
Avenue, Fairbanks AK 99709. Persons
2008, and critical habitat has been Interior Proposed Resource
who use a telecommunications device
proposed within the NPR–A. Management Plan/Final Environmental
Impact Statement, Alaska for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
The proposed GMT2 project is similar Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
to the CD–7 project that was approved AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 800–877–8339 to contact the above
in the 2004 ASDP ROD, with several Interior. individual during normal business
notable changes: A relocated drill site,
ACTION: Notice. hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
increased road and pipeline length due
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
to the relocation, and the elimination of SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land or question with the above individual.
overhead powerlines. In addition, the Management (BLM) has prepared a You will receive a reply during normal
BLM is developing a Regional Proposed Resource Management Plan business hours.
Mitigation Strategy that will help to (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact
guide the mitigation considerations in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Statement (EIS) for the Eastern Interior
the GMT2 NEPA process. Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final
Planning Area in Alaska, in accordance
At present, the BLM has identified the EIS covers approximately 6.5 million
with the National Environmental Policy
following preliminary issues for acres of BLM-administered lands in
Act of 1969, as amended, and the
evaluation in the Supplemental EIS: Air interior Alaska. The plan is divided into
Federal Land Policy and Management
quality; biological resources, including four subunits: The Fortymile, Steese,
Act of 1976, as amended. By this notice,
special status species; cultural Upper Black River, and White
the BLM is announcing the plan’s
resources; social impacts, including Mountains subunits. BLM manages four
availability.
subsistence use and environmental areas in the planning area as National
justice; climate change effects; wetlands DATES: BLM planning regulations state Conservation Lands (NCL): The Birch
and other waters of the United States; that any person who meets the Creek, Beaver Creek, and Fortymile
and reasonably foreseeable future conditions as described in the Wild and Scenic Rivers and the Steese
activities. regulations may protest a Proposed National Conservation Area. In addition
The BLM will use NEPA public RMP/Final EIS. A person who meets to the four NCL areas, the planning area
participation requirements to assist the those regulatory conditions and wishes includes the White Mountains National
agency in satisfying the public to file a protest, must file the protest Recreation Area. The Alaska National
involvement requirements under within 30 days of the date that the U.S. Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980,
Section 106 of the National Historic Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as amended (ANILCA), designated and
Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. publishes its Notice of Availability in applied special provisions for the four
306108), pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). the Federal Register. NCL areas and the White Mountains
The information about historic and ADDRESSES: The BLM sent copies of the National Recreation Area.
cultural resources within the area Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final The following BLM plans currently
potentially affected by the proposed EIS to affected Federal, State, and local guide management decisions for 4
action will assist the BLM in identifying government agencies, tribal million acres of the planning area:
and evaluating impacts to cultural governments, Alaska Native Fortymile Management Framework Plan
resources in the context of both NEPA corporations, and other stakeholders. (1980), Fortymile River Management
and Section 106 of the NHPA. Copies of the Eastern Interior Proposed Plan (1983), Birch Creek River
The BLM will consult with federally RMP/Final EIS are available for public Management Plan (1983), Beaver Creek
ebenthall on DSK5MVXVN1PROD with NOTICES
recognized Indian tribes on a inspection in both Fairbanks and River Management Plan (1983), Steese
government-to-government basis in Anchorage. You can view a copy at the National Conservation Area RMP and
accordance with Executive Order 13175 BLM Fairbanks District Office, 222 Record of Decision (ROD) (1986), and
and other policies. Tribal concerns, University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK White Mountains National Recreation
including impacts on Indian trust assets 99709, and at the BLM Alaska State Area RMP and ROD (1986). No land use
and potential impacts to cultural Office, Public Information Center, 222 plans currently cover the remaining 2.5
resources, will be given appropriate West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK million acres of the planning area,
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![50010 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices
including the upper Black River area beginning a 150-day public comment comment period on the proposed
and scattered parcels along the highway period. Later, the 150-day comment ACECs. That comment period closed on
system. period was extended pending March 3, 2015.
The Eastern Interior RMP will replace publication of a supplemental EIS for The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/
the Fortymile Management Framework the plan. The EPA published the Notice Final EIS presents five alternatives,
Plan (1980), Steese National of Availability of the supplemental EIS, including the No Action Alternative.
Conservation Area RMP (1986), and the Hardrock Mineral Leasing in the White The BLM’s Alternative E (Proposed
White Mountains National Recreation Mountains National Recreation Area for RMP) balances the level of protection,
Area RMP (1986). The Eastern Interior the Eastern Interior Draft RMP use, and enhancement of resources and
RMP will provide further direction for (Supplement), in the Federal Register services for the planning area. The BLM
management of the three Wild and on January 11, 2013 (78 FR 2397). That believes the Proposed RMP represents
Scenic River planning areas. notice began a 90-day public comment the best mix and variety of actions to
Specifically, the three River period on the Supplement. The resolve issues and management
Management Plans (Fortymile, Birch comment period for both the Eastern concerns in consideration of all resource
Creek, and Beaver Creek) will be Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS and the values and programs. Pursuant to 43
evaluated for consistency with the Hardrock Mineral Leasing Supplement CFR 1610.7–2, the BLM considers areas
Eastern Interior RMP and may be closed on April 11, 2013. with potential for designation as ACECs
modified in the future through On January 2, 2015, the Federal and protective management during its
additional public engagement. Register published the BLM’s Notice of planning processes. The Eastern Interior
Following release of the Eastern Availability of Additional Information Proposed RMP/Final EIS considers the
Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS, the on Proposed Areas of Critical designation of five potential ACECs.
BLM will prepare four RODs: One ROD Environmental Concern (ACECs) (80 FR Boundaries, size, and management
for each of the four subunits within the 52). The additional information about direction within potential ACECs vary
planning area (Fortymile, Steese, White the proposed Mosquito Flats ACEC by Alternative. Of the five potential
Mountains, and Upper Black River). described what resource use limitations ACECs, Table 1 lists the three ACECs
The EPA published a Notice of would occur if it were designated in the the BLM is considering for designation
Availability for the Eastern Interior Draft approved Eastern Interior RMP/Final in the Proposed RMP. All alternatives
RMP/Draft EIS in the Federal Register EIS. The January 2, 2015, Federal considered in the plan will retain the
on March 2, 2012 (77 FR 12835), Register notice started a 60-day 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 re-
stricted if monitoring indicates sheep displacement; seasonal limitation on uses
within one mile of ungulate mineral licks; closed to mineral leasing; rec-
ommended 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 de-
grade 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; rec-
ommended closed to mineral location and entry.
The Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/ Instructions to file a protest with the Before including your phone number,
Final EIS considers and incorporates Director of the BLM regarding the email address, or other personal
comments that the BLM received on the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final identifying information in your protest,
Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS, the EIS are in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ Letter of you should be aware that your entire
Supplement, and the Notice of the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final protest—including your personal
Availability of information about the EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All protests identifying information—may be made
ACECs from the public and through must be in writing and mailed to the publicly available at any time. While
internal BLM and cooperating agency appropriate address, as set forth in the you can ask us in your protest to
reviews, as appropriate. The addition of ADDRESSES section above. Emailed withhold your personal identifying
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) and protests will not be accepted as valid information from public review, we
minor clarifications to text and maps in protests unless the protesting party also cannot guarantee that we will be able to
the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final provides the original letter by either do so.
EIS resulted from these comments. regular or overnight mail, postmarked
ebenthall on DSK5MVXVN1PROD with NOTICES
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR
Alternative E (Proposed RMP) combines by the close of the protest period. Under 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5
planning decisions from different these conditions, the BLM will consider
alternatives analyzed in the Eastern the emailed protest as an advance copy Ted Murphy,
Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS, and is and it will receive full consideration. If Associate State Director.
qualitatively within the spectrum of you wish to provide the BLM with such [FR Doc. 2016–17963 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am]
alternatives analyzed in that Draft RMP/ advance notification, please direct BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
Draft EIS. emails to protest@blm.gov.
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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:51:28
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:51:28
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| 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. | |
| Contact | Jeanie Cole, BLM Planning and Environmental Coordinator, 907-474-2340, email | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 50009 |
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