Notice of Proposed Extension of Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; Alaska

On November 5, 1998, the Department of the Army filed applications to extend the withdrawal for the Fort Wainwright Yukon Training Area (formerly known as the Fort Wainwright Maneuver Area), the Fort Greely West Training Area (formerly known as the Fort Greely Maneuver Area), and the Fort Greely East Training Area (formerly known as the Fort Greely Air Drop Zone). The Army has determined there is a continuing military need for the lands and filed the applications for extension in accordance with Section 8 (a)(1) and (2) of Public Law 99-606. The legal descriptions for the lands are as published in the 52 FR 5506-5507, February 23, 1987; 52 FR 8405, March 17, 1987; 52 FR 17485, May 8, 1987; and the 54 FR 48782, November 7, 1989. The areas described aggregate approximately 869,862 acres. A copy of the legal descriptions are available by contacting Robbie J. Havens at the address or phone number listed above. The Fort Wainwright Yukon Training Area, the Fort Greely West Training Area, and the Fort Greely East Training Area, are used by the Army for military maneuvering, training, artillery firing, aerial gunnery, infantry tactics, equipment development and testing, as well as other defense related purposes. The sites are used to train in an extremely cold environment and to test the effect of this environment on military equipment, and are used by the Army, the Air Force, and other military units. This withdrawal extension requires legislative action by Congress pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1958, 43 U.S.C. 155-158. For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension may present their views in writing to the Alaska State Director of the Bureau of Land Management. There will be three public meetings. The purpose of these meetings is for interested persons to comment on the proposed extension of the withdrawal and the associated draft legislative environmental impact statement. Each meeting for the public hearings will be conducted as open houses that will begin at 2:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m. People interested in the proposed extension of the land withdrawal and the associated draft legislative environmental impact statement will have the opportunity to make formal remarks. The three meetings will be conducted at the following locations on the dates indicated:

January 5, 1999, Diamond Willow Club, Delta Ave. & First Street, Building 701, Fort Greely, Alaska. January 6, 1999, Carlson Center, Pioneer Room, 2010 Second Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska. January 7, 1999, William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center, Board Room, 555 West Fifth Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. Michael W. Haskins, Acting Supervisor, Lands and Minerals Group, Division of Lands, Minerals, and Resources. [FR Doc. 98-31259 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P