[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 56804-56805] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-27555] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of availability of the final wild and scenic river study and legislative environmental impact statement for the Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska AGENCIES: National Park Service, Interior.
Action
Notice of availability of the final Wild and Scenic River Study and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska.
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Summary
The National Park Service announces the availability of the final Wild and Scenic River Study and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska. The document describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a proposed action and a no-action alternative. The proposed action recommends congressional designation of the 99-mile segment of the Lower Sheenjek River within Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge as a National Wild River. Designation would ensure long-term protection of the river's outstanding values through a cooperative river management plan for the lower river. Under the no-action alternative, the lower Sheenjek River would not be recommended for designation. The no-action alternative would continue existing management conditions on the river.
Dates
A Record of Decision will be made no sooner than 30 days after the date of this notice.
Addresses
Copies of the study/LEIS are available on request from Sheenjek River Study, National Park Service, 2525 Gambell Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2892; by FAX at (907) 257-2499; or by electronic mail to: Sheenjek@nps.gov. Copies of the final Study/FEIS are also available for public inspection at the following locations: • Yukon Flats Refuge office in Fairbanks, AK (101 12th Ave., Room 264), • Noel Wien Public Library in Fairbanks, AK (1215 Cowles Street), • Fort Yukon Village Office and Public Library, Fort Yukon, AK, • National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office (Anchorage, AK, 2525 Gambell Street, Room 405), • U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Alaska Regional Office (Anchorage, AK, 1011 East Tudor Road, External Affairs Office, 1st Floor), • Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (3150 C Street, Suite 100), and • Anchorage Loussac Public Library (3600 Denali Street).
For Further Information Contact
Jack Mosby, Program Manager--Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance, National Park Service, 2525 Gambell Street, Anchorage, AK 99503-2892. Telephone (907) 257-2650 or email: jack__mosby@nps.gov
Supplementary Information
Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190, as amended), the National Park Service, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has prepared a final Wild and Scenic River Study and Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Sheenjek River in Alaska. The Lower Sheenjek River study corridor (two miles on either side of the river) was evaluated and found to meet the eligibility criteria as it is ``free flowing'' and contains one or more ``outstandingly remarkable values'' (cultural (subsistence), wildlife, scenic, and recreation). It was recommended as a ``wild river'' due to the lack of development along the river corridor. Alternatives presented in the FEIS explore the impacts of the designation versus non-designation. Alternative A (the proposed action) recommends the Lower Sheenjek River within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge be recommended for Congressional action for addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System for its outstandingly remarkable cultural (subsistence), wildlife, scenic, and recreational values. The segment would be classified as wild, and management of the federal lands would remain with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Management objectives would focus on keeping the river free of water resource development, major extractive resource development, monitoring the impact of human use on the rivers' outstandingly remarkable values, and generally maintaining the undeveloped character of the river corridor. No expenditures for administrative or public use facilities would be required under this alternative, although some funds would be spent on corridor administration (estimated at less than $5,000 per year and a onetime allocation of $40,000 to develop a cooperative river management plan). No land acquisition is needed. Alternative B (no action) would continue existing conditions on the refuge. The river's resource values would not receive any additional statutory protection or management attention relative to other rivers or resources in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge.
The majority of comments provided during the review of the 1998 Draft Study/Legislative Environmental Impact Statement supported designation of the Lower Sheenjek River (50 of 51 individuals, and 10 of 15 organizations with two organizations only providing comments without any recommendation). The responsible officials for a Record of Decision on the proposed action are the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service regional directors in Alaska.
Dated: October 8, 1999. Robert D. Barbee, Regional Director, Alaska Region. [FR Doc. 99-27555 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P