[Federal Register: May 8, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 89)]
[Notices]               
[Page 30955-30956]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my02-144]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-029-02-1610-DO-082L]

 
Notice of Intent To Prepare Plan Amendments to the 1995 Fort 
Greely Resource Management Plan and 1995 Fort Wainwright Resource 
Management Plan and Associated Environmental Assessments (EAs)

AGENCY: Northern Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Fairbanks, 
Alaska, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare plan amendments to the 1995 Fort 
Greely Resource Management Plan (RMP) and 1995 Fort Wainwright RMP and 
associated Environmental Assessments (EAs).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) intends to prepare two plan amendments with associated 
EAs. BLM will work closely with the U.S. Army, Alaska (USARAK) while 
developing the amendments. The amendments will encompass approximately 
624,000 acres for Fort Greely and 248,000 acres for Fort Wainwright. 
The affected lands are on the Fort Greely military withdrawal near the 
town of Delta Junction, Alaska, and on the Fort Wainwright withdrawal 
near Fairbanks, Alaska. The amendments will fulfill the needs and 
obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act, the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and Pub. L. 106-65, BLM and 
USARAK management policies. The BLM will work closely with interested 
parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to 
the needs of the public. This collaborative process will take into 
account local, regional, and national needs and concerns. This notice 
initiates the public scoping process to identify planning issues and to 
develop planning criteria.

DATES: The scoping comment period will commence with the publication of 
this notice. Formal scoping will end 60 days after publication of this 
notice. Comments on issues and planning criteria should be received on 
or before the end of the scoping period at the address listed below.
    Public Participation: Two public meetings will be held during the 
scoping and preparation period. These meetings will be held in 
Fairbanks and Delta Junction, Alaska. Early participation by all those 
interested is encouraged. At least 15 days public notice will be given 
for activities where the public is invited to attend. Written comments 
will be accepted throughout the amendment process at the address shown 
below. Meetings will be announced through the local news media.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Northern Field Office, 
Bureau of Land Management, 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 
99709-3844, attention Gary Foreman. Documents pertinent to these 
amendments may be examined at the Northern Field Office located in 
Fairbanks, Alaska. Comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents, will be available for public review at the Northern Field 
Office during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of the 
EAs. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish 
BLM to withhold your name or street address from public review or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests 
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations and businesses, and

[[Page 30956]]

from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection 
in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Gary Foreman, Telephone 
(907) 474-2339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RMPs for Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright 
were signed in 1995. Recently evaluations of the RMPs were performed 
and three issues were found that require amendments to the 1995 RMPs. 
These issues are: (1) The withdrawals have been extended for an 
additional 25 years; (2) Through their planning, USARAK is recommending 
some changes to vehicle access designations within the withdrawal 
areas; (3) BLM has drafted new land health standards and will implement 
them if they are approved in time for these amendments.
    Additional issues to be addressed in these amendments can be 
submitted to the BLM by interested agencies, groups, and individuals 
throughout the planning process.

Robert W. Schneider,
Field Manager, Northern Field Office, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 02-11440 Filed 5-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P