[Federal Register: May 26, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 101)]
[Notices]
[Page 29582-29583]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26my10-78]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R7-R-2010-N082; 70133-1265-0000-U4]
Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks, AK
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: record of decision.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the final
environmental impact statement (EIS) for a Proposed Land Exchange in
the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (NWR, Refuge). We completed a
thorough analysis of the environmental, social, and economic
considerations and presented it in our final EIS, which we released to
the public on March 12, 2010.
DATES: The Regional Director of the Alaska Region, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, signed the ROD on April 21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the ROD/final EIS on paper
or CD-ROM by any of the following methods:
Web Site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://
yukonflatseis.ensr.com.
E-mail: yukonflats_planning@fws.gov. Include ``Yukon Flats ROD''
in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Laura Greffenius, EIS Project Coordinator, (907) 786-
3965.
Mail: Laura Greffenius, EIS Project Coordinator, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS-231, Anchorage, AK 99503.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call Laura Greffenius, EIS Project
Coordinator at (907) 786-3872 to make an appointment during regular
business hours at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd.,
MS-231, Anchorage, AK 99503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Greffenius, EIS Project
Coordinator, phone (907) 786-3872.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we finalize the EIS
process for a Proposed Land Exchange in the Yukon Flats NWR. In
accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR
1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice announces the availability of the
ROD for the final EIS for a Proposed Land Exchange in the Yukon Flats
NWR. We completed a thorough analysis of the environmental, social, and
economic considerations, which we included in the final EIS. The ROD
documents our selection of the No Land Exchange Alternative (No Action
Alternative), the Service's preferred alternative in the final EIS.
Under this alternative the Service would not exchange land with Doyon,
Limited (Doyon). The No Land Exchange Alternative, as we described in
the final EIS/ROD, is the decision to continue to manage lands within
the Refuge as they currently are.
Background Information
The Final EIS analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and
cumulative impacts associated with the Service's proposed ``Agreement
in Principle'' (Agreement) between the Service and Doyon to exchange
and acquire lands within the Refuge. Under the terms of the Agreement,
the proposed land exchange involved 110,000 acres of Refuge lands that
may hold developable oil and gas reserves, and oil and gas rights to an
adjacent 97,000 acres of Refuge lands. Under the Proposed Action, the
Refuge would have received a minimum of 150,000 acres of Doyon lands
within the Refuge boundaries, and Doyon would have reallocated 56,500
acres of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 12(b) land entitlements
within the Refuge to lands outside the Refuge.
Alternatives
Alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS included the No Land
Exchange (No Action) Alternative, or continuation of present
management. The No Action Alternative was the Service's preferred
alternative. In addition, three action alternatives were evaluated: (1)
The Proposed Action, with land exchanges and acquisitions as described
in the Agreement; (2) A Land Exchange with Non-development Easements
Alternative, where Doyon would grant non-development easements on
120,000 acres, but would not sell land to the Service; and (3) A Land
Exchange Excluding the White-Crazy Mountains Alternative that would
exclude from the exchange an area within the Refuge that had been
recommended for Wilderness designation.
Among the alternatives evaluated, the No Land Exchange Alternative
is the environmentally preferable alternative. It has the least
potential for adverse effects to the biological and physical
environment of the Refuge, it best protects and preserves the Refuge's
resources, and it best supports the purposes for which the Refuge was
established.
[[Page 29583]]
Public Involvement
Public involvement and comments have been requested, considered,
and incorporated throughout the EIS process. The Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS for a proposed land exchange in the Refuge was published
in the Federal Register on October 19, 2005 (70 FR 60845). The notice
of public scoping meetings was published in the Federal Register on
March 3, 2006 (71 FR 10988). Public scoping meetings were held in local
communities within the Refuge and surrounding areas. The Service
distributed newsletters with project updates discussing opportunities
for public involvement and results of public input. Comments and
concerns received during this time were used to identify issues and
draft alternatives for evaluation in the Draft EIS.
The Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was published in the
Federal Register on January 25, 2008 (73 FR 4617). Public hearings were
held in each local community affiliated with the Refuge, plus Fairbanks
and Anchorage. From May to July 2008, government-to-government
consultations were also held with Tribal Councils who requested them.
In response to numerous requests for additional time to review and
comment, the comment period was reopened and extended via a Federal
Register notice published April 18, 2008 (73 FR 20931). We received
more than 100,000 comments during the full comment period. The vast
majority of comments, including those from several area tribal
governments, opposed the proposed exchange. The Responses to Comments
are contained in Volume 2 of the Final EIS.
The Notice of Availability for the Final EIS was published in the
Federal Register on March 12, 2010 (75 FR 11905). Comments from tribal
governments, Alaska Native and conservation organizations, and
individuals expressed support for the Service's designation of the No
Action Alternative as the preferred alternative.
Findings and Basis for Decision
In making its decision, the Service reviewed and carefully
considered the impacts identified in the draft and final Environmental
Impact Statement; relevant issues and concerns; public input received
throughout the EIS process, including comments on the draft and final
Environmental Impact Statement; and other factors including refuge
purposes and relevant laws, regulations, and policies. For the
following reasons, the Service selected the No Land Exchange
Alternative.
First, the Service has a limited understanding of the effects that
oil and gas development would have on the hydrology of lands exchanged
to Doyon and lands that would be retained by the Service. Second, the
exchange would create a private lands corridor that would almost split
the Refuge into two parcels, resulting in habitat fragmentation, and
that could degrade the biological integrity, diversity, and
environmental health of the Refuge. Third, the Service is concerned
that the proposed land exchange could magnify projected changes to
Refuge resources from climate change. Fourth, infrastructure associated
with access corridors from the proposed exchange would increase human
use of the Refuge. Fifth, there is concern that the lands proposed for
acquisition by the Service are more likely to be adjacent to
prospective areas of development (based on revised U.S. Geological
Survey oil and gas data). Impacts from adjacent development would make
those lands less desirable to the Service. This has cast doubts on the
benefits of the exchange to all involved. The adoption of the No Land
Exchange Alternative is effective immediately.
Dated: May 19, 2010.
Geoffrey L. Haskett,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2010-12629 Filed 5-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P