[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2407]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AK-070-04-4410-02-P]

 

Extension of Public Comment Period for Scoping on an 
Environmental Impact Statement; Wild and Scenic River Study, Squirrel 
River, AK

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of the public comment period for scoping on an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); Wild and Scenic River Study, 
Squirrel River, Alaska.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Kobuk District Office, 
Alaska, is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the study of 
the Squirrel River for possible inclusion in the national wild and 
scenic rivers system. The Notice of Intent to proceed with the EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on December 29, 1993. Because of a 
delay for communities in northwestern Alaska receiving notice of the 
comment period for scoping on the EIS, the period for public comment is 
extended until 30 days from the publication of this Notice. These 
comments and others will be used in preparation of a draft EIS. An 
additional opportunity for public comment will be held after the draft 
EIS is published.
    The Squirrel River study was authorized by the Alaska National 
Interest Lands Conservation Act of December 2, 1980 (ANILCA, Pub. L. 
96-487). The Squirrel River, a tributary of the Kobuk River in 
northwest Alaska, was studied in 1985 by the National Park Service 
(NPS) for possible inclusion in the national wild and scenic river 
system. After publication of a draft EIS, further action by NPS was 
deferred for several reasons. One of these reasons included the 
delegation of authority to BLM to conduct wild and scenic river studies 
on rivers under its management.
    The proposed action in the NPS study called for designation of the 
federally-administered portion of the Squirrel River, plus the lower 6 
miles of the river's North Fork and the lower 15 miles of the Omar 
River. BLM is now proceeding at the scoping level in order to obtain 
maximum public input on the study. Preliminary review of the draft EIS 
published by NPS in 1985 indicates potential issues may now include 
mineral development in the region, identification of transportation 
corridors, and subsistence lifeways in the area. Information received 
as a result of current scoping on this action will be used to update 
the NPS draft EIS and produce a new Squirrel River draft EIS.

DATES: Comments and requests to be placed on the mailing list will be 
accepted on or before March 7, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments and mailing requests should be sent to the District 
Manager, Kobuk District Office, Bureau of Land Management, 1150 
University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3844.

FOR FURThER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Will (907) 474-2338 or Curtis 
Wilson (907) 272-5546.

    Dated: January 27, 1994.
Helen Hankins,
Manager, Kobuk District.
[FR Doc. 94-2407 Filed 2-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P