Notice2024-15743
Special Areas Within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 17, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, is seeking written feedback from the public on the need to: identify additional significant resource values for existing Special Areas; modify the boundaries or management of existing Special Areas; or identify public lands that may qualify for designation as new Special Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58181-58182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15743]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_AK_FRN_MO4500180291]
Special Areas Within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, is
seeking written feedback from the public on the need to: identify
additional significant resource values for existing Special Areas;
modify the boundaries or management of existing Special Areas; or
identify public lands that may qualify for designation as new Special
Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).
DATES: Responses are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 16,
2024.
[[Page 58182]]
Responses received after this deadline may not be taken into
consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested individuals and organizations should submit
comments electronically to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bffdf3f2e0f1efedfee0eccfdadcd6ded3fecddadeccffddd3d291d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a3e1efeefcedf3f1e2fcf0d3c6c0cac2cfe2d1c6c2d0e3c1cfce8dc4ccd5">[email protected]</span></a> and include
``RFI: Special Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska'' in
the subject line of the message. Submissions should be machine readable
in PDF or Word format and should not be locked or password protected.
Instructions: Response to this Request for Information (RFI) is
voluntary. Responses should include the name of the person(s) or
organization(s) filing the response. Responses containing references,
studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely
published should include copies of or electronic links to the
referenced materials.
The BLM may post responses to the RFI, without change, on its
website and may use the information received as the BLM finds suitable.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacie McIntosh, Senior Policy
Analyst, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d3e7d78202e2423390d2f2120632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e0d4e4b131d17100a3e1c121350191108">[email protected]</span></a> or (907) 474-2398.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting
Ms. McIntosh. Individuals outside the United States should use the
relay services offered within their country to make international calls
to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act
of 1976 (NPRPA), as amended, requires that the BLM assure the maximum
protection of significant surface values ``within the Utukok River, the
Teshekpuk Lake areas, and other areas designated by the Secretary of
the Interior containing any significant subsistence, recreational, fish
and wildlife, or historical or scenic value,'' consistent with the
exploration for and production of oil and gas from the NPR-A. See 42
U.S.C. 6504(a); see also 42 U.S.C. 6506a(n)(2). The NPRPA provides the
Secretary of the Interior authority to designate areas with significant
surface resource values as ``Special Areas'' within the Reserve.
On April 19, 2024, the BLM announced a final rule modifying the
procedures for the designation, de-designation, amendment, and change
in management of Special Areas within the Reserve. The rule was
published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024 (89 FR 38712) and
became effective on June 6, 2024. Under the final rule, the BLM has
flexibility in how, whether, and when to undertake changes to Special
Area designations, including by undertaking a process to amend the
Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) governing the NPR-A or by utilizing a
separate process. See 43 CFR 2361.30.
BLM-Alaska is now seeking written feedback and information from the
public to inform whether to initiate a process to consider changes to
the Special Areas identified in the current IAP. The BLM is
particularly interested in receiving comments and feedback regarding
whether: (1) the significant resource values protected by existing
Special Areas are comprehensive or whether additional such values
exist; (2) the boundaries of existing Special Areas should be modified;
(3) additional measures in existing Special Areas may be necessary to
assure maximum protection of significant surface resource values; and
(4) new Special Areas should be designated. To be most helpful,
feedback should provide as much specificity as possible, including the
presence or absence of significant surface resource values in
particular locations and rationale as to what additional measures may
be required to protect significant resource values within certain
boundaries.
By issuing this notice, the BLM is not initiating or committing to
initiate a process under 43 CFR 2361.30 but will use the information
submitted to determine whether to do so. Should the BLM determine to
take further action in response to this RFI, the BLM will follow the
process set out in the final rule, including applicable opportunities
for public engagement and Tribal consultation.
Steven M. Cohn,
State Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2024-15743 Filed 7-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-10-P
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