We have published the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The document will be available for review for 30 days. This 30-day review period under the National Environmental Policy Act allows federal and state agencies, and individuals and organizations who commented on the draft document, a chance to review the Service’s response in the final EIS. After the review period ends, the Service will complete the Record of Decision.
A copy of the final EIS is available below or you may request a compact disc of the entire document by email, izembek_eis@fws.gov; or telephone, (907) 786-3357.
Content on this page:
Introduction
In the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111.11, Subtitle E; the Act) (Title VI –Department of the Interior Authorizations; Subtitle E--pdf - 1.2mb), Congress directed the Secretary of Interior to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS must be completed in accord with the terms of the Act, as well as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and its implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). Congress specified in the Act (Section 6402 (b)92)(B)) that the EIS will analyze the impacts of a proposed land exchange with the State of Alaska and the King Cove Corporation for the purpose of construction and operation of a single-lane gravel road between the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay, Alaska. The EIS must analyze at a minimum a specific road corridor through the Izembek Refuge that is identified in consultation with the State of Alaska, the City of King Cove and the Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove. Upon completion of the EIS, the Secretary of Interior will determine whether or not the proposed land exchange is in the public interest.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead Federal agency for the EIS. Cooperating Agencies to date include:
Federal |
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Highway Administration Western Federal Lands Highway Division |
Tribal |
Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove
Native Village of Belkofski |
State |
State of Alaska |
Borough |
Aleutians East Borough |
Local/Other |
Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council
City of King Cove
King Cove Corporation |
In accord with Sections 6401 and 6404 of the Act, the exchange of land would involve:
- approximately 206 acres of Federal surface and subsurface estate in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Izembek Wilderness, and possibly Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge,
- approximately 1,600 acres of surface and subsurface estate in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on Sitkinak Island , which is withdrawn for use by the U.S. Coast Guard,
- approximately 43,093 acres of surface and subsurface estate owned by the State of Alaska adjacent to the North Creek Unit of the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, and
- approximately 13,300 acres of land (surface estate, including relinquishing the selection rights to 5,430 acres of selected lands under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) owned by King Cove Corporation.
Two Notices of Intent were published in the Federal Register; one notice was published in August 2009 (pdf) to announce the preparation of the EIS and a revised notice was published in February 2010 (pdf) to announce the public scoping meetings. We have completed the formal scoping process; the scoping period closed on April 30, 2010. Comments received through May 21, 2010 are summarized and presented in the scoping report (pdf - 7.2mb).
What is an EIS?
NEPA (section 102(2) (C)) requires a federal agency to prepare an EIS whenever the agency proposes or approves an action whose impacts on the human environment may be significant. CEQ defines actions as “projects and programs entirely or partly financed, assisted, conducted, regulated, or approved by federal agencies; new or revised agency rules, regulations, plans, policies, or procedures; and legislative proposals.”
What’s happening now?
We have released the Final EIS for public review. The document will be available for review for 30 days. This 30-day review period under the National Environmental Policy Act allows federal and state agencies, and individuals and organizations who commented on the draft document, a chance to review the Service’s response in the final EIS. After the review period ends, the Service will complete the Record of Decision.
Draft EIS
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3a Physical Environment
Chapter 3b Biological Environment
Chapter 3c Social Environment
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
References
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
How can I stay informed?
Website Updates
Bookmark this page. To make the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS process available to the widest audience, and to save printing and mailing costs, this web site will be the primary source for all Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS-related information. Simply by visiting this web site you will have access to everything that is produced about the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS and you will have complete opportunities to submit your written comments.
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Related Links:
Izembek Comment Analysis Report
Transcripts from the Public Meetings
Draft EIS:
Federal Register Notice announcing Draft EIS
Press Release announcing Draft EIS
DEIS Questions and Answers
Executive Summary of DEIS
Complete Draft EIS
