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acres of surface and subsurface estate in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on Sitkinak Island , which is withdrawn for use by the U.S. Coast Guard,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?
After reviewing public scoping comments from the spring of 2010, we evaluated how each idea we received might best be addressed in the Draft EIS. We are now presenting the draft EIS, which incorporates the purpose and need, the proposed action, a set of five alternatives, and an impact analysis.
How can I submit comments?
Please read through our executive summary or read the full draft of the DEIS.
The summary provides a thorough overview of the draft EIS including purpose and need, proposed action, presentation of five alternatives, and an overview of the impact analysis.
Submit Comments:
The most useful comments will be about specific content in the DEIS and will avoid general statements. We are also looking for important points we may have missed. Keep in mind that comments do not constitute a vote --- we are looking for quality, not quantity.
The Final EIS, when published, will include a response to all substantive comments. We consider comments substantive if they:
Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the information in the document;
Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the environmental analysis;
Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented in the draft EIS; and/or
Provide new or additional information relevant to the assessment.
Comments can be submitted in the following ways:
Stephanie Brady, Project Team Leader,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
1011 East Tudor Rd., MS-231,
Anchorage, AK 99503.
The public comment period closes May 18, 2012.
All public comments received, including respondent names and addresses, will be included in the administrative record, which, upon request, will be available for public review. If you provide comments in your official capacity as a representative of an organization or business, we can, by law, only accept your comment if you include your full name and complete contact information. If you are commenting as an individual and you want us to withhold your name or contact information, please state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. We will honor your request to the extent allowed by law.
Public Meetings
The Service intends to hold informational public meetings in Alaska, during the comment period, at the following locations: Anchorage, Cold Bay, False Pass, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon and Sand Point. Official testimony will be recorded at each meeting. Please check back at this website for further information.
Please contact us at Izembek_eis@fws.gov for anything relating to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS.
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
Request a copy of the summary or full draft EIS
We have a limited number of CDs containing the complete text of the executive summary and draft EIS. There is no charge. They will be issued on a first-come first-served basis. Please email, call, or fax to request a CD using the information below:
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.
Email/Mailing List
You may wish to be placed on the Izembek's National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS email or mailing list. Note that the names, addresses, and email addresses that appear on these lists could be released upon request, under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
I'd like to receive email updates notifying me when new information appears on the web.
I'd like to receive email updates notifying me when new information appears on the web.
I' d like to receive print copies of Izembek EIS materials. Please put me on the mailing list.
Related Links:
