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acres of surface and subsurface estate in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on Sitkinak Island , which is withdrawn for use by the U.S. Coast Guard,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 reviewed the comments we received during the public comment period. The comments were summarized by a federal contractor (pdf.) Our latest EIS update (pdf.) contains an overview of what we heard from you during scoping.
We are using your comments to draft a range of alternatives for the EIS. You can see these in the draft EIS that is anticipated to be available in January 2012.
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Izembek Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS Timeline |
Fall 2009/Winter 2010 |
Federal Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
August 6, 2009
Revised Federal Notice of Intent (NOI) to Announce the Public Scoping Meetings
February 24, 2010 |
Spring 2010 |
Scoping
Scoping Period: August 6, 2009 to April 30, 2010
Public Scoping Meetings: March 4 to April 29, 2010
Scoping Report: November 2010 |
Fall 2011 |
Analysis of Alternatives  |
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January 2012 |
Issue Draft EIS
Available for public review |
February/March 2012 |
Public Meetings on Draft EIS
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Spring 2012 |
Public Comment Review/Response/Prepare Final EIS
Comment Analysis Report Available |
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Early Fall 2012 |
Issue Final EIS
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Fall 2012 |
Record of Decision/Public Interest Finding |
How can I submit comments?
The scoping period has closed. However, there will be a public comment period on the Draft EIS.
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.
Public Meetings
We are anticipating the release of the Draft EIS in January 2012. Therefore, we will host public meetings again at a variety of locations. You are welcome to attend public meetings and we will post the locations and dates when they are available.
Please contact us at Izembek_eis@fws.gov for anything relating to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor EIS.
