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Alaska Resource Advisory Council

Meeting Summary

Anchorage Federal Building
Denali Room, Anchorage, AK

November 13-14, 2003

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Thursday, November 13, 2003

Council members present:	BLM representatives present:
Tom Crafford	Henri Bisson, State Director
Phil Driver	June Bailey, Anchorage Field Office
Randy Frank	Ramone McCoy, Glennallen Field Office
Gary Gustafson	Bob Schneider, Northern Field Office
Teresa Imm	Joe Ribar, Alaska Fire Service
Sandra Key	Gary Reimer, Conveyances
Suzanne McCarthy	Ramona Chinn, Conveyances
Susan Olsen (via teleconference)	Mike Haskins, Conveyances
Jim Posey	Debbie Hollen, Resources
Larry Taylor	Curt Wilson, Resources
Keith Tryck	Jim Ducker, Resources
David van den Berg, Chair	Jody Weil, External Affairs
Evie Witten	Teresa McPherson, External Affairs (recorder)

Council members absent:	Other:
Charlie Boddy	Drue Pearce, Office of the Secretary
Paul Roehl	Cam Toohey, Office of the Secretary

Chair David van den Berg called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.

The chair welcomed everyone and explained council members Charlie Boddy and Susan Olsen were unable to make the meeting, but Olsen would join via teleconference later in the day.

After introductions, State Director Henri Bisson made a brief presentation to recognize departing RAC member Larry Houle of The Alliance.

Remarks: Drue Pearce, Senior Advisor to the Secretary

Pearce said approximately half of Alaska is under Interior stewardship, and half of all Interior-administered lands are located in Alaska . She said Alaska 's treasures belong to the entire country, but it's equally important that Alaskans have a way to earn a livelihood.

The Department's senior managers are not Alaskans, so they look to Pearce and to Cam Toohey for insight into Alaska issues. Pearce said RACs are a great way to reach out to communities, they provide a valuable conduit between D.C. and public lands users.

Remarks: Cam Toohey, Office of the Secretary

Toohey commended Henri Bisson for his commitment to bringing the land transfer program to completion. He said many important decisions are limited by the current uncertainty of land status. Programs that could benefit regions currently experiencing an economic slump can't move forward until land transfer is completed. He encouraged the RAC to get involved in BLM programs and issues, and work with Bisson and BLM managers on key issues.

Pearce and Toohey said federal agencies and the State of Alaska enjoy closer coordination than many parts of the Lower 48. They stressed the importance of good communication and cited the Joint Pipeline Office as a successful model that will be emulated in other states.

State Director's Presentation

Henri Bisson provided a brief overview of key Alaska BLM programs and issues. The RAC then viewed a short orientation video about BLM Alaska.

Alaska RAC Charter

Bisson explained RAC's are authorized under the Bureau's 1995 grazing regulations, and BLM solicitors require that RAC charters reflect the specific wording contained in these regulations.

He said the charter the Secretary recently signed continues to reflect this language, despite the RAC's attempt to amend the charter to read more “ Alaska specific.” He said he concurred with the RAC's suggested changes, but BLM was not successful in getting these changes approved in the new charter. He added that the Department is working on an amendment to the grazing regulations, and this might be a good time to also look at the RAC regulations as well. The RAC discussed the possibility of writing a letter to the Director to recommend amending the RAC regulations.

BLM Alaska Standards and Guidelines

Bisson explained that Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) originated from the 1995 grazing reform initiative. States where grazing was a key issue used RACs to help draft new standards for those geographic areas. In Alaska , the S&Gs the RAC helped draft were oriented toward multiple-use land management, rather than grazing.

After review at various levels, the Solicitors said grazing regulations do not apply to Alaska . So Bisson said he would use the document as supplemental planning guidance, and would like RAC members to work with BLM planners on this.

BREAK

Following the break, Henri Bisson talked about the value of both formal resolutions and informal advice and feedback. He encouraged the RAC to be frank and open during meetings, that he was not looking for concurrence but for honest and open feedback and input.

Bisson commended the RAC's use of a work plan to focus its efforts over the coming year. He said the Alaska RAC was the first in the Bureau to use an annual work plan, and commended Gary Gustafson for drafting the 2003 and 2004 work plans.

Bisson encouraged members to read the handout in their briefing packets about BLM Alaska's major issues. He discussed the issue of predator control and said BLM is not engaged in this issue since wildlife management is not within BLM's mandate.

Field Manager Updates

Ramone McCoy, Glennallen Field Office

McCoy welcomed new and returning members and discussed major programs.

• GFO manages 7.3 million acres, two wild and scenic rivers, and three campgrounds.

• Major programs/issues include federal subsistence hunts, small mining operations, trail management, off-highway vehicle use and access, and heliski permits.

• The East Alaska RMP effort is underway. GFO staff are drafting goals, objectives, desired conditions and management strategies for district lands based on information from 30 informal public meetings held earlier this year. BLM will present these alternatives to the public in spring 2004.

June Bailey, Anchorage Field Office

Bailey provided a snapshot of the 730-acre Campbell Tract and other district programs/issues.

• The Campbell Tract is a popular, mostly wild, BLM parcel located in Anchorage . The tract's 12 miles of recreational trails and the Campbell Creek Science Center attracted 35,000 visitors to the tract in 2003. BLM is in the process of updating the tract's master plan, including renovating or replacing the buildings at the site.

• The Ring of Fire RMP effort is underway. The contractor completed a scoping report in September 2003 (see www.alaskaringoffire.com) which identified issues such as access/easements, recreation, off-highway vehicle use, and management of subsurface estate.

Bob Schneider, Northern Field Office

• The Northern Field Office includes all public lands north of the Brooks Range (50 million acres), two conservation areas, and several wild and scenic rivers. The district's 90 BLM employees are located at Fairbanks , Kotzebue, Nome and Tok.

• Schneider summarized winter 2003-2004 field operations at the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Industry representatives met with the NPR-A Subsistence Advisory Panel in early November to discuss winter exploration plans.

• BLM and the Native Village of Barrow signed a memorandum of understanding in November to establish procedures for formal government-to-government consultation.

• In Jan. 2004, 60 soldiers will participate in a military training exercise in the White Mountains National Recreation Area. The exercise will not involve weapons or munitions. The area was selected for the physical and logistical challenges it poses.

Joe Ribar , Alaska Fire Service

• Ribar explained BLM's Alaska Fire Service provides fire suppression for the northern half of the state and the State of Alaska serves the southern half under a reciprocal agreement.

• Ribar provided a snapshot of the 2003 Alaska fire season, including number of fires and total acreage burned. Ribar also discussed prescribed fires and fuel reduction projects in 2003 and similar projects planned for 2004.

• Bisson added that the BLM/State of Alaska reciprocal fire protection agreement is up for renewal. Both BLM and the State are seeking ways to reduce suppression costs.

LUNCH

The meeting resumed with public comment at 1 p.m.

John Schoen, Audubon Alaska

• Schoen was appointed to NPR-A Research and Monitoring Team (RMT) in January 2002.

• He does not object to oil and gas research and exploration in NPR-A, but BLM must balance these activities with the other resources of the reserve.

• The Research and Monitoring Team as called for in the Northeast NPR-A plan is fundamental to balancing needs and protecting those resources. There is nothing in place in the NE plan to provide protection while a North Slope science plan is developed.

• He also had concerns about the “big picture” view the science plan takes. It's unlikely the plan will address the level of detail the RMT did.

Eleanor Huffines, The Wilderness Society

• As a former member of the Alaska RAC for four years (1995-1999), she appreciates the process and the time commitment members make. She also appreciates that Henri Bisson is always willing to make time to talk with her.

• Environmental groups are often portrayed as overreacting, but many of the things they warned about have happened. An example is the commitment to using ice roads only; now permanent gravel roads are proposed. Alpine is different than proposed, flights are much more frequent than anticipated. It's important to be honest about expected impacts.

• There is a trust issue when Washington seeks to use an energy bill to reverse or modify earlier commitments or decisions, at the same time field offices say otherwise.

END OF PUBLIC COMMENTS

Henri Bisson clarified that the existing Alpine facility was on State and Native lands, not BLM lands. He said BLM is doing an assessment of proposed additional satellite sites, and it would be premature to talk about the outcome of the EIS at this time.

NPR-A Research and Monitoring Team

Bisson explained the former NPR-A Research and Monitoring Team addressed the Northeast portion only of the petroleum reserve. In early 2003 the National Academy of Sciences released a cumulative impacts study stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to research on the North Slope . Since the RMT charter was up for renewal, BLM decided to restructure the group to look at NPR-A as a whole and address good science on a broader scale.

Bisson said BLM would meet with major landowners in December to develop a conceptual approach for a North Slope Science Initiative that would include an oversight group. But since it would be at least summer 2004 before this group could be chartered, Bisson outlined a proposal for a RAC subcommittee to assume the role of the former RMT as an interim measure.

RAC members expressed concerns about whether the RAC had the necessary qualifications to serve in this capacity.

John Schoen read the section of the Northeast plan that addressed monitoring. He said he supported the concept of a comprehensive North Slope science strategy, but was concerned about commitments to monitoring not being met in the absence of the RMT. Some RAC members concurred with Schoen's concerns about monitoring. Others felt effective monitoring occurs now, such as looking at the effects of ice roads.

Teresa Imm said North Slope residents are inundated by researchers collecting data. She stressed the need for government, industry and the scientific community to coordinate research.

After further discussion, the RAC agreed to sponsor a subcommittee to advise the RAC and BLM until a new oversight group was chartered to assume this role. Bisson asked Bob Schneider to draft a proposal for the RAC's consideration.

BREAK

Northwest NPR-A preferred alternative

Bob Schneider outlined BLM's preferred alternative for the 8.8-million-acre Northwest NPR-A planning area. This alternative would make 100 percent of the planning area available for leasing, with mandatory leasing stipulations and required operating procedures for several areas. Other provisions call for designation of 102,000 acres as Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area, special study areas for Pacific black brandt and caribou, and areawide habitat studies for threatened bird species.

Minutes, RAC community meeting at Wiseman, July 10, 2003

Gary Gustafson asked that the minutes be revised to include comments by one resident who indicated there might be interest in additional trails or cabins if placed in appropriate areas. The RAC then approved the minutes as amended.

Western Interior Subsistence Council: guide capacity and overharvests

Bob Schneider explained BLM had reviewed a letter from the Western Interior Subsistence Regional Advisory Council about guide numbers on BLM lands and impacts to subsistence users. Guide numbers have increased since BLM developed the Utility Corridor RMP in 1991, so BLM is working with the state to inventory game populations within the corridor.

Schneider said BLM evaluates specific carrying capacity and use allocation levels for resources during land use planning. He said BLM will address public concerns about guiding on public lands in all future land use plans and will determine, through public participation, the appropriate level of use allocation during each planning effort.

The RAC viewed a brief slide show of the July 2003 Coldfoot/Wiseman field tour.

RAC Charter and Standards and Guidelines

The council reviewed a draft letter to the Director prepared by Gary Gustafson regarding the RAC charter. The chair suggested a council member from each category work with BLM to revise the standards as Bisson had requested in the earlier discussion.

Meeting recessed at 4:15 pm .

Friday, November 14, 2003
Council members not present: Charlie Boddy, Sandra Key and Paul Roehl.

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.

Recordable Disclaimers of Interest

BLM realty specialist Mike Haskins explained that Section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) authorizes the Secretary to issue recordable disclaimers of interest to help remove clouds to title. BLM Alaska is the only Bureau office issuing disclaimers of interest for navigable water bodies. BLM Alaska issued the first such disclaimer to the State for the Black River on October 24, 2003 . The date, the State has filed a total of five applications.

Haskins said some states ( Utah specifically) may use this provision to recognize state interests in rights-of-ways under R.S. 2477. There are no immediate plans for BLM to apply the recordable disclaimer of interest process to R.S. 2477 assertions in Alaska .

Haskins provided a handout detailing the steps in the disclaimer process and listing additional applications filed by the state. Haskins said BLM anticipates approximately 200 applications for navigable rivers in Alaska . BLM expects to receive additional funding to support this workload.

Alpine Satellite Development Plan EIS

BLM land use planner Jim Ducker summarized the Alpine EIS for full-field development in the Colville Delta and the northeastern corner of NPR-A. Scoping began in March 2003. BLM conducted tribal consultations in Barrow and Nuiqsut. Issues raised during scoping included: impacts to bird habitat, subsistence/socialcultural impacts, and visual impacts.

Ducker described four action alternatives and said BLM will release a draft EIS for comment in January 2004. Henri Bisson said BLM will not identify a preferred alternative in the draft.

Fire Management and Land Use Plans

Joe Ribar of BLM's Alaska Fire Service explained BLM was taking steps to include fire management objectives in all resource management plans by September 2004. This approach allows land managers to integrate fire and fuels management objectives into land use decisions.

In Alaska , BLM is preparing a statewide environmental assessment to amend land use plans to include fire management objectives. To do so, BLM will talk with residents and select an initial response appropriate to the resources of the area. BLM will hold public meetings in Anchorage and Fairbanks in early December to explain this amendment.

BREAK

Outdated land withdrawals

The chair explained RAC member Paul Roehl introduced a resolution the previous year asking BLM to review and relinquish unnecessary federal land withdrawals, especially in areas wishing to expand economic opportunity such as the Bristol Bay region.

Ramona Chinn of BLM's Conveyance division explained that Section 209 in S. 1466, the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act, addressed this issue. Chinn said the bill was scheduled for a hearing in early 2004. The state has not prioritized selections in the 39-township prototype area.

Bill Ellis of the Alaska Miners Association said completing land transfer and resolving lingering withdrawals was an important issue to AMA. Several areas in the Bristol Bay region have good mineral potential, but remain withdrawn from mineral entry. He said he hoped S. 1466 would resolve this issue and open lands that are currently closed to mineral entry.

Alaska Land Transfer Program Update

Chinn discussed S. 1466, which would provide BLM added tools for sunsetting all land transfer applications and entitlements by the year 2009. Chinn said the bill would provide BLM with additional authorities and address gaps in current regulations.

Conveyance Deputy State Director Gary Reimer explained that the remaining acres of entitlement BLM is mandated to process in Alaska is just over 25 million acres—roughly the size of the State of Virginia. The overselected lands alone are the size of the State of New York .

Reimer discussed a timeline that would address Native allotments first, then ANCSA village selections followed by Regional selections, and lastly the state. Reimer explained this was a complex undertaking that would require broad cooperation and any assistance from the RAC would be helpful, particularly in building support for the acceleration effort.

RAC Subgroup Reports

1. RMP subgroup: This work group was tasked with developing a process for RAC involvement during land use planning efforts. Work group members Larry Taylor, Gary Gustafson, Paul Roehl, and John Stroud held two teleconferences. The work group recommended the RAC establish a liaison to work with the appropriate BLM manager and specialists during pre-planning (prior to scoping) and report back to the RAC throughout the planning effort.

2. OHV subgroup: Susan Olsen said this work group held a teleconference with BLM outdoor recreation specialists. The group thought the RAC might help determine what areas are open and closed to OHV use, but conceded this would require specific knowledge about areas the group might not have. Olsen said the OHV subgroup would need additional members in 2004 and further discussion to arrive at a process.

3. Public use recreation cabins: Gary Gustafson said this subgroup would be interested in making recommendations for specific areas where additional cabins are needed, especially where trail systems could be expanded across multiple jurisdictions.

BREAK

RAC 2004 Work Plan

Gary Gustafson explained the draft work plan consists of both action and information items. Action items call for active involvement by the RAC, either advice to BLM or a subgroup to take additional action. Information items are topics the RAC tracks for informational purposes.

The chair asked if any members wanted to propose additional items to the draft 2004 work plan. Keith Tryck was interested in the RAC's involvement in fire management and prescribed fires.

The RAC reviewed current subgroup assignments and made several changes to the draft work plan. Bisson suggested adding a Standards and Guidelines work group to work with BLM planners to convert the document to supplemental planning guidance for Alaska . Gustafson agreed to incorporate these changes into the work plan and send it out via email for approval.

The RAC set dates for 2004 meetings as follows:
• Feb. 5-6, 2004 ( Anchorage )
• April 29-30, 2004 ( Fairbanks )
• July 29-31 field tour (Unalakleet Wild and Scenic River )
• Oct. 14-15, 2004 ( Anchorage )

NPR-A Research and Monitoring RAC Subcommittee Resolution

The RAC reviewed a draft resolution establishing an interim RAC subcommittee to replace the NPR-A Research and Monitoring Team until the North Slope Science Initiative oversight group is established in 2004. The RAC made minor changes to the resolution, but deferred voting until the resolution could be circulated via email to all members the following week.

The RAC reviewed the draft letter to the Director regarding the council's charter. After minor edits, the RAC voted in favor of sending the letter as revised.

Meeting adjourned 1:10 p.m

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Please contact the Alaska RAC Coordinator for further information.