BLM seeking public comment at scoping meetings for new NPR-A plan
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Bureau of Land Management is holding eight public scoping meetings to gather public comments that help guide the development of a new Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 22.1-million acre National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).
Meetings will be held in the following communities:
- Anchorage: Monday, Dec. 10, 5:30-8:30 pm at the BLM Campbell Creek Science Center
- Atqasuk: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7-10 pm at the community center
- Anaktuvuk Pass: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7-10 pm at the community center
- Fairbanks: Thursday, Dec. 13, 5:30-8:30 pm at the Morris Thompson Center
Meetings planned for the following communities were postponed due to the Nov. 30 earthquake in Anchorage and will be rescheduled:
- Wainwright: at the community center
- Point Lay: at the community center
- Utqiaġvik: at the Iñupiat Heritage Center
- Nuiqsut: at the community center
The purpose of the IAP and EIS is to develop a new management strategy for the NPR-A consistent with Secretarial Order 3352, which was signed in June 2017. The order calls for the review and development of a revised IAP “that strikes an appropriate balance of promoting development while protecting surface resources.”
The BLM published the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register Nov. 21, 2018. This initiated a 45-day public scoping period that will conclude Jan. 7, 2019. Comments may be submitted at the public scoping meetings or by regular mail to: BLM Alaska State Office, Attention – NPR-A IAP/EIS, 222 W. 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99513. Comments may also be faxed to (907) 271-5479 or submitted online at http://www.blm.gov/alaska/NPR-A-IAP-EIS. Comments must be received before the end of the scoping period to be included in the scoping report.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.