BLM Alaska seeks public input on Haines area planning effort
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GLENNALLEN, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Haines Amendment to the Ring of Fire Resource Management Plan. Comments will be accepted through Aug. 1, 2019.
The purpose of this effort is to identify which, if any, designations and associated management practices and implementation actions best fulfill the resource needs and multiple-use demands within the Haines Planning Area in Southeast Alaska. The amendment would affect approximately 326,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in the Haines Area.
Specifically, this Supplemental Draft EIS will evaluate whether to retain the Special Recreation Management Area designation for the Haines Planning Area and whether any part of the planning area meets the criteria for an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The SDEIS will also assess implementation actions pertaining to helicopter-supported recreation in the planning area and whether to retain the Monitoring and Control Area for wildlife studies.
Copies of the Supplemental Draft EIS are available on the BLM’s ePlanning web page. A link to the page can be found on the project website at www.blm.gov/alaska/rof-haines-amendment. In addition, copies are available for review at the following locations:
BLM Glennallen Field Office
Milepost 186.5 Glenn Highway
Glennallen, AK 99588
BLM Alaska Public Information Center (Public Room)
Federal Building
222 W. 7th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99507
Haines Borough Public Library
111 3rd Ave.
Haines, AK 99827
An Open House will be held in Haines, where BLM staff will be on hand to answer questions and take comments on the draft amendment. The date and location of the Open House will be announced at www.blm.gov/alaska/rof-haines-amendment and through BLM Alaska social media.
Comments are due no later than Aug. 1, 2019. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment to withhold personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Comments can be made on the BLM ePlanning website. A link to ePlanning can be found at www.blm.gov/alaska/rof-haines-amendment. Once on ePlanning, click on the “comment” button next to the Supplemental Draft EIS.
Comments may also be submitted by email to blm_ak_afo_rof_amend@blm.gov or by mail at:
Bureau of Land Management
Anchorage District Office
Attn: Haines Amendment
4700 BLM Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
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.