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FeedPUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange/Road Corridor Draft EIS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) invites the public to an open house and public meetings. The Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes 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. Comments must be received by May 18, 2012. The format for the public meetings will consist of an open house, followed by an opportunity for comments. During the open house, representatives from the Service, the cooperating agencies, and third-party EIS team will be available to discuss the project and answer questions. The public meetings will be documented by a court reporter. Comments on the draft EIS should be submitted no later than May 18, 2012. A copy of the draft plan is available at: http://izembek.fws.gov/EIS.htm or you may request hard copies or CDs of the draft plan by email, izembek_eis@fws.gov; or telephone, (907) 786-3357. In addition to speaking at the public meetings you may submit comments by email to: izembek_eis@fws.gov; by fax to 907-786-3965; or by mail to: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Stephanie Brady, Project Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS-231, Anchorage, AK 99503. Requests for sign language interpretation or auxiliary aids should be made at least 14 days before the scheduled meeting to Joan Kluwe at (907) 562-3366 or joan.kluwe@urs.com. Meeting Locations and Times: Anchorage | Sand Point | Cold Bay | | Thursday May 3, 2012 | Monday May 7, 2012 | Tuesday May 8, 2012 | | Campbell Creek Science | Council Chambers | Community Center | | Center at 5600 Science | 7:00-9:00pm | 7:00-9:00pm | | Center Drive | | | | 7:00-9:30pm | | -------------------------+-------------------------+------------------------- Nelson Lagoon | False Pass | King Cove | | Wednesday | Wednesday | Thursday May 10, 2012 | | May 9, 2012 | May 9, 2012 | Multi-Purpose Center | | Community Center | Larsen Center | 6:30pm | | 2:00-4:00pm | 7:00-9:00pm | In the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (the Act), Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to prepare an EIS to conduct an analysis of the proposed land exchange with the State of Alaska and the King Cove Corporation. In addition, the Act required an analysis of a road corridor through Izembek NWR in designated Wilderness between the communities of Cold Bay and King Cove, Alaska. The project planning team includes the Service (lead agency), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration - Western Federal Lands Division, State of Alaska, Aleutians East Borough, City of King Cove, King Cove Corporation, the Agdaagux Tribe, and the Belkofski Tribe as formal cooperators. The Environmental Protection Agency and Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council also are working with the planning team, though they are not formal cooperators. The Service conducted public involvement and scoping in 2010 and developed and analyzed alternatives in 2010 and 2011. A summary of the comments received and responses to substantive comments will be included in the final EIS, which is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2012. A Record of Decision will be completed no earlier than 30 days after release of the final Environmental Impact Statement. Following the Record of Decision, the Secretary of the Interior will determine if the land exchange is in the public interest. Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is the smallest and one of the most ecologically unique of Alaska’s refuges. Most of the refuge is designated wilderness and home to a diverse array of wildlife species including five species of salmon; furbearers such as wolf, fox and wolverine; large mammals such as caribou, moose and brown bears; shorebirds, seabirds; and other waterfowl. For more information about the refuge visit, http://izembek.fws.gov. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq -FWS-
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