Notice of Proposed Extension of Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-932-1430-01; F-020174, F-35871, F-35872]

Notice of Proposed Extension of Withdrawal and Opportunity for

Public Meeting; Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Army has filed applications to

extend the withdrawal of approximately 869,862 acres of public lands

for the Fort Wainwright Yukon Training Area, the Fort Greely West

Training Area, and the Fort Greely East Training Area. The lands were

originally withdrawn by Public Law 99-606 of November 6, 1986. The

withdrawal will expire on November 5, 2001, unless extended. This

withdrawal extension requires legislative action by Congress pursuant

to the Act of February 28, 1958, 43 U.S.C. 155-158, commonly known as

the Engle Act. The lands are currently withdrawn from all forms of

appropriation under the public land laws, the mining laws, the mineral

leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws pursuant to Public Law

99-606.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before February 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Alaska State Director, BLM

Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Avenue, No. 13, Anchorage, Alaska

99513-7599.

[[Page 64735]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robbie J. Havens, BLM Alaska State

Office, 907-271-5049.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 5, 1998, the Department of the

Army filed applications to extend the withdrawal for the Fort

Wainwright Yukon Training Area (formerly known as the Fort Wainwright

Maneuver Area), the Fort Greely West Training Area (formerly known as

the Fort Greely Maneuver Area), and the Fort Greely East Training Area

(formerly known as the Fort Greely Air Drop Zone). The Army has

determined there is a continuing military need for the lands and filed

the applications for extension in accordance with Section 8 (a)(1) and

(2) of Public Law 99-606. The legal descriptions for the lands are as

published in the 52 FR 5506-5507, February 23, 1987; 52 FR 8405, March

17, 1987; 52 FR 17485, May 8, 1987; and the 54 FR 48782, November 7,

1989. The areas described aggregate approximately 869,862 acres.

A copy of the legal descriptions are available by contacting Robbie

J. Havens at the address or phone number listed above.

The Fort Wainwright Yukon Training Area, the Fort Greely West

Training Area, and the Fort Greely East Training Area, are used by the

Army for military maneuvering, training, artillery firing, aerial

gunnery, infantry tactics, equipment development and testing, as well

as other defense related purposes. The sites are used to train in an

extremely cold environment and to test the effect of this environment

on military equipment, and are used by the Army, the Air Force, and

other military units.

This withdrawal extension requires legislative action by Congress

pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1958, 43 U.S.C. 155-158.

For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this

notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or

objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension may

present their views in writing to the Alaska State Director of the

Bureau of Land Management.

There will be three public meetings. The purpose of these meetings

is for interested persons to comment on the proposed extension of the

withdrawal and the associated draft legislative environmental impact

statement. Each meeting for the public hearings will be conducted as

open houses that will begin at 2:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m.

People interested in the proposed extension of the land withdrawal and

the associated draft legislative environmental impact statement will

have the opportunity to make formal remarks.

The three meetings will be conducted at the following locations on

the dates indicated:

January 5, 1999, Diamond Willow Club, Delta Ave. & First Street,

Building 701, Fort Greely, Alaska.

January 6, 1999, Carlson Center, Pioneer Room, 2010 Second Avenue,

Fairbanks, Alaska.

January 7, 1999, William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center, Board

Room, 555 West Fifth Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska.

Michael W. Haskins,

Acting Supervisor, Lands and Minerals Group, Division of Lands,

Minerals, and Resources.

[FR Doc. 98-31259 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am]

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