**Bureau of Land Management (BLM)**

**Alaska Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Meeting**

Nome, Alaska

**Wednesday, July 18, 2007**

**[ATTENDANCE]{.underline}**

> **Council Members Present**: Greg Beischer, Suzanne McCarthy, Scott
> Hala, Jim Posey, Teresa Imm, Susan Olsen.
>
> **Council Member Absent**: Sandra Key, Barbara Fullmer, Phil Driver,
> Tom Crafford, June McAtee, Charlie Boddy, David van den Berg, Keith
> Tryck, Denise Michel.
>
> **BLM Representatives Present**: Tom Lonnie (DFO), Gary Reimer, Ramona
> Chinn, Tom Sparks, Carrie Ojanen, Danielle Allen, Satrina Lord, Sharon
> Wilson, Eileen Ford, Doug Herzog
>
> **Others**: Bob Walsh (Senator Lisa Murkowski's office), Roy
> Ashenfelter (Kawerak), Jesse Zink (KNOM), Josie Stiles (City of Nome),
> Darla Jemewouk (Elim Native Corporation), John Jemewouk (Elim Native
> Corporation), Richard Miller (Nome), Angela Miller (Nome), Irene
> Anderson (Berings Straits Native Corporation), Tim Towarak (Bering
> Straits Native Corporation), Kimberly O'Connor Gooden (Bering Straits
> Native Corporation).

**[CALL TO ORDER -- 1:32 p.m.]{.underline}**

Meeting **CALLED TO ORDER** by Chair Greg Beischer.

**WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS:** Beischer welcomed everyone and expressed
his pleasure to be back in Nome. He noted that the RAC did not have a
quorum as only six of the 15 members were present.

**STATE DIRECTOR'S REPORT -- Tom Lonnie, BLM-Alaska State Director**

In his report to the RAC, Lonnie provided the following updates on
BLM-Alaska programs and personnel:

-   The three-tier organizational structure has been approved by the
    Deputy Director of BLM. Although October 1 is the official
    implementation, Lonnie said we are currently operating as a
    three-tier organization for all intents and purposes.

-   The BLM-Alaska collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    (FWS) will be officially implemented October 1.

-   Renewable Resources consolidation with Lands is planned for
    implementation October 1 but is essentially in effect now under
    Ramona Chinn

-   We are in the process of recruiting for the position of Executive
    Director of the North Slope Science Initiative. BLM will make the
    final decision in the next few weeks.

-   The new BLM Deputy State Director is Ted Murphy; he will be
    reporting to BLM on August 18.

-   Jim Caswell was nominated as the new BLM Director. Senate
    confirmation hearings took place last week. We should know something
    in the next few weeks.

-   Phase out of the Alaska Mineral Program continues. The Juneau
    facility will close July 20. On August 8, the Coast Guard will take
    over the facility under a 5-year lease.

-   NE Supplement draft is planned for release in mid-June; it is still
    being reviewed by the Washington Office.

-   Rural Energy Program in Wainwright village area has met with some
    success with returns on coal. There are approximately 5 to 8
    additional feet to drill according to Imm.

-   North Slope Borough Oil and Gas Conference will be held September 20
    and 21 in Barrow, Alaska. The agenda is being assembled.

-   Henri Bisson has been asked to assumed Dru Pearce's roll.

**RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS UPDATE -- Gary Reimer, Anchorage District
Manager**

Reimer provided updates on the following BLM-Alaska resource management
plans (RMPs):

-   East RMP -- protest letters were signed and mailed last week. Lonnie
    signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the East Plan yesterday;
    this is the final step in the formal process. \[*Update*: Due to
    procedural problems with the notice of availability (NOA), Lonnie
    will "re-sign" the ROD\]. There were two protests that had to be
    resolved; they are being posted on the web. The Solicitor had some
    edits to NOA. The NOA announces the availability of the ROD for
    review. Olsen asked if the responses to the protests would be
    available as well on the web. Reimer confirmed that he will make the
    responses available. He briefly explained that the protests focused
    on Native allotments and the Bering Glacier. Beischer asked how long
    a plan generally takes. Reimer stated that it varies, and we learn
    from previous plans. Lonnie stated that the Governor's consistency
    review and appeal periods added several months to the plan. Lonnie
    noted that plans are generally taking longer because we are more
    aggressive in soliciting public cooperation and involvement.

-   Ring of Fire (ROF)-- the State found the ROF consistent but protest
    issues were raised. Protest letters are awaiting edits suggested by
    the Solicitor. We expect to have the record of decision out this
    fiscal year.

-   Bay Plan -- currently on schedule to have final environment impact
    statement (EIS) at the end of this fiscal year. There has been much
    effort on government to government and village contact. In response
    to Beischer's inquiry about the extent of changes to the plan,
    Reimer said McAtee's comments regarding areas of critical
    environmental concern were considered and influenced what we are
    doing. Fullmer's comments on standard operating procedures and
    Beischer comments on behalf of Bristol Bay Native Association were
    considered. Similarly, the comments submitted by Hala and Olsen,
    were read and considered. Reimer also noted that there were
    recognized benefits from the Kobuk-Seward plan.

-   Kobuk-Seward -- on schedule for the final EIS this year in August or
    September. The Washington Office has reviewed the final EIS and has
    minor edits, which will be completed this week. The notice of
    availability ( NOA) for the Proposed RMP/FEIS is in the WO.

-   Bering Sea/West Interior RMP - scheduled to begin 2008. This is the
    largest plan, and it is heavily along the river. BLM is currently
    establishing collaborations and relationships to facilitate the
    planning process.

**LAND TRANSFER CEREMONY\
**

**Josie Stiles, Nome Visitor Center Director,** welcomed everyone to
Nome. Stiles said that Denise Michaels sent her regrets because she was
unable to attend the meeting. Stiles introduced Tom Lonnie.

**Tom Lonnie, BLM State Director**, welcomed the land transfer
applicants. He noted and expressed appreciation for Bob Walsh's
presence. Lonnie stated that land transfer is a top priority at
BLM-Alaska. Lonnie briefly discussed the Salmon Lake agreement, which is
an agreement between BLM-Alaska, the State of Alaska, and Bering Straits
Native Corporation that was reached to settle competing claims in the
Salmon Lake area. Lonnie confirmed that the Salmon Lake agreement had
been signed yesterday by Tom Erwin for the State of Alaska. BLM-Alaska
and the Bering Straits Native Corporation were poised to sign the
agreement shortly at today's meeting. Lonnie introduced Ramona Chinn.

**Ramona Chinn, BLM-Alaska Division of Land Transfer**, provided current
status on the land transfer program. Since the last RAC meeting (May
2007), 373 **Native allotment** cases have been processed to completion
(closed or patented), exceeding the fiscal year goal of 200. Patents
issued by BLM under the **Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)**
transferred 1,245,575 acres, exceeding the goal of 1,200,000 acres.
ANCSA interim conveyances, rejections, or relinquishments resulted in
BLM's transfer of over 9.6 million acres, exceeding the goal of 8.1
million. Patents issued by the BLM to the **State of Alaska**
transferred over 4.6 million acres of land, well exceeding the goal of 3
million acres. The acres transferred or otherwise impacted by State
tentative approvals, rejections, and/or relinquishments totaled almost
1.8 million acres. This fiscal year, the total acreage adjudicated to
date is 17.4 million.

Chinn presented certificates of allotment to four Native veteran
allotment applicants. One applicant was present to personally receive
his certificate of allotment. Roy Ashenfelter, Kawerak Land Manager,
accepted the certificates of allotment on behalf of the three Native
veteran applicants who were not in attendance.

Chinn signed six patents conveying land to Bering Straits Native
Corporation pursuant to

ANCSA section 14(h)(8). The conveyance documents were issued for the
following parcels: Pilgrim, North Salmon Lake, Glacier Lake, Lava Creek,
Christmas Mountain, and Reindeer Cove. Tim Towerak, President of Bering
Straits Native Corporation, received the signed conveyance documents on
behalf of the corporation.

According to Tom Sparks (BLM-Alaska Nome field station), Sitnasuak's
relinquishment of certain lands made it possible for the Native veterans
to receive their certificates of allotment. Sparks said that Bering
Straits Native Corporation worked closely with BLM, and each Bering
Straits village signed a resolution to facilitate prompt processing of
land conveyances. Sparks also noted that eight of the 17 villages in the
Bering Straits region have been closed to date. Sparks stated it is his
hope that Bering Straits is the first region to obtain fulfillment of
its entitlements under ANCSA.

Sparks explained the Salmon Lake agreement in greater detail. Under the
agreement, Bering Straits Native Corporation would get all land on the
north side of Salmon Lake, the State of Alaska would get all land on the
Nome side of Salmon Lake plus the airstrip, and BLM-Alaska would get the
9-acre campground.

On behalf of Bering Straits Native Corporation, Towerak expressed his
appreciation for all the work the State of Alaska and BLM put into
reaching the Salmon Lake agreement. Towerak characterized the agreement
as a win-win-win situation.

Lonnie announced the conclusion of the land transfer ceremony.

**BREAK** at 2:45 p.m.

**RECONVENED** at 3:40 a.m.

**17(b) EASEMENTS UPDATE** -- **Ramona Chinn, Division of Land
Transfer**

Chinn said the BLM recently issued policy for the administration of
17(b) easements. Olsen asked if easements across Native corporation land
leading to State land would get secondary attention based on the current
policy. Chinn said easement administration was a matter of priority and
budget-driven. Posey asked if the first Priority would always be
easements that access BLM-managed lands. Chinn stated that easement
administration would likely be prioritized if there is some activity
occurring on the ground that requires immediate attention. According to
Reimer, the policy provides guidance for the field offices, but the
field offices must still consult with Lonnie before expending time and
resources if the work involved reserved easements that did not access
BLM lands. Olsen inquired about the number of 17(b) easements in
existence. Reimer stated that there are thousands, but only a small
percentage is likely problematic.

Beischer asked what else is being done on 17(b) easements and whether
they were surveyed or marked. Reimer clarified that 17(b) easements are
not surveyed. He said that every 17(b) easement issue must be handled on
a case-by-case basis, and a few easement issues appeared to be primarily
shareholder problems. BLM does marking and signage in some instances.
Sparks mentioned the notorious big "Blowhole" trail section where the
BLM installed trail safety markers across six miles of trail in 2006.
Beischer asked how BLM knows where to mark the trail boundaries.
According to Reimer, GPS coordinates can be very helpful in locating
trail boundaries. Posey asked if members of the public can download
easement/trail coordinates to help them stay within the trail
boundaries. Sparks affirmed that this can be done.

Hala inquired about the status of the 17(b) termination related to
Tyonek. Reimer said a navigability determination and a determination as
to whether or not the Chuitina River is a major waterway are required.
Reimer stated that he want to ensure the administrative record is
complete.

**WHAT DOES THE BLM DO IN NOME?** - **Tom Sparks, BLM Nome Field Station
Manager**

Sparks provided an overview of the BLM's activities in Nome, Alaska,
addressing the following:

-   Reindeer grazing - thirteen reindeer grazing permits are
    administered by the BLM Nome Field Station under an memorandum of
    understanding with the State of Alaska and the National Park
    Service. Olsen asked if overgrazing was a problem. Spark confirmed
    that it was a problem primarily because of the caribou.

-   Mining- Most of the mining occurs on state and corporation lands.

-   Veteran Native allotments -- BLM is currently attempting to locate
    alternative parcels for about 14 Native veteran applicants in the
    Nome area. This is challenging because much of the land is currently
    selected by the State

-   Recreation management -- Salmon Lake campground, which is 40 miles
    north of Nome, and the Kigluaik Mountains, which are readily
    accessible from the Nome road system, are likely to see increased
    visitation during the next decade.

Beischer said it was gratifying to see huge acres of land being
conveyed.

**PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD:**

Beischer opened the floor for public comment.

Jesse Zink provided comments. He said that BLM land is used often, and
he expressed his appreciation to see that Salmon Lake would remain open.
He described the Kigulau Mountain range as one of the best kept secrets
and the lands on the Seward Peninsula as some of the most beautiful
lands in the world. He was glad that the lands had not been declared a
National Park and was glad that BLM managed the lands for the public
enjoyment. He mentioned the Kobuk-Seward plan to designate the area as a
special recreation area, and he agreed that the lands deserved that
designation. He assured the BLM that its public lands are being used and
enjoyed

Beischer **ADJOURNED** at 4:20 p.m.