Northeast NPR-A Supplemental IAP/EIS 

TABLE OF CONTENTS, VOLUME I

Cover Sheet 

Dear Reader Letter 

Abstract 

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... ES-1 

Table of Contents................................................................................................................................ i 

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 

1.1 BACKGROUND...................................................................................................................... 1-3 

1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED .......................................................................................................... 1-3

1.3 PROPOSED ACTION............................................................................................................. 1-4 

1.4 AUTHORITY........................................................................................................................... 1-4 

1.5 NORTHEAST NPR-A PLANNING AREA BOUNDARY...................................................... 1-5 

1.6 REQUIREMENTS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS .................................................................. 1-6 

1.7 CONSISTENCY WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 

NEEDED TO UNDERTAKE ON-THE-GROUND ACTIVITIES ....................................... 1-6 

1.8 FEDERAL, STATE, AND NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH PERMITS AND APPROVALS 

NEEDED TO UNDERTAKE ON-THE-GROUND ACTIVITIES ....................................... 1-9 

1.9 INTERRELATIONSHIPS AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND 

GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED GROUPS......................................................................... 1-10

1.10 CONSULTATION................................................................................................................ 1-11

1.11 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND KEY ISSUES ................................................................. 1-12 

1.12 PREVIEW OF THE REMAINDER OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL IAP/EIS ....................... 1-13

CHAPTER II: ALTERNATIVES 

2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 2-3 

2.2 FORMULATION OF THE ALTERNATIVES AND MITIGATION MEASURES ............... 2-3

2.3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVES.......................................................................... 2-7 

2.4 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL ALTERNATIVES.................................. 2-17 

2.5 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS. 2-18 

2.6 MONITORING...................................................................................................................... 2-21 

2.7 EFFECTIVENESS OF STIPULATIONS AND REQUIRED OPERATING 

 PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................................... 2-22 

2.8 COMPARISON OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF EACH ALTERNATIVE........................ 2-22 

2.9 EFFECTS ON CURRENT AND FUTURE LEASE HOLDERS FROM REVISIONS TO 1998 

NORTHEAST IAP/EIS ROD .............................................................................................. 2-22

2.10 HEALTHY NEIGHBOR POLICY........................................................................................ 2-22

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Northeast NPR-A Supplemental IAP/EIS 

CHAPTER III: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 

3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 3-3 

3.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................ 3-3

 3.2.1 Climate and Meteorology.................................................................................................. 3-3 

3.2.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 3-7 

3.2.3 Physiography .................................................................................................................... 3-9 

3.2.4 Geology and Minerals ..................................................................................................... 3-10 

3.2.5 Petroleum Resources ...................................................................................................... 3-13 

3.2.6 Paleontological Resources .............................................................................................. 3-18 

3.2.7 Soil Resources ................................................................................................................. 3-20

 3.2.8 Sand and Gravel Resources............................................................................................ 3-22

 3.2.9 Water Resources ............................................................................................................. 3-23 

3.2.10 Wastes, Solids, and Hazardous .................................................................................... 3-31 

3.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................... 3-35 

3.3.1 Special Areas................................................................................................................... 3-35 

3.3.2 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 3-36

 3.3.3 Wetlands and Floodplains .............................................................................................. 3-39 

3.3.4 Wildland Fire .................................................................................................................. 3-41 

3.3.5 Fish.................................................................................................................................. 3-41 

3.3.6 Birds ................................................................................................................................ 3-50 

3.3.7 Mammals......................................................................................................................... 3-66 

3.3.8 Special Status Species: Threatened and Endangered Species and BLM Sensitive..... 3-77 

3.4 SOCIAL SYSTEMS .............................................................................................................. 3-87

 3.4.1 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 3-87

 3.4.2 Subsistence.................................................................................................................... 3-103 

3.4.3 Sociocultural Systems................................................................................................... 3-134 

3.4.4 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................. 3-139 

3.4.5 Land Uses and Coastal Management .......................................................................... 3-141

 3.4.6 Recreational and Wilderness Resources ...................................................................... 3-149

 3.4.7 Visual Resources........................................................................................................... 3-157 

3.4.8 Transportation .............................................................................................................. 3-163 

3.4.9 Economy ........................................................................................................................ 3-168 

3.4.10 Public Health ................................................................................................................ 3-184 

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Northeast NPR-A Supplemental IAP/EIS 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 2-1. Alternative Summary Comparison Table .................................................................... 2-12 

Table 2-2. Comparison of Stipulations from the 1998 Record of Decision for the Northeast 

National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska Integrated Activity Plan and the Supplemental 

Northeast National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska Integrated Activity Plan’s Alternatives B, 

C, and D.....................................................................................................................................2-24 

Table 2-3. Summary and Comparison of Effects on Resources by Alternative............................2-95 

Table 3.2-A. Monthly Climate Summary .........................................................................................3-5

Table 3.2-B. Applicable Air Quality Standards and Monitoring Values (μg/m3) ..........................3-8 

Table 3.2-C. Summary of Peak Streamflow Data for Select Rivers in the Northeast National 

Petroleum Reserve – Alaska. ...................................................................................................3-24

Table 3.2-D. Water chemistry parameters for select lakes in the Northeast National Petroleum 

Reserve – Alaska. .....................................................................................................................3-28 

Table 3.2-E. Waste Disposal Sites ...................................................................................................3-33 

Table 3.3-A. Northeast National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska Land Cover Classifications.......3-38 

Table 3.3-B. Fish Species Found in the Northeast NPR-A Including the Colville River Drainage, 

Coastal Streams and Lakes, and Nearshore Coastal Zone ...................................................3-44 

Table 3.3-C. Chronology of Activities for Birds Nesting on the Arctic Coastal Plain in the 

Planning Area ...........................................................................................................................3-54 

Table 3.3-D. Number of Geese Recorded in the Teshekpuk Lake Goose Molting Habitat Area

during Aerial Surveys (1982 – 2005).......................................................................................3-57 

Table 3.3-E. Occurrence and Representative Abundance and Density of Selected Birds in the 

Northeast National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska ..................................................................3-58 

Table 3.3-F. Breeding Season Abundance and Nest Density of Some Shorebird Species on the 

Arctic Coastal Plain..................................................................................................................3-62 

Table 3.3-G. Mammal Species Known or Suspected to Occur in the Planning Area ..................3-67 

Inupiq Name, Abundance and Residency Classification, and Status Under the Marine

Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act ..........................................................3-74 

Table 3.3-H. Marine Mammal Species of the Beaufort Sea Including Common, Scientific, and 

Table 3.4-A. Cultures of Northern Alaska ......................................................................................3-89

Table 3.4-B. VRM Inventory Classes for the Planning Area.......................................................3-162 

Table 3.4-C. Property Tax and Oil and Gas Tax Revenues for the North Slope Borough during 

1990-2005 ................................................................................................................................3-171 

Table 3.4-D. Estimated Number of resident Jobs by Sector, North Slope Communities,

2003.........................................................................................................................................3-173 

Table 3.4-E. Distribution of Employment of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation in the NSB and on 

the TAPS Pipeline...................................................................................................................3-176 

Table 3.4-F. Place of Residence and Work ....................................................................................3-177 

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Northeast NPR-A Supplemental IAP/EIS 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1-1. How this IAP/EIS is Organized.................................................................................... 1-12

Figure 3-1 Annual Mean Temperature Change for Northern Latitudes (24 - 90° N) ............... 3-6 

Figure 3-2 Stratigraphic Column for National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska .......................... 3-11 

Figure 3-3 Annual Cycle of Subsistence Activities – Anaktuvuk Pass .................................. 3-109 

Figure 3-4 Annual Cycle of Subsistence Activities – Atqasuk................................................ 3-112 

Figure 3-5 Annual Cycle of Subsistence Activities – Barrow ................................................. 3-116 

Figure 3-6 Annual Cycle of Subsistence Activities – Nuiqsut ................................................ 3-122 

Figure 3-7 Annual Cycle of Subsistence Activities – Wainwright.......................................... 3-129 

Figure 3-8 Tax in the NSB ....................................................................................................... 3-170 

Figure 3-9 Total Employment in the North Slope Region, 1965 to 2005 ............................... 3-173 

Figure 3-10 NSB Labor Force Statistics................................................................................... 3-174

Figure 3-11 Share of Employment by Type of Worker, 1980, 1990, and 2000........................ 3-175 

Figure 3-12. Per Capita Real Personal Income, Barrow-North Slope Division, North Slope 

Borough, and Alaska, 1969 to 2004.................................................................................. 3-179 

Figure 3-13 Real Median Household Income in North Slope Borough Communities, 1979, 1989, 

and 1999 ............................................................................................................................ 3-182 

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