Chapter 7 

Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 7-1 

7. Consultation and Coordination with Others 

7.1 Consistency with the Alaska 

Coastal Management Program 

Section 307(c) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as 

amended (PL 92-583), states that “each Federal agency 

conducting or supporting activities directly affecting the coastal 

zone shall conduct or support those activities in a manner which 

is, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with approved 

State coastal management programs.” 

The Alaska Coastal Management Act of 1977, as amended, and 

the Alaska Coastal Management Program set forth general 

policies to be used for the review of projects. The Bristol Bay 

Borough is located near the Becharof Refuge, but no refuge 

lands are located within the borough’s boundary. For coastal 

management purposes, most lands within the Alaska Peninsula 

and Becharof Refuges (Refuges) are within the Lake and 

Peninsula Borough and the Kodiak Island Borough, with some 

lands adjacent to the Pacific coast southwest of Stepovak Bay 

falling within the Aleutians East Borough. 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) finds the 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Conservation Plan or Plan) 

for the Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife 

Refuges to be fully consistent with policies of the Alaska Coastal 

Management Program (ACMP), the Lake and Peninsula 

Borough Coastal Management Plan, the Aleutians East 

Borough Coastal Management Program, and the Kodiak Island 

Coastal Management Program. 

The ACMP identifies 12 primary categories that are to be used 

in consistency evaluations. Following are the categories 

applicable to this Plan: 

 Coastal development 

 Recreation 

 Subsistence 

 Habitats 

 Air, land, and water quality 

Relevant ACMP standards are presented in section 7.1.1, with 

comments about the Plan’s consistency (in italics) with these 

standards. These are followed by similar discussion of relevant 

policies from other coastal management plans or programs. 
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7-2 Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

7.1.1 Alaska Coastal Management Program Policies 

(condensed) 

(Parenthetic heading delineations reference those sections of 

the ACMP that pertain to this Conservation Plan.) 

Coastal Development (6 AAC 80.040) 

In planning for and developing coastal areas, priority is given to 

(1) water-dependent uses and activities, (2) water-related uses 

and activities, and (3) activities and uses not related or 

dependent on water. 

The Plan proposes no developments in the coastal zone. 

Recreation (6 AAC 80.060) 

In designating areas for recreational use, priority is given to 

areas that (1) receive significant recreational use or are major 

tourist destinations, (2) have potential for high-quality 

recreational use because of physical, biological, or cultural 

features, (3) achieve the high priority of increasing public access 

to coastal water. 

The Plan addresses areas that have high-quality recreation 

opportunities. Access is provided the public for recreation use 

of the Refuges under all alternatives. 

Subsistence (6 AAC 80.120) 

Opportunities for subsistence use of coastal areas and resources 

shall be recognized and ensured. Before a potentially conflicting 

use or activity may be authorized in subsistence zones [zones of 

the coastal resource used for subsistence purposes], a study of 

the possible adverse impacts upon subsistence use must be 

prepared and safeguards provided to ensure subsistence use. 

The Plan addresses subsistence uses and ensures opportunities 

for subsistence use of Refuges resources. 

Habitats (6 AAC 80.130) 

Habitats must be managed to maintain or enhance the 

biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of the habitat 

that would contribute to its capacity to support living resources. 

Habitats for fish and wildlife are addressed in the Plan, and 

the Plan provides for their continued protection, maintenance, 

and/or enhancement. 

Air, Land, and Water Quality (6 AAC 80.130) 

Regulations and procedures of the Alaska Department of 

Environmental Conservation pertaining to the protection of air, 
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Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 7-3 

land, and water quality are components of the Alaska Coastal 

Management Program. 

The Plan would not affect land or air quality. Soil and 

vegetation monitoring is included. Should significant problems 

be detected, corrective actions will be taken. 

7.1.2 Lake and Peninsula Borough Coastal Management Plan

(condensed) 

(Parenthetic heading numbers reference those sections of the 

borough’s coastal management plan that pertain to this 

conservation Plan.) 

Coastal Development (A) 

Compatibility (A-4) 

To the extent feasible and prudent, activities on and uses of 

coastal lands and waters shall be compatible with uses on 

adjacent lands and waters. 

The Plan proposes no developments in the coastal zone. 

Coastal Habitats and Resources (B) 

State Habitat Standards (B-1) 

The Lake and Peninsula Borough Coastal Management 

Program adopts the ACMP standards for coastal habitats 

contained in 6 AAC 80.130. 

Development activities and facility sites shall meet, at a 

minimum, the criteria established under the referenced 

standards and state regulations, unless a greater performance 

standard is applicable under specific policies of the Lake and 

Peninsula Borough Coastal Management Program. 

Habitats for fish and wildlife are addressed in the Plan, 

and the Plan provides for their continued protection, 

maintenance, and/or enhancement. 

Air, Land, and Water Quality (C) 

State Standards (C-1) 

The Lake and Peninsula Borough Coastal Management 

Program adopts the ACMP standards for air, land, and water 

quality standards contained in 6 AAC 80.140. Where state 

standards and the policies of this section present differing 

requirements, the stricter standard shall be applied. 

The Plan would not affect land or air quality. Soil and 

vegetation monitoring is included. Should significant problems 

be detected, corrective actions will be taken. 
Chapter 7: Consultation and Coordination with Others 

7-4 Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Subsistence Use and Personal Use (D) 

State Standards (D-1) 

The Lake and Peninsula Borough adopts the subsistence 

standards presented in ACMP regulation 6 AAC 80.120. 

The Plan addresses subsistence uses; it will ensure 

opportunities for subsistence use of Refuge resources. 

Recreation (H) 

Planning Processes (H-6) 

Recreational planners for Federal and state lands are requested 

to provide an opportunity for the Lake and Peninsula Borough 

to participate in recreation planning in accordance with the 

procedures identified in Chapter 6, Implementation and 

Monitoring. 

The Plan is fully consistent with this standard. The State of 

Alaska, Lake and Peninsula Borough, and local residents were 

notified of the planning process when it began and were 

apprised of developments throughout the process. 

7.1.3 Aleutians East Borough Coastal Management Program 

(condensed) 

(Parenthetic heading numbers reference those sections of the 

borough’s plan that pertain to this conservation Plan.) 

Fish and Wildlife (A) 

Priority Use (A-1) 

Maintenance and enhancement of fisheries habitats shall be 

considered a highly important use of local concern when 

reviewing proposals for activities or uses that may adversely 

affect spawning, rearing, migrating, or overwintering areas for 

anadromous fish. Except for public water supplies and domestic 

uses, maintenance of water quality and quantity for the 

continued propagation of anadromous fish stocks shall be 

considered a high-priority water use within the Aleutians East 

Coastal Resources Service Area (CRSA). 

Because maintenance of fisheries habitats, water quality, and 

water quantity are purposes of the Alaska Peninsula and 

Becharof Refuges, the Plan is fully consistent with these 

policies. 

Subsistence (I) 

Access to Resources (I-2) 

Traditional and customary access to subsistence areas shall be 

maintained unless reasonable alternative access is provided to 
Chapter 7: Consultation and Coordination with Others 

Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 7-5 

subsistence users. “Reasonable access” is access using means 

generally available to subsistence users. 

The Plan is fully consistent with this policy. It does not 

significantly restrict subsistence uses or needs. It also allows 

for the continued use of traditional access, including off-road 

vehicles, for subsistence. 

Recreation (J) 

Coordination (J-2) 

Recreational planning for Federal and state lands within the 

district shall insure timely notification of proposed plans to the 

borough assembly, Aleut Corporation, other affected 

landowners, and local governments of affected communities, in 

accordance with 6 AAC 50. 

The Plan is fully consistent with this standard. The Aleut 

Corporation, local communities, the State of Alaska, and local 

residents were notified of the planning process when it began 

and also throughout the process. 

7.1.4 Kodiak Island Borough Coastal Management Program 

(condensed) 

(Parenthetic heading numbers reference those sections of the 

borough’s plan that pertain to this conservation Plan.) 

Subsistence 

Primary Use (1) 

Subsistence use of resources by Kodiak Island Borough 

residents is recognized as a primary resource use and shall be 

protected when coastal development occurs. 

The Plan proposes no developments in the coastal zone. The 

Plan is fully consistent with this policy. It does not 

significantly restrict subsistence uses. It also allows for the 

continued use of traditional access, including off-road vehicles, 

for subsistence. 

Resource Enhancement and Protection 

Habitat Protection (2) 

Management of sensitive areas such as estuaries, wetlands, 

tidelands, beaches, rivers, lake systems, and high-energy coasts 

(those with a lot of wave action) shall be done in accordance with 

ACMP Standard 6 AAC 80.130 (Habitats). Federal and state 

regulations shall guide development in anadromous fish 

streams, in the vicinity of bald eagle nests, and in other coastal 

habitat areas. 
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7-6 Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Habitats for fish and wildlife are addressed in the Plan, and 

the Plan provides for their continued protection, maintenance, 

and/or enhancement. 

7.2 Section 7 Compliance 

The Ecological Services Division of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife 

Service is charged with reviewing planned actions for potential 

effects to federally listed threatened and endangered species. 

That division found that the planned actions in the Alaska 

Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges’ 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan are not likely to adversely 

affect listed species or designated critical habitat (see Figure 

7-1). Therefore, the Fish & Wildlife Service finds the Plan to be 

fully consistent with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq: 87 stat 884, as amended). 

Additionally, we asked that the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of 

Commerce review the plan for potential impacts. They 

concurred with the plan’s findings that the Steller sea lion and 

its critical habitat are not likely to be adversely affected by the 

proposed plan (Figure 7-2). 
Chapter 7: Consultation and Coordination with Others 

Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 7-7 

Figure 7-1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service letter regarding threatened and endangered species 
Chapter 7: Consultation and Coordination with Others 

7-8 Alaska Peninsula and Becharof NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

Figure 7-2 NOAA’s letter regarding Steller sea lions