13704 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 1997 / Notices

conservation agreements. The purpose

of the agreements is to unify

management regimes, regulate take,

enhance conservation of polar bears and

their habitat, and provide for nonconsumptive uses such as eco-tourism,

as well as consumptive uses.

The selected alternative (Alternative

3) of the Final EA describes a bilateral

management scenario where a

governmental-to-government agreement

establishes the guiding framework and

ultimate oversight role for an AlaskaChukotka Native-to-Native agreement. A

harvest system would be established by

an international joint commission

composed of one Federal and one

Native representative from each

country. Harvest levels would be

binding. Joint research and

managmenet, population and harvest

monitoring, enforcement, habitat

conservation, and conservation

education would be the primary

elements of the agreement. Alternative 3

is the preferred alternative because it

provides the basis for a comprehensive

and coordinated conservation program.

The agreement would provide guidance

for Russian and American governments

and Native entities to manage the shared

population stock and it would support

Russian efforts to curb threats to polar

bears associated with illegal

unquantified hunting and lack of

enforcement. A government-togovernment bilateral agreement would

also ensure closer coordination and

involvement in management decisions

by the primary users, namely the Native

people of Alaska and Chukotka.

In response to comments and

testimony received from the public, the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has

revised the draft EA, and now issues the

Final EA for the proposed action. The

comment period on the draft EA was

open for 60 days form July 19, 1996, to

September 17, 1996. During this period

the Service received written comments

from seven organizations, and one

individual. In addition, public hearings

were conducted in Anchorage, Alaska,

on August 14, 1996, and in Washington,

D.C., on August 21, 1996. Transcripts of

the proceedings from the public

hearings are on file at the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service Alaska Regional Office.

The Service also conducted community

meetings in Wales, Shishmaref,

Gambell, Savoonga, Barrow, and

Wainwright during the period of August

26 to September 6, 1996. Additionally,

the Service received comments from

three governmental organizations at the

conclusion of the comment period.

Copies of all written comments are on

file at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Regional Office.

Overall many of the public comments

endorsed the need for a bilateral treaty

between the U.S. and Russia. There

were no comments supporting

Alternative 1, the status quo, and

several which opposed it’s continuation.

Generally public support for a

coordinated U.S./Russia bilateral

agreement was contingent upon the

Service, and ultimately the agreement,

addressing a number of issues. The

Service has evaluated these issues and

provides a description of them with a

corresponding response in Section VI of

the Final EA. Public comments that

provided clarity have been incorporated

into the text of the Final EA.

The Service requests interested

persons to submit comments,

information, and suggestions concerning

these actions. The Final EA will be

available during a 30-day comment

period which ends on April 21, 1997.

Copies of the Final EA have been sent

to individuals or organizations which

commented or attended meetings to

entertain comment on the draft EA.

Copies are available upon request at the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine

Mammals Management Office, 1011 East

Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

DATES: Written comments on the

Environmental Assessment should be

received on or before April 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be submitted to: Supervisor, Marine

Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road,

Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Comments

may also be hand delivered to the same

address or sent by FAX (907) 786–3816.

Comments and materials received in

response to this action will be available

for public inspection at this address

during normal working hours of 8:00

a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through

Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Scott Schliebe at the U.S Fish and

Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals

Management, 1011 East Tudor Road,

Anchorage, Alaska 99503, (800) 362–

5148 or (907) 786–3812.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Discussions regarding development of

a unified management approach

between Russia and the United States

were initiated in Sochi, Russia in

October 1988, at the IUCN Polar Bear

Specialists Group Meeting. Further talks

occurred in May 1990, and

correspondence supporting the

development of a bilateral agreement

followed. Between 1992 and 1995,

protocols of agreement were developed

between the natural resource agencies of

the respective countries and the Native

users of Alaska and Chukotka. During

this period numerous discussions

between the Service and Native

representatives occurred and general

consensus was reached to develop a

government-to-government conservation

agreement and a companion Native-toNative agreement. These agreements

would be consistent with the terms of

the 1973 Agreement and include the

principles of population sustainability,

support for research and the collection

of biological information and local

knowledge, habitat conservation, and

conservation education. In April 1994,

the ‘‘Protocol of Intentions between the

Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka and

Alaska on the Conservation, Protection,

Management, and Study of the Bering

and Chukchi Sea Shared Polar Bear

Population’’ was signed. In the United

States a working group consisting of

representatives of the Service,

Department of State, Department of the

Interior, the Marine Mammal

Commission, Alaska Department of Fish

and Game, North Slope Borough, Alaska

Nanuuq Commission, and the Audubon

Society has met several times to discuss

the principles for a conservation

agreement. The need for public input

and review led to the development of

the draft EA in June 1996. Responses to

comments received during the 60 day

comment period ending September 17,

1996 were either incorporated into the

text or included in Section VI. The

Service will consider submitting a

request to the Department of State to

enter into formal negotiations with

Russia, following publication of the

Notice of Availability of the Final EA.

Dated: March 12, 1997.

Robyn Thorson,

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7149 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

Bureau of Land Management

[NM–060–07–1310–00 (0004)]

Carlsbad Resource Area; New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Change of mailing address.

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the new

mailing address of the Bureau of Land

Management, Carlsbad Resource Area

Office, Carlsbad, New Mexico.

DATE: April 24, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Howard Parman, Public Affairs Officer,

Bureau of Land Management, 2909 West
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 1997 / Notices 13705

2nd Street, Roswell, NM 88201, (505)

627–0212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Department of the Interior’s Bureau of

Land Management, New Mexico State

Office, Roswell District Office, Carlsbad

Resource Area Office is changing its

mailing address effective April 24, 1997.

The new mailing address will be:

Bureau of Land Management, Carlsbad

Resource Area, 620 E. Greene Street,

P.O. Box 1778, Carlsbad, New Mexico

88221–1778.

Dated: March 12, 1997.

Edwin L. Roberson,

District Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–7153 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–YA–M

[CO–930–1430–01; COC–60316]

Proposed Withdrawal; Opportunity for

Public Meeting; Colorado

March 12, 1997.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management proposes to withdraw

approximately 1,440 acres of public

land to protect endangered species and

riparian areas. This notice closes this

land to operation of the public land

laws including location and entry under

the mining laws for up to two years. The

land has been and remains open to

mineral leasing.

DATES: Comments on this proposed

withdrawal or requests for public

meeting must be received on or before

June 19, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for

a meeting should be sent to the

Colorado State Director, BLM, 2850

Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado

80215–7076.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doris E. Chelius, 303–239–3706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March

4, 1997, a petition was approved

allowing the Bureau of Land

Management to file an application to

withdraw the following described

public land from settlement, sale,

location, or entry under the general land

laws, including the mining laws, subject

to valid existing rights:

Unaweep Seep/West Creek Area

T. 14 S., R. 103 W., 6th P.M.

Sec. 32, E1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 33, W1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4 and

NW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 15 S., R. 103 W., 6th P.M.

Sec. 2, Lot 5 and SE1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 3, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, E1⁄2SE1⁄4,

E1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 4, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 5, Lot 1, E1⁄2 Lot 2, E1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4,

NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄2SE,

E1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and

SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 8, E1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4;

Sec. 9, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,

NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

NW1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

W1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

E1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4,

NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4,

NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and

SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 10, N1⁄2N1⁄2NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4,

NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

NE1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4,

N1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, and SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 15, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4;

Sec. 16, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,

NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, W1⁄2E1⁄2SE1⁄4, and

E1⁄2W1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 21, E1⁄2 Lot 1 (excepting therefrom that

portion within Mineral Survey (MS)

3257, Patent No. 14317), E1⁄2NE1⁄4,

E1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 22, W1⁄2 Lot 1 (excepting therefrom

that portion within MS 3257, Patent No.

14317), and W1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

The area described containins

approximately 1,440 acres in Mesa County.

For a period of 90 days from the date

of publication of this notice, all parties

who wish to submit comments,

suggestions, or objections in connection

with this proposed action, or to request

a public meeting, may present their

views in writing to the Colorado State

Director. If the authorized officer

determines that a meeting should be

held, the meeting will be scheduled and

conducted in accordance with 43 CFR

2310.3–1(c)(2).

This application will be processed in

accordance with the regulations set

forth in 43 CFR Part 2310.

For a period of two years from the

date of publication in the Federal

Register, this land will be segregated

from the mining laws as specified above

unless the application is denied or

cancelled or the withdrawal is approved

prior to that date. During this period the

Bureau of Land Management will

continue to manage this land.

Jenny L. Saunders,

Realty Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–7151 Filed 3–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P

[CO–930–1430–01; COC–57598]

Amendment to Proposed Withdrawal;

Opportunity for Public Meeting;

Colorado

March 12, 1997.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service has amended

their withdrawal application for the

Nederland Work Center to include an

additional 12.32 acres. This amendment

will segregate the land described below

from location and entry under the

mining laws for up to two years, it will

not affect the segregation of the land in

the original application.

DATES: Comments on this proposed

withdrawal or requests for public

meeting must be received on or before

June 19, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for

public meeting should be sent to the

Colorado State Director, BLM, 2850

Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado

80215–7076.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doris E. Chelius, 303–239–3706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March

4, 1997, the Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, filed an application to

amend their original application (See 59

FR 55850) to include an additional

12.32 acres of National Forest System

land. This amendment will close the

following described land to location and

entry under United States mining laws

(30 U.S.C. Ch 2) for up to 2 years:

Roosevelt National Forest

T. 1 S, R. 72 W.,

Sec. 7. lot 33.

The area described contains approximately

12.32 acres of National Forest System land in

Boulder County.

The purpose of this withdrawal is to

provide protection for capitol

investments at a proposed Forest

Service Work Center.

For a period of 90 days from the date

of publication of this notice, all parties

who wish to submit comments,

suggestions, or objections in connection

with this proposed withdrawal, or to

request a public meeting, may present

their views in writing to the Colorado

State Director. If the authorized officer

determines that a meeting should be

held, the meeting will be scheduled and

conducted in accordance with 43 CFR

2310.3–1(c)(2).

This application will be processed in

accordance with regulations set forth in

43 CFR Part 2310.