[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39883-39884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19711]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Construction of the Palau Compact Road, Babeldaob Island, 
Republic of Palau

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Construction of the Palau Compact Road, Babeldaob 
Islands, Republic of Palau.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior announces that the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for construction of the Palau 
Compact Road, Babeldaob Island, Republic of Palau is available for 
public review and comment.

DATES: Comments on the Final EIS will be accepted until August 24, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Final EIS should be submitted to Mr. Allen 
Chin, CEPOH-ED-E, U.S. Army Engineer District, Honolulu, Fort Shafter, 
HI 96858-5440. A limited number of copies of the document may be 
obtained by writing to the above address or by calling 808-438-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Allen Chin, CEPOH-ED-E, U.S. Army Engineer District, Honolulu, Fort 
Shafter, HI 96858-5440, telephone (808) 438-6974.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proponent for the Proposed Action is the 
United States Department of the Interior as program manager and on 
behalf of the United States of America.
    The Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the Republic of 
Palau (ROP), which became effective on October 1, 1994, requires the 
United States Government (USG) to provide a road system to the people 
of Palau in order to assist the ROP to advance the economic development 
and self-sufficiency of the Palau people. To fulfill this statutory and 
treaty requirement, the USG and the ROP are cooperating to construct a 
major road system on the island of Babeldaob in accordance with Section 
212(a) of the Compact of Free Association and as implemented by certain 
nation-to-nation agreements.
    The Department of the Interior published a Notice of Intent to 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in the Federal 
Register on March 7, 1996. Scoping meetings were held for governmental 
agencies and the public on April 24, 1996. The Notice of

[[Page 39884]]

Availability of the DEIS was announced in the Federal Register in May 
1997. A public hearing to present the DEIS was held on May 21, 1997 in 
Palau. The DEIS was subsequently revised to incorporate the results of 
additional studies and to address public and agency comments on the 
original DEIS. After receipt of comments on the revised DEIS, a Final 
EIS will be prepared. The Notice of Availability of the revised DEIS 
was announced in the Federal Register on February 19, 1998. Comments on 
the Revised DEIS have been considered in preparing the Final EIS.
    The Proposed Action calls for construction of a safe, high-quality, 
all-weather, two-lane paved vehicular road system on the island of 
Babeldaob. This roadway has been configured as a loop system with a 
northern spur to serve as a direct transportation and communication 
link between the 10 states on Babeldaob Island. Additionally, the road 
would provide access through, or be near known areas having potential 
for agriculture, forestry, mining and quarrying, industry and tourism, 
and water resource and port development. It would also provide a land-
based transportation corridor to and from the proposed site of the 
Republic of Palau's new capital in Melekeok State.
    The Final EIS will be used by the Department of the Interior in 
reaching a final decision and developing a final array of measures to 
avoid, or mitigate adverse impacts. The Record of Decision will be 
approved at least 30 days after publication of the Final EIS to allow 
for public review and comment on the Final EIS.
    Copies of the Final EIS are also available for review at the 
following locations: Republic of Palau Ministry of Resources and 
Development, Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, and the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers Palau Compact Road Field Office, on the third 
floor of the WCTC building in Koror.

    Dated: July 17, 1998.
Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, Department of 
the Interior.
[FR Doc. 98-19711 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am]
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