National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Final Integrated Activity Plan

524 Pages·2012·6.91 MB·English

National Petroleum
Reserve-Alaska
FINAL
Integrated Activity Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement
Volume 5
Chapters 5 and 6
Prepared by:
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Anchorage, Alaska
In cooperation with:
North Slope Borough
U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
November 2012
How the IAP/EIS is Organized
VOLUME 1
Chapter 1 – Introduction: Summarizes the purpose of and need for this IAP/EIS and
decisions to be made.
Chapter 2 – Alternatives: Describes and compares proposed management alternatives.
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment: Presents existing natural and socioeconomic
resources in the NPR-A and trends, including those associated with climate
change.
VOLUME 2
Chapter 4 – Environmental Consequences (sections 4.1 – 4.4): Provides the assumptions
upon which the impact analysis rests and evaluates impacts of Alternatives A and B-1 on
resources and uses in the NPR-A relevant to making a decision among the alternatives.
VOLUME 3
Chapter 4 – Environmental Consequences continued (sections 4.5 – 4.7): Evaluates
impacts of Alternatives B-2 (preferred alternative), C, and D on resources and uses in the
NPR-A relevant to making a decision among the alternatives.
VOLUME 4
Chapter 4 – Environmental Consequences continued (sections 4.8 – 4.13): Evaluates the
cumulative impacts on resources and uses in the NPR-A and other effects relevant to
making a decision among the alternatives.
VOLUME 5
Chapter 5 – Consultation and Coordination: Describes public and government (including
tribal) consultation undertaken for this plan and the development of alternatives and
lists the plan’s preparers.
Chapter 6 – Comments and Responses: Presents public comments on the Draft IAP/EIS
and responses to the comments.
VOLUME 6
Appendix A: ANILCA Section 810 Analysis of Subsistence Impacts
Appendix B: Federal, State, and Local Permits and/or Approvals for Oil and Gas
Exploration, Development, and Production Activities
Appendix C: NPR-A Climate Change Analysis: An Assessment of Climate Change
Variables in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Appendix D: Essential Fish Habitat
Appendix E: Common, Scientific and Iñupiaq Names of Species Listed in the IAP/EIS
Appendix F: BLM Sensitive Species List for Alaska
Appendix G: Information, Models, and the Assumptions Used to Analyze the Effects of
Oil Spills
Appendix H: Air Quality Related Values and Dispersion Modeling Results
Glossary and Bibliography
VOLUME 7
Maps
Contents of Volume 5
CHAPTER 5: Consultation and Coordination ............................................................................ 1
5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1
5.2 Scoping................................................................................................................................. 1
5.2.1 Formal Scoping ............................................................................................................. 1
5.2.2 Tribal Consultation ...................................................................................................... 2
5.2.3 Coordination and Consultation with Local, State, and Federal Agencies ............... 2
5.2.4 Consultation with Non-Governmental Entities ......................................................... 3
5.2.5 Public Review and Comment on the Draft IAP/EIS .................................................. 3
5.2.6 Development of the Preferred Alternative ................................................................. 4
5.3 List of Preparers ................................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER 6: Comments and Responses ..................................................................................... 7
6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7
6.2 Communications for Which No Response is Provided ..................................................... 8
6.2.1 Government Officials and Governments .................................................................... 8
6.2.3 Non-governmental Organizations ............................................................................. 18
6.3 Substantive Comments .................................................................................................... 28

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Final Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement i

CHAPTER 5: Consultation and Coordination
5.1 Introduction
This section summarizes the public and agency outreach the BLM has engaged in as it has
developed the NPR-A IAP/EIS. This outreach included keeping the public and agencies
informed of the process and offered opportunities for the public and agencies to express
their concerns and suggest how the BLM should proceed. The section also identifies the
individuals who prepared the IAP/EIS.
5.2 Scoping
5.2.1 Formal Scoping
Formal scoping began on July 28, 2010, with the publication in the Federal Register of a
Notice of Intent to prepare an Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact
Statement. The Notice of Intent notified the public of the beginning of the scoping process,
described that process, identified preliminary issues for analysis in the planning process,
and provided information on means to submit scoping comments. The BLM launched a
website for the plan on July 28, 2010 on which it furnished the public with background
information on NPR-A, past planning efforts in NPR-A, and additional information on how
to submit scoping comments. The agency also mailed a flyer on the planning effort to
approximately 2,500 individuals on its NPR-A mailing list; the Bureau followed up with a
postcard to approximately 990 individuals within commuting distance of communities in
which scoping meetings were held to provide specific information on the time and place of
meetings.
The BLM received scoping comments by mail (70), fax (5), e-mail (approximately 147,000),
through its ePlanning website’s comment form (2), and through public scoping meetings.
(Some commenters provided identical written comments by several different means and
some individuals sent multiple e-mails.) Through the assistance of the North Slope
Borough, which is a cooperating agency in the planning effort, the BLM held six scoping
meetings in the fall of 2010 in the North Slope communities of Barrow (September 9),
Anaktuvuk Pass (September 14), Nuiqsut (September 16), Wainwright (September 20),
Atqasuk (September 21), and Point Lay (September 27). The agency also held scoping
meetings in Fairbanks (September 13) and Anchorage (September 23).
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Chapter 5: Consultation and Coordination
Scoping
5.2.2 Tribal Consultation
To initiate the government-to-government consultation process as required by Presidential
Executive Memorandum dated April 29, 1994, the BLM initiated the government-to-
government tribal consultation process with letters sent on August 5, 2010, to the following
43 tribes whose members could be affected by NPR-A management actions:
• Allakaket Village • Native Village of Point Hope
• Chinik Eskimo Community • Native Village of Point Lay
• Galena Village (aka: Louden Village) • Native Village of Selawik
• Hughes Village • Native Village of Shaktoolik
• Huslia Village • Native Village of Shishmaref
• Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope • Native Village of Shungnak
• King Island Native Community • Native Village of St. Michael
• Koyukuk Native Village • Native Village of Teller
• Native Village of Ambler • Native Village of Unalakeet
• Native Village of Barrow • Native Village of Wales
• Native Village of Brevig Mission • Native Village of White Mountain
• Native Village of Buckland • Nome Eskimo Community
• Native Village of Council • Noorvik Native Community
• Native Village of Deering • Nulato Tribal Council
• Native Village of Elim • Organized Village of Grayling
• Native Village of Kiana • Stebbins Community Association
• Native Village of Kivilina • Village of Anaktuvuk Pass
• Native Village of Kobuk • Village of Atqasuk
• Native Village of Kotzebue • Village of Kaltag
• Native Village of Koyuk • Village of Solomon
• Native Village of Noatak • Village of Wainwright
• Native Village of Nuiqsut
The Native Village of Point Hope requested consultation and a BLM representative met
with the tribal council in November 2010. Tribal consultation continued throughout the
development of this Final IAP/EIS.
5.2.3 Coordination and Consultation with Local, State, and Federal
Agencies
The BLM has reached out to governmental agencies in a number of ways. Most notable has
been the participation in this planning effort of the North Slope Borough, the State of
Alaska, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service as cooperating agencies as defined in 43 CFR 1508.5. (The National Park Service
and the U.S. Geological Survey declined invitations to be cooperating agencies. The State of
Alaska withdrew as a cooperating agency on September 12, 2012.) These cooperating
agencies have strengthened the planning process in several ways. They contributed ideas to
the formulation of the alternatives. They reviewed the IAP/EIS as it was being developed
and contributed corrections and suggestions for improvement of the analysis. The North
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Chapter 5: Consultation and Coordination
Scoping
Slope Borough, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service also authored some of the analysis; see section 5.3 for a list of preparers, including
their affiliation. Note, however, that although this document has benefited from the input
from the cooperating agencies’ extensive knowledge of the people, resources, and uses of the
NPR-A and nearby lands and waters, the BLM bears ultimate responsibility for this
IAP/EIS, including the preferred alternative.
The BLM is consulting with the Alaska State Historic Preservation Office as part of section
106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act to determine how proposed
industrial activities could impact cultural resources listed on or eligible for inclusion in the
National Register of Historic Places. With a letter of January 19, 2011, the BLM initiated
consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office for the IAP/EIS. Formal
consultations with State Historic Preservation Office also may be required during
implementation of individual projects. Consultations with the State Historic Preservation
Office are ongoing and will be completed by the time of the signing of the record of decision.
The analysis required by the Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act’s
(ANILCA) Section 810 reached a finding of “may significantly restrict subsistence use” (see
Appendix A). Consequently, the BLM notified the State of Alaska and the North Slope
Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council of this finding and conducted ANILCA 810
subsistence hearings in the potentially affected communities identified within the analysis.
The BLM also worked with multiple agencies in accordance with the June 2011
“Memorandum of Understanding among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of the Interior, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regarding Air
Quality Analyses and Mitigation for Federal Oil and Gas Decisions through the National
Environmental Policy Act Process” to model potential air quality impacts of oil and gas
activities in the NPR-A. See Appendix H.
5.2.4 Consultation with Non-Governmental Entities
The BLM has invited interested parties to discuss their concerns and knowledge about the
NPR-A and has maintained an open door to listen to concerns throughout the planning
process. BLM managers and staff have met with organizations supporting oil and gas
development, such as the Alaska Oil and Gas Association and the Resource Development
Council, and have sat down with oil and gas leaseholders and leaseholders in the Chukchi
Sea to increase the agency’s understanding of their concerns. Similarly, the BLM has met
on multiple occasions with environmental groups, including the Alaska Wilderness League,
Audubon Alaska, and The Wilderness Society, to share information and concerns about
resources within the NPR-A. The BLM has also participated in the Western Arctic Caribou
Herd Working Group and obtained the insight of its members on caribou that utilize the
NPR-A.
5.2.5 Public Review and Comment on the Draft IAP/EIS
The Notice of Availability of the Draft NPR-A IAP/EIS and the Announcement of Public
Subsistence-Related Hearings Schedule were published in the Federal Register on
March 30, 2012. The public comment period was originally scheduled from March 30
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through June 1, 2012. After receiving several requests for extensions of the comment period
deadline, the deadline was extended through June 15, 2012.
Public notices announcing the comment period were placed in newspapers with circulation
in or near locations where public meetings were held. These newspapers included the Arctic
Sounder, May 3 and May 10, 2012; Fairbanks Daily News Miner, May 13 and May 23, 2012
and the Anchorage Daily News, May 13 and May 24, 2012. Public service announcements
were broadcasted on radio station KBRW from May 1 through May 24. Flyers were posted
in key community locations in Atqasuk, Nuiqsut, Barrow, Point Lay and Wainwright, all
located on the North Slope of Alaska. The BLM issued a press release on March 29, 2012,
notifying the public that the Draft IAP/EIS was available for public review. The agency
issued another press release on April 24, 2012, providing the schedule for public comment
and ANILCA 810 subsistence hearings. Information on the Draft IAP/EIS was also posted
and available on BLM-Alaska’s website (www.blm.gov/ak). The public was able to access
the website to download a copy of the Draft IAP/EIS and provide their comments (including
attachments).
Public meetings and ANILCA 810 hearings were held in Point Lay on May 14 and June 5,
Wainwright on May 15, Nuiqsut on May 16, Atqasuk on May 17, Barrow on May 21,
Anaktuvuk Pass on May 22, Fairbanks on May 23, and Anchorage on May 24. At these
meetings, BLM provided an overview of the alternatives, answered questions, and took
public comments and testimony regarding the ANILCA 810 analysis and findings. Over
400,000 comments were received on the Draft IAP/EIS. These included letters, electronic
mail, facsimiles, comments and attachments posted to the project website, and comments
provided at the public hearings. A summary of the comments received and specific
comments and responses are presented in Chapter 6 of this Final IAP/EIS.
5.2.6 Development of the Preferred Alternative
After completion of the public hearings and closure of the public comment period, the core
planning team, resource staff, and management in both BLM and DOI held multiple
meetings separately and jointly to review the comments and to develop the BLM’s preferred
alternative for the Final IAP/EIS. Several alternative proposals were considered. These
included proposals to close or open additional areas to leasing and development, place
greater or lesser restrictions on the types of activities allowed under stipulations and best
management practices, and combine elements of two or more alternatives.
While all comments were considered, special attention was given to communications
providing insight on resources, the requirements of industry for viable onshore and offshore
development, and the perspective of those experienced in life in and near NPR-A. Staff and
managers considered the substantive arguments presented by commenters, the resource
values of the NPR-A, the appropriate mix of surface resource protections, and the
importance of offering opportunities for oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development,
including both development within NPR-A and support for offshore development in both
the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Extensive discussions on these matters were held both in
Alaska and in Washington, D.C., culminating in Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s
announcement of the preferred alternative on August 13, 2012.
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Chapter 5: Consultation and Coordination
List of Preparers
5.3 List of Preparers
The following individuals participated in preparing the IAP/EIS. The list of individuals
includes the individuals’ agency and role in the IAP/EIS. The BLM employees are listed by
their office, including AFO for Arctic Field Office, AKSO for Alaska State Office, OPM for
Office of Pipeline Monitoring, NOC for the National Operations Center in Denver, and WO
for BLM’s Washington Office. North Slope Borough (NSB), Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) authors are also
included. In addition, numerous employees of the cooperating agencies reviewed portions of
the IAP/EIS and provided constructive suggestions for improvement.
• Aumann, Ethan (BLM-NOC; Climate)
• Banet, Arthur; (BLM-AKSO; Petroleum Resources, Oil and Gas Scenario)
• Baraff, Lisa (NSB contractor; Marine Mammals)
• Bennett, Jewel (USFWS; Marine Mammals)
• Caplan, Susan (contractor to BLM Wyoming State Office; Air Quality and Climate)
• Cribley, Bud (BLM-AKSO; State Director)
• Diel, William (BLM-AKSO; Petroleum Resources, Oil and Gas Scenarios)
• Ducker, James (BLM-AKSO; IAP/EIS Planning Lead, Special Areas)
• Ellefson, Robert (BLM-AKSO; Geology and Minerals, Sand and Gravel)
• Ervine, Eugene (BLM-AKSO; Wild and Scenic Rivers, Wilderness Resources)
• Flora, Susan (BLM-AFO; Solid and Hazardous Wastes)
• Fritz, Stacey (BLM-AFO; Subsistence, Environmental Justice, Sociocultural Systems)
• Geisler, Eric (BLM-AKSO; Soil Resources, Vegetation, Wildland Fire)
• George, Craig (NSB; Marine Mammals)
• Goodwin, Randy (BLM-AKSO; Transportation; Travel Management)
• Hamfler, Cindy (BLM-AFO; Physiography, GIS)
• Herreman, Jason (NSB; Marine Mammals)
• Higdon, Matthew, (BLM-WO; NEPA review)
• Kelly, Lon (BLM-AFO; AFO Manager, Wild and Scenic Rivers)
• Kemnitz, Richard (BLM-AFO; Renewable Energy, Water Resources, Wetlands and
Floodplains)
• King, Robert (BLM-AKSO Cultural Resources, Paleontological Resources)
• Koss, Lee (BLM-AKSO Air Quality, Climate, Physiography, Soil Resources, Water
Resources, Wetlands and Floodplains)
• Krabacher, Paul (BLM-AKSO; Vegetation)
• Kunz, Mike (BLM-AFO; Cultural Resources, Paleontological Resources)
• Laubenstein, Karen J (BLM-AKSO; State Writer-Editor and Printing Specialist)
• Lee, Murray (NSB contractor; Public Health)
• Maxwell, David (BLM-NOC; Air Quality and Climate)
• McCrum, Micheal (BLM-AKSO; Solid and Hazardous Wastes)
• McIntosh, Stacie (BLM-AFO; Environmental Justice, Sociocultural Systems)
• Moore, John (BLM-AKSO [acting]; Fish)
• Murphy, Ted (BLM-AKSO; Former Deputy State Director for Resources; current
Associate State Director)
• Nicholls, Craig (BLM-NOC; Air Quality modeling)
• Niglio, Lou (BLM-AKSO; Petroleum Resources, Oil and Gas Scenario)
• Nigro, Deborah (BLM-AFO; Birds)
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Chapter 5: Consultation and Coordination
List of Preparers
• Orenstein, Marla (NSB contractor; Public Health)
• Overbaugh, Bill (BLM-AKSO; Recreation Resources, Visual Resources)
• Patterson, Brian (Golder Associates Inc.; Air Quality modeling)
• Pindell, Darla (BLM-AKSO; Economy)
• Psarianos, Bridget (BLM-AKSO; Planning and Environmental Specialist)
• Rathbun, Vanessa (BLM-AKSO, Visual Information Specialist)
• Sayre, Roger (BLM-AFO; Planning and Environmental Coordinator; Non-Oil and Gas
Scenarios)
• Sformo, Todd (NSB; Marine Mammals)
• Sharp, Daniel (BLM-AKSO; Subsistence)
• Smith, Caryn (BOEM; Oil Spills and Gas Releases)
• Staab, Cara (BLM-AKSO; Birds, Terrestrial Mammals, Marine Mammals)
• Suydam, Robert (NSB; Marine Mammals)
• Sweet, Serena (BLM-AKSO; Supervisory Planner)
• Theisen, Skip (BLM-AFO; Wildland Fire)
• Van de Weg, Darrel (BLM-AFO; Geology and Minerals, Sand and Gravel)
• Varner, Matt (BLM-AKSO; Fish)
• Walker, Shane (BLM-AFO; Land Ownership and Uses, Transportation)
• Whitman, Matthew (BLM-AFO; Fish)
• Wixon, Donna (BLM-AFO; Land Ownership and Uses, Recreation Resources,
Wilderness Resources, Visual Resources)
• Wrabetz, Mike (BLM-OPM; Spill Prevention and Response)
• Yokel, Dave (BLM-AFO; Terrestrial Mammals and Vegetation)
• Zelenka, Thomas (BLM-AKSO; Petroleum Resources, Oil and Gas Scenario)
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6 Final Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement