Kobuk Seward RMP
The Kobuk Seward Peninsula is home to Alaska’s largest caribou herd, the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH). The planning area provides critical habitat for the herd’s nearly 500,000 caribou year round. The peninsula is also home to endangered and threatened species of plants and animals and provides breeding grounds for migratory birds.
The Kobuk Seward Peninsula Proposed RMP/FEIS opens 100% of BLM lands to mineral development, including areas designated as special and worthy of protection.
Latest Developments:
•Alaska Wildnerness League and several co-signing groups submitted a protest on October 28, 2007. Six different protest letters were filled on the Kobuk Seward RMP.
•The ROD for the Kobuk Seward RMP is anticipated early 2008.
•From the Federal Register November 29, 2007:
“EIS No. 20070398, ERP No. F-BLM-L65510-AK, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula Resource Management Plan, from Point Lay to the North Sound and from the Bering and Chukchi Seas East to the Kobuk River, AK. Summary: While the final EIS provides for the development of a habitat management plan, EPA continues to have environmental concerns about impacts to resources from the lack of specific requirements for the abandonment, removal, and reclamation of activities relating to resource exploration, development, and operation after leases have expired and operations have cease.”
Summary of Alternatives
| Alternatives | Description |
|---|---|
| Alternative A | The “no-action” alternative would continue the management of lands as is and would leave lands closed to mineral development. |
| Alternative B | The pro-development alternative would open 100% of lands to mineral development with only selected lands having minimal protections but still open to develop. Use of Required Operating Procedures (ROPs) and stipulations to minimize impacts. |
| Alternative C | The conservation alternative would identify anadromous streams and ACECs. These areas would be withdrawn from mineral entry. Several rivers are recommended for Wild and Scenic status. All other areas would be open to mineral entry with ROPs and stipulations. 97% of planning area open for mineral development. |
| Alternative D | The preferred alternative, very similar to Alternative B, will designate 2 SRMAs and 6 ACECs that are all open to mineral development with “a moderate level of protection.” No rivers are nominated for Wild and Scenic status. 100% of planning area open to mineral development. |
Planning Area Issues:
1. WACH Calving and Insect Relief Habitat ACEC reduced from 2,893,000 acres to 1,529,000 acres and is open to mineral development.
2. WACH Winter Range is made up of four ACECs, totaling 2,044,000 acres that are open to mineral development:
• Nulato Hills ACEC (1,080,000 acres)
• Ungalik River ACEC (264,000 acres)
• Inglutalik River ACEC (466,000 acres)
• Shaktoolik River ACEC (234,000 acres)
3. The total acreage of ACECs has been reduced from 4.9 million in the draft plan preferred alternative to 3.9 million in the final.
4. Mount Osborne has been reclassified as an ACEC rather than the stronger protections under its draft designation as a Research Natural Area (RNA).
5. Discretionary ROPs and Stipulations that do not offer strong protections to prisitine lands and areas identified as special and deserving of protections.
6. No Wilderness inventories or designations in the planning area.
