Chugach National Forest; Alaska; Kenai Winter Access, 21732-21734 [05-8400]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
21732
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices
Estimated Number of Respondents:
650.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 55 hours.
Copies of this information collection
assessment can be obtained from John
O’Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW.,
Room 112, Washington, DC 20250–
3700, (202) 720–5627, (202) 720–0345.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of FSIS’ functions, including whether
the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and, (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of
information technology. Comments may
be sent to both John O’Connell,
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator,
at the address provided above, and the
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of
rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, in an effort to
ensure that the public and in particular
minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice,
FSIS will announce it on-line through
the FSIS web page located at https://
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/
2005_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this
Federal Register publication available
through the FSIS Constituent Update,
which is used to provide information
regarding FSIS policies, procedures,
regulations, Federal Register notices,
FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other
types of information that could affect or
would be of interest to our constituents
and stakeholders. The update is
communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail
subscription service consisting of
industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:41 Apr 26, 2005
Jkt 205001
professionals, scientific professionals,
and other individuals who have
requested to be included. The update
also is available on the FSIS web page.
Through Listserv and the web page,
FSIS is able to provide information to a
much broader, more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail
subscription service which provides an
automatic and customized notification
when popular pages are updated,
including Federal Register publications
and related documents. This service is
available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
news_and_events/email_subscription/
and allows FSIS customers to sign up
for subscription options across eight
categories. Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations,
directives and notices. Customers can
add or delete subscriptions themselves
and have the option to password protect
their account.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
743–9476 or by e-mail to commentsalaska-chugach@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rebecca Talbott, Public Affairs Staff
Officer, Chugach National Forest, 3301
C St., Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503,
(907) 743–9500. Sharon Randall,
Planning Staff Officer, Chugach
National Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300,
Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 743–9500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest
Service is seeking information,
comments and assistance from
individuals, organizations, tribal
governments, and Federal, State, and
local agencies that are interested or may
be affected by the proposed action. The
public is invited to help identify issues
and define the range of alternatives to be
considered in the EIS. The range of
alternatives will be based on the
identification of significant public
issues, management concerns, resource
management opportunities, and plan
decisions specific to Access
Management within the scope of the
Chugach National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan 2002
Revision (Forest Plan). Written
comments identifying issues for analysis
and range of alternatives are
encouraged.
Forest Service
Background
Done at Washington, DC, on April 22,
2005.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05–8405 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
Chugach National Forest; Alaska;
Kenai Winter Access
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Chugach National Forest
will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for developing the Kenai
winter access management plan on the
Seward Ranger District. The objective of
the Kenai winter access management
plan is to respond to the public’s need
for high quality winter recreation
opportunities and access in the
planning area that best meets the needs
of past, present and future users of the
area and surrounding areas.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis to be most helpful should
be received on or before May 25, 2005.
The draft environmental impact
statement is expected to be completed
in August 2005 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected to be completed in November
2005.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Kenai Winter Access, Chugach National
Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300,
Anchorage, AK 99503. Comments may
also be submitted by facsimile to (907)
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
On May 31, 2002, the Alaska (Region
10) Regional Forester signed the Record
of Decision for the Revised Chugach
Forest Plan. A number of individuals
and organizations then appealed various
parts of the decision, including the
closure of the Carter-Crescent Lakes area
to winter motorized access.
In January 2003, after reviewing the
appeals and the administrative record,
the Regional Forester withdrew that
portion of the decision closing the
Carter-Crescent Lakes area to winter
motorized access. By withdrawing the
decision for the Carter-Crescent Lakes
area, management direction for that area
remained as it was in the 1984 Chugach
National Forest Plan. Under the 1984
Forest Plan, the area is open to winter
motorized activities from December 1 to
April 30 once there is adequate snow to
protect resources.
The Regional Forester also directed
the Chugach National Forest to
reconsider this portion of the decision at
the local level, with involvement from
all interested parties, to make sure that
the site-specific impacts of any closure
were fully disclosed and that reasonable
alternatives were considered.
As directed by the Regional Forester,
the Forest Service began a site-specific
analysis for the Carter-Crescent Lakes
Area in late February and March of
E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM
27APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices
2004. Several open house listening
sessions specific to the Carter-Crescent
Lakes area were held during that time in
Anchorage, Seward, Cooper Landing,
Moose Pass and Soldotna.
Many of the public comments
received during that period suggested
that in order to find a workable longterm solution to winter recreation
access, the Forest Service would need to
expand the planning area beyond just
the Carter-Crescent Lakes area. As stated
in many of the comments, an expansion
of the planning area would allow greater
creative management options such as
considering timing, shared-use of splitseason access periods across Forest
Service lands on the Seward Ranger
District.
After further consideration, the
Chugach National Forest asked for and
received approval from the Regional
Forester to expand the planning area
outside of the Carter-Crescent Lakes
area.
Purpose and Need for Action
Due to the withdrawal of the Forest
Plan decision regarding winter
motorized recreation access for the
Carter-Crescent Lakes area, the Forest
needs to address how and where to
manage for motorized and
nonmotorized winter access. The
purpose is to have a clear and concise
plan for winter access on the Seward
Ranger District that addresses the needs
for forest management, public access
and recreation use.
Proposed Action
The Chugach National Forest
proposes to develop a winter access
management plan for the Seward Ranger
District by next winter season 2005/
2006 in order to respond to the
withdrawal of the 2002 Forest Plan
decision regarding winter motorized
access for the Carter-Crescent Lakes
area.
Possible Alternatives
The range of alternatives considered
will address significant issues and fulfill
the purpose and need. A reasonable
range of alternatives will be evaluated.
Rationale will be given for any
alternative(s) eliminated from detailed
consideration. Alternatives will
represent differing management
scenarios based on quality and quantity
of travel.
A ‘‘no-action alternative’’ is required
by law. The no-action alternative under
this analysis will assume winter
motorized recreation access direction as
described under the 2002 Forest Plan,
except for the Carter-Crescent area
which would continue to be managed
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:41 Apr 26, 2005
Jkt 205001
21733
for winter motorized recreation access
as described under the 1984 Forest Plan.
Additional alternatives will provide a
range of ways to address and respond to
public issues, management concerns
and resource opportunities identified
during the collaborative learning and
scoping process.
Responsible Official: Joe Meade,
Forest Supervisor, Chugach National
Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300,
Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 743–9500.
available for public inspection in their
entirety. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, those who submit
anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent
decision under 36 CFR part 215. Upon
completion of the Draft EIS, the
document will be provided to the public
for review and comment. Comments and
Forest Service responses will be
responded to in the Final EIS.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor, as Responsible
Official, may decide to (1) select the
proposed action, (2) select one of the
alternatives, (3) select one of the
alternatives after modifying the
alternative with additional mitigating
measures or combinations of activities
from other alternatives, or (4) select the
no-action alternative. The decisions to
be made within each of the alternatives
will include whether an area is open,
restricted, or closed to certain winter
uses.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment.
The comment period on the draft
environmental impact statement will be
45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this
early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings
related to public participation in the
environmental review process. First,
reviewers of draft environmental impact
statements must structure their
participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer’s position and contentions.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.
NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,
environmental objections that could be
raised at the draft environmental impact
statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final
environmental impact statement may be
waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,
1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
these court rulings, it is very important
that those interested in this proposed
action participate by the close of the 45day comment period so that substantive
comments and objections are made
available to the Forest Service at a time
when it can meaningfully consider them
and respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. Reviewers may wish to
Scoping Process
The Forest Service accepted
comments on this issue in February and
March 2004 when scoping began for the
Carter-Crescent Lakes area
environmental analysis. Since then the
project area has expanded to include the
entire Seward Ranger District. In
February 2005, a Collaborative Learning
approach designed to facilitate open
communication and idea sharing with
local communities was implemented.
This has been done via public
workshops in order to develop
management scenarios that may lead to
a range of alternatives to be analyzed.
Seven public workshops were held
between February and April 2005 in the
communities of Anchorage, Moose Pass,
Seward and Soldotna.
Information about future public
meetings will be announced in mailings,
area media, and on the Chugach
National Forest Internet site at https://
www.fs.fed.us./r10/chugach.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent continues the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. Comments received
in response to this notice and previous
request for comments, including names
and addresses when provided, will
become a matter of the public record
available for inspection and copying.
All submissions from organizations
and business, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM
27APN1
21734
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 27, 2005 / Notices
refer to the Council on Environmental
quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record and will be available for
public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: April 20, 2005.
Joe L. Meade,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05–8400 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Ravalli County Resource Advisory
Committee
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: The Ravalli County Resource
Advisory Committee will be meeting to
discuss Fred Burr 80 Project in the field,
and hold a short public forum (question
and answer session). The meeting is
being held pursuant to the authorities in
the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(Pub. L. 92–463) and under the Secure
Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–
393). The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be held on
April 26, 2005, 6:30 p.m.
DATES:
The meeting will be held
while driving South to Hamilton, on
Highway 93, turning West on Tucker
Road (Road #48), turning South on Road
48B connecting with Road #733. Send
written comments to Daniel G. Ritter,
Acting District Ranger, Stevensville
Ranger District, 88 Main Street,
Stevensville, MT 59870, by facsimile
(406) 777–7423, or electronically to
dritter@fs.fed.us.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Ritter, Stevensville District
Ranger and Designated Federal Officer,
Phone: (406) 777–5461.
Dated: April 20, 2005.
David T. Bull,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05–8396 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:41 Apr 26, 2005
Jkt 205001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Office of the Secretary
Strengthening America’s Communities
Advisory Committee
Office of the Secretary,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Strengthening America’s
Communities Advisory Committee (the
‘‘Committee’’) will hold its second
public meeting on Friday, May 13, 2005
in Kansas City, Missouri. At this
meeting, the Committee will discuss
policy issues relating to the President’s
Strengthening America’s Communities
Initiative (the ‘‘Initiative’’). During the
Committee’s first meeting in Fresno,
California on April 15, 2005, the
Committee received its charge to
undertake a high-level examination of
key policy issues pertaining to the
Initiative. The second meeting will
feature preliminary presentations to and
deliberation by the Committee of work
by the Committee’s subcommittees on
the policy issues presented to them.
DATES: Friday, May 13, 2005; beginning
at approximately 8:30 a.m. (c.s.t.) and
ending at approximately 12 p.m. (c.s.t.).
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place
at the Ewing Marion Kauffman
Foundation Conference Center, 4801
Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Missouri
64110.
Mr.
Robert E. Olson, Designated Federal
Officer of the Committee, Economic
Development Administration,
Department of Commerce, Room 7015,
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202)
482–4495; facsimile (202) 482–2838; email: saci@eda.doc.gov. Please note that
any correspondence sent by regular mail
may be substantially delayed or
suspended in delivery, since all regular
mail sent to the Department of
Commerce (the ‘‘Department’’) is subject
to extensive security screening. For
information about the Initiative, please
visit the Department’s Web site at
https://www.commerce.gov/SACI/
index.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
meeting will be open to the public and
seating will be available, but may be
limited. Reservations are not accepted.
Requests for sign language
interpretation and other auxiliary aids
must be transmitted by facsimile or email to the contact person listed above
no later than May 5, 2005.
The prospective agenda for the
Committee meeting is as follows:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(1) Presentation of expert witnesses
selected by the Committee;
(2) Presentation and deliberation of
subcommittee reports to the Committee;
and
(3) Public comment.
Members of the public will have the
opportunity to present oral comments to
the Committee at this meeting. The
Committee values most those public
comments that bear upon issues under
direct examination by the Committee,
rather than issues unrelated to the
Committee’s current scope of
discussion. Members of the public may
also submit written statements to the
contact person listed above at any time
before or after the meeting. However, to
facilitate distribution of written
statements to Committee members, the
Committee suggests that written
statements be submitted to the
Designated Federal Officer listed above
by facsimile or e-mail no later than May
5, 2005.
This agenda is subject to change. A
more detailed agenda (including details
on the public comment portion of the
meeting) will be posted on the
Department’s Web site at https://
www.commerce.gov/SACI/index.htm,
and a final agenda will be made
available to the public the morning of
the Committee meeting.
Dated: April 22, 2005.
David Bearden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 05–8445 Filed 4–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–24–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
Revolving Loan Fund Reporting
Requirements
Extension of an information
collection; comment request.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before June 27, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, HCHB Room
E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM
27APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21732-21734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8400]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Chugach National Forest; Alaska; Kenai Winter Access
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental\impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Chugach National Forest will prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for developing the Kenai winter access
management plan on the Seward Ranger District. The objective of the
Kenai winter access management plan is to respond to the public's need
for high quality winter recreation opportunities and access in the
planning area that best meets the needs of past, present and future
users of the area and surrounding areas.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis to be most helpful
should be received on or before May 25, 2005. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected to be completed in August 2005 and the
final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed in
November 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kenai Winter Access, Chugach
National Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503. Comments
may also be submitted by facsimile to (907) 743-9476 or by e-mail to
comments-alaska-chugach@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Talbott, Public Affairs Staff
Officer, Chugach National Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300, Anchorage, AK
99503, (907) 743-9500. Sharon Randall, Planning Staff Officer, Chugach
National Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 743-
9500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is seeking information,
comments and assistance from individuals, organizations, tribal
governments, and Federal, State, and local agencies that are interested
or may be affected by the proposed action. The public is invited to
help identify issues and define the range of alternatives to be
considered in the EIS. The range of alternatives will be based on the
identification of significant public issues, management concerns,
resource management opportunities, and plan decisions specific to
Access Management within the scope of the Chugach National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan 2002 Revision (Forest Plan). Written
comments identifying issues for analysis and range of alternatives are
encouraged.
Background
On May 31, 2002, the Alaska (Region 10) Regional Forester signed
the Record of Decision for the Revised Chugach Forest Plan. A number of
individuals and organizations then appealed various parts of the
decision, including the closure of the Carter-Crescent Lakes area to
winter motorized access.
In January 2003, after reviewing the appeals and the administrative
record, the Regional Forester withdrew that portion of the decision
closing the Carter-Crescent Lakes area to winter motorized access. By
withdrawing the decision for the Carter-Crescent Lakes area, management
direction for that area remained as it was in the 1984 Chugach National
Forest Plan. Under the 1984 Forest Plan, the area is open to winter
motorized activities from December 1 to April 30 once there is adequate
snow to protect resources.
The Regional Forester also directed the Chugach National Forest to
reconsider this portion of the decision at the local level, with
involvement from all interested parties, to make sure that the site-
specific impacts of any closure were fully disclosed and that
reasonable alternatives were considered.
As directed by the Regional Forester, the Forest Service began a
site-specific analysis for the Carter-Crescent Lakes Area in late
February and March of
[[Page 21733]]
2004. Several open house listening sessions specific to the Carter-
Crescent Lakes area were held during that time in Anchorage, Seward,
Cooper Landing, Moose Pass and Soldotna.
Many of the public comments received during that period suggested
that in order to find a workable long-term solution to winter
recreation access, the Forest Service would need to expand the planning
area beyond just the Carter-Crescent Lakes area. As stated in many of
the comments, an expansion of the planning area would allow greater
creative management options such as considering timing, shared-use of
split-season access periods across Forest Service lands on the Seward
Ranger District.
After further consideration, the Chugach National Forest asked for
and received approval from the Regional Forester to expand the planning
area outside of the Carter-Crescent Lakes area.
Purpose and Need for Action
Due to the withdrawal of the Forest Plan decision regarding winter
motorized recreation access for the Carter-Crescent Lakes area, the
Forest needs to address how and where to manage for motorized and
nonmotorized winter access. The purpose is to have a clear and concise
plan for winter access on the Seward Ranger District that addresses the
needs for forest management, public access and recreation use.
Proposed Action
The Chugach National Forest proposes to develop a winter access
management plan for the Seward Ranger District by next winter season
2005/2006 in order to respond to the withdrawal of the 2002 Forest Plan
decision regarding winter motorized access for the Carter-Crescent
Lakes area.
Possible Alternatives
The range of alternatives considered will address significant
issues and fulfill the purpose and need. A reasonable range of
alternatives will be evaluated. Rationale will be given for any
alternative(s) eliminated from detailed consideration. Alternatives
will represent differing management scenarios based on quality and
quantity of travel.
A ``no-action alternative'' is required by law. The no-action
alternative under this analysis will assume winter motorized recreation
access direction as described under the 2002 Forest Plan, except for
the Carter-Crescent area which would continue to be managed for winter
motorized recreation access as described under the 1984 Forest Plan.
Additional alternatives will provide a range of ways to address and
respond to public issues, management concerns and resource
opportunities identified during the collaborative learning and scoping
process.
Responsible Official: Joe Meade, Forest Supervisor, Chugach
National Forest, 3301 C St., Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, (907) 743-
9500.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor, as Responsible Official, may decide to (1)
select the proposed action, (2) select one of the alternatives, (3)
select one of the alternatives after modifying the alternative with
additional mitigating measures or combinations of activities from other
alternatives, or (4) select the no-action alternative. The decisions to
be made within each of the alternatives will include whether an area is
open, restricted, or closed to certain winter uses.
Scoping Process
The Forest Service accepted comments on this issue in February and
March 2004 when scoping began for the Carter-Crescent Lakes area
environmental analysis. Since then the project area has expanded to
include the entire Seward Ranger District. In February 2005, a
Collaborative Learning approach designed to facilitate open
communication and idea sharing with local communities was implemented.
This has been done via public workshops in order to develop management
scenarios that may lead to a range of alternatives to be analyzed.
Seven public workshops were held between February and April 2005 in the
communities of Anchorage, Moose Pass, Seward and Soldotna.
Information about future public meetings will be announced in
mailings, area media, and on the Chugach National Forest Internet site
at https://www.fs.fed.us./r10/chugach.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent continues the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments
received in response to this notice and previous request for comments,
including names and addresses when provided, will become a matter of
the public record available for inspection and copying.
All submissions from organizations and business, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in
their entirety. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR part 215. Upon
completion of the Draft EIS, the document will be provided to the
public for review and comment. Comments and Forest Service responses
will be responded to in the Final EIS.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to
[[Page 21734]]
refer to the Council on Environmental quality Regulations for
implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record and will be
available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: April 20, 2005.
Joe L. Meade,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05-8400 Filed 4-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
