Tonka Timber Sale Project Environmental Impact Statement, 8497-8499 [E9-3878]
Download as PDF
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
assist in identifying issues, determine
how to best manage the resources, and
to focus the analysis. Comments
received to this notice, including names
and addresses of those who comment,
will be considered part of the public
record on this proposed action and will
be available for public inspection.
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 parts 215. Additionally,
pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person
may request the agency to withhold a
submission from the public record by
showing how the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) permits such
confidentiality. Persons requesting such
confidentiality should be aware that,
under FOIA, confidentiality may be
granted in only very limited
circumstances, such as to protect trade
secrets. The Forest Service will inform
the requester of the agency’s decision
regarding the request for confidentiality,
and where the request is denied the
agency will return the submission and
notify the requester that the comments
may be resubmitted with or without
name and address within a specified
number of days.
A draft EIS will be filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and available for public review by
Summer 2009. The EPA will publish a
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the draft
EIS in the Federal Register. The final
EIS is scheduled to be available Fall
2009.
The comment period on the draft EIS
will be 45 days from the date the EPA
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 a draft EIS 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 EIS stage but
that are not raised until after completion
of the final EIS may be waived or
dismissed by the courts [City of Angoon
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 comments and
objections are made available to the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
Forest Service at a time when it can
meaningfully consider them and
respond to them in the final EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft EIS 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 EIS of the merits
of the alternatives formulated and
discussed in the statement. Reviewers
may wish to 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.
In the final EIS, the Forest Service is
required to respond to comments
received during the comment period for
the draft EIS. The Forest Service is the
lead agency and the responsible official
is the Crescent District Ranger,
Deschutes National Forest. The
responsible official will decide where,
and whether or not to designate a trail
system, staging areas, and close roads.
The responsible official will also decide
how to mitigate impacts of these actions
and will determine when and how
monitoring of effects will take place.
The Three Trails OHV Project
decision and the reasons for the
decision will be documented in the
Record of Decision. That decision will
be subject to Forest Service Appeal
Regulations (35 CFR Part 215).
John Allen,
Deschutes National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–3787 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Tonka Timber Sale Project
Environmental Impact Statement
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on a proposal to harvest timber for
the Tonka Timber Sale EIS on the
Lindenberg Peninsula, Kupreanof
Island, on the Petersburg Ranger
District, Tongass National Forest. The
proposed action is to harvest
approximately 60 million board feet
(mmbf) of timber from about 3,500 acres
of forested land. An estimated 11 miles
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8497
of new road is associated with this
proposed action. A range of alternatives,
responsive to significant issues, will be
developed and will include a no action
alternative. The existing marine access
facility, (MAF) located along the eastern
shore of Lindenberg Peninsula, in the
Wrangell Narrows, would be used and
further development of the MAF is
included in the proposed action. This
development would facilitate the
transport and scaling of logs for this
proposed project and future long-term
production of young-growth from the
project area. This project is within the
MitkofYKupreanof biogeographic
province. The Record of Decision will
disclose whether and where the Forest
Supervisor has decided to provide
timber harvest units, roads and
associated timber harvesting facilities.
DATES: A scoping letter will be mailed
out in December 2008. Individuals who
want to receive a copy of this mailing
or who want to be on the project mailing
list should contact the Petersburg
Ranger District at the address below.
The Draft Environmental Impact
Statement is projected to be filed with
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) in the summer of 2009 and will
begin a 45-day public comment period.
The Final Environmental Impact
Statement and Record of Decision are
scheduled to be published the spring of
2010.
ADDRESSES: You may comment on the
project in the following ways: Send
written comments to the Petersburg
Ranger District, Tongass National
Forest, Attn: Ben Case Tonka Timber
Sale Project EIS, P.O. Box 1328,
Petersburg, AK 99833, or hand deliver
them to the Petersburg Ranger District,
12 N Nordic Drive, Petersburg, Alaska.
The FAX number is (907) 772–5995.
Send e-mail comments to: commentsalaska-tongass-petersburg@fs.fed.us
with Tonka Timber Sale Project EIS in
the subject line. Include your name,
address and organization name if you
are commenting as a representative.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposal and ElS
should be directed to Christopher
Savage, District Ranger, Petersburg
Ranger District, Tongass National
Forest, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, AK
99833, telephone (907) 772–3871, or
Ben Case, Team Leader, Petersburg
Ranger District, P.O. Box 1328,
Petersburg, AK 99833, telephone (907)
772–3871.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The proposed Tonka
Timber Sale Project Area is
approximately 62,150 acres and falls
within the Tongass Land Management
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8498
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Value Comparison Units (VCUs) 4370,
4390 and 4470. These VCUs and the
Tonka Project Area are entirely within
the Phase 1 Adaptive Management
Strategy area of the 2008 Forest Plan.
The project area is within Townships
58, 59, 60 and 61 South, and Ranges 77,
78, and 79 East, Copper River Meridian.
The area is partially roaded as a result
of ongoing timber sales and past timber
sales dating back to 1980. The Tonka
marine access facility, and the
associated road system, provides vehicle
access to the project area.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for the
proposed action responds to the goals
and objectives identified by the Tongass
Land Management Plan, as amended,
and helps move the area toward the
desired conditions as described in the
Forest Plan. The Forest Supervisor is the
Responsible Official for this action and
will decide whether or not to harvest
timber from the Tonka Timber Sale
project area, and if so, how this timber
will be harvested. The decision will be
based on the information that is
disclosed in the environmental impact
statement. The responsible official will
consider comments, responses, the
disclosure of environmental
consequences, and applicable laws,
regulations, and policies in making the
decision and will state that rationale in
the Record of Decision.
The purpose of the Tonka Timber Sale
Project is to:
• Manage the timber resource for
production of sawtimber and other
wood products from suitable lands
made available for timber harvest on an
even flow, long-term sustained yield
basis, and in an economically efficient
manner.
• Seek to provide a timber supply
sufficient to meet the annual market
demand for Tongass National Forest
timber and the market demand for the
planning cycle.
Proposed Action: The Tonka Timber
Sale Project proposes harvest of
approximately 60 million board feet
(mmbf) of timber from approximately
3,500 acres of forested land. An
estimated 11 miles of new road would
be necessary for this timber harvest.
This proposal includes further study
and development of the marine access
facilitie (MAF). The existing MAF
located along the eastern shore of
Lindenberg Peninsula, in the Wrangell
Narrows, would be used to transfer logs
into the water or onto barges for
transport to a mill. Actions associated
with this development of the MAE
includes clearing five additional acres
in close proximity to the Tonka MAF to
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
accommodate log sorting, scaling and
service equipment, and modifying the
approach and turn-around that
equipment uses to access the water or
barges. Management activities will
adhere to Forest Plan Standards and
Guidelines and best management
practices will be applied. Alternatives to
the proposed action, including a ‘‘no
action’’ alternative, will be developed
for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement. Subsistence hearings, as
provided for in Title VIII, Section 810 of
the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA), will be
conducted, if necessary, during the
comment period on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement.
Public Participation: This project was
placed on the 2007 Schedule of
Proposed Actions. This notice of intent
initiates the scoping process which
guides the development of the
environmental impact statement. Public
participation has been an integral
component of the study process and
will continue to be especially important
at several points during the analysis.
The Forest Service will be seeking
information, comments, and assistance
from Tribal Governments and
corporations, Federal, State, and local
agencies, individuals and organizations
that may be interested in, or affected by,
the proposed activities. The mailing list
will include: those who have requested
to be on this project mailing list, or any
timber harvest projects mailing list;
those people who reside within the
project area; outfitters/guides who have
permits within or adjacent to the area;
and local, state, federally-recognized
tribal governments, and federal
government agencies. The Tonka project
was presented to the public at two
Petersburg Ranger District Open-houses;
one held on May, 5 2008 in Petersbrurg,
Alaska, and one held in Kake, Alaska on
July 7, 2008. Public input on the project
was received through written
comments.
The scoping package will be available
at future Petersburg Ranger District open
houses. The scoping process includes:
(1) Identification of potential issues; (2)
identification of issues to be analyzed in
depth; and (3) elimination of nonsignificant issues or those which have
been covered by a previous
environmental review.
Tentative Issues: Tentative issues
identified for analysis in the EIS include
the potential effects of the project on
and the relationship of the project to:
Deer habitat/deer subsistence use,
timber supply and timber sale
economics, and scenery. Based on
results of scoping and the
interdisciplinary development of
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
significant issues, alternatives,
including a ‘‘no action’’ alternative, will
be developed for the Draft
Environmental Impact.
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 published the notice of
availability in the Federal Register. It is
important that reviewers provide their
comments at such times and in such a
way that they are useful to the Agency’s
preparation of the EIS. Therefore,
comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and
should clearly articulate the reviewer’s
concerns and contentions. The
submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer’s ability
to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial
review. Comments received in response
to this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
respondent with standing to participate
in subsequent administrative review or
judicial review. To assist the Forest
Service in identifying and considering
issues and concerns of the proposed
action, comments during scoping and
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 Environmental
Impact 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 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 in response to this
solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be considered part of the public record
on this proposed action and will be
available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Comments submitted anonymously
will be accepted and considered;
however, those who submit anonymous
E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM
25FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
comments will not have standing to
appeal the subsequent decision under
36 CFR Parts 215 or 217. Additionally,
pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person
may request the agency to withhold a
submission from the public record by
showing how the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) permits such
confidentiality. Requesters should be
aware that, under FOIA, confidentiality
may be granted in only very limited
circumstances, such as to protect trade
secrets. The Forest Service will inform
the requester of the agency’s decision
regarding the request for confidentiality,
and where the request is denied, the
agency will return the submission and
notify the requester that the comments
may be resubmitted with or without
name and address within 7 days.
Permits: Permits required for
implementation include the following:
1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
—Approval of discharge of dredged or
fill material into the waters of the
United States under Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act;
—Approval of the construction of
structures or work in navigable waters
of the United States under Section 10
of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
2. Environmental Protection Agency
—General National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Permit for Log
Transfer Facilities in Alaska;
—Review Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasure Plan.
3. State of Alaska, Department of
Natural Resources
—Tideland Permit and Lease or
Easement;
—Certification of Compliance with
Alaska Water Quality Standards (401
Certification) Chapter 20.
4. Office of Project Management &
Permitting (DNR)
—Coastal Zone Consistency
Determination concurrence.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
5. State of Alaska, Department of
Environmental Conservation
—Solid Waste Disposal Permit.
Responsible Official: Forrest Cole,
Forest Supervisor, Tongass National
Forest, Federal Building, Ketchikan,
Alaska 99901.
Nature of Decision To Be Made: The
Forest Supervisor is the Responsible
Official for this action and will decide
whether or not to harvest timber from
the Tonka Timber Sale Project project
area, and if so, the amount, location and
method how this timber will be
harvested. The decision will be based
on the information that is disclosed in
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19:10 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
the environmental impact statement.
The responsible official will consider
comments, responses, the disclosure of
environmental consequences, and
applicable laws, regulations, and
policies in making the decision and will
state that rationale in the Record of
Decision.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: February 17, 2009.
Forrest Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–3878 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,
Wisconsin; Honey Creek-Padus
Project
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to document the
analysis and disclose the environmental
impacts of proposed land management
activities and corresponding alternatives
within the Honey Creek-Padus Project.
The purpose of the Honey Creek-Padus
Project is to implement land
management activities that are
consistent with direction in the
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
2004 Revised Land and Resource
Management Plan and respond to the
specific needs identified in the project
area.
Honey Creek-Padus Project is located
on National Forest System lands,
administered by the Lakewood-Laona
Ranger District, north of Wabeno, WI.
The legal description of the project is
Township 35 North, Range 14 and 15
East.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
March 13, 2009. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in September 2009 and the
final environmental impact statement is
expected February 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments
concerning this project to Marilee
Houtler, Attn: Honey Creek-Padus,
Lakewood-Laona Ranger District, 15085
State Road 32, Lakewood, WI 54138.
Comments may also be sent via e-mail
to comments-eastern-chequamegon-
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8499
nicolet-lakewood@fs.fed.us, or via
facsimile to 715–276–3594.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
respondent with standing to appeal the
subsequent decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marilee Houtler, NEPA Coordinator (see
address above), phone 715–276–6333.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
The
information presented in this notice is
included to help the reviewer determine
if they are interested in or potentially
affected by the proposed land
management activities. The information
presented in this notice is summarized.
Those who wish to provide comments,
or are otherwise interested in or affected
by the project, are encouraged to obtain
additional information from the contact
listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for action by
the agency is to address notable gaps
between the existing vegetation and
access conditions in the Honey CreekPadus landscape and the desired
conditions to be provided under the
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
2004 Land and Resource Management
Plan. Of primary importance are needs
for change in: (1) Uneven-aged northern
hardwood age structure and density; (2)
composition of aspen and hardwoods;
and (3) species age class distribution.
These are the dominant habitats in the
Honey Creek-Padus Project area.
Preliminary analysis of the project area
indicates that there are certain
conditions that warrant action to
accomplish the direction and desired
conditions identified in the forest plan.
Proposed Action
Based on the opportunities and needs
outlined in the Purpose and Need
section, the Forest Service proposes the
following actions in the Honey CreekPadus Project area: 6,703 acres of timber
harvest to manage species age diversity,
species composition, improve growing
conditions, stand tending and
reforestation, and access management.
Implementation is planned for 2010.
E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8497-8499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3878]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Tonka Timber Sale Project Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to harvest timber
for the Tonka Timber Sale EIS on the Lindenberg Peninsula, Kupreanof
Island, on the Petersburg Ranger District, Tongass National Forest. The
proposed action is to harvest approximately 60 million board feet
(mmbf) of timber from about 3,500 acres of forested land. An estimated
11 miles of new road is associated with this proposed action. A range
of alternatives, responsive to significant issues, will be developed
and will include a no action alternative. The existing marine access
facility, (MAF) located along the eastern shore of Lindenberg
Peninsula, in the Wrangell Narrows, would be used and further
development of the MAF is included in the proposed action. This
development would facilitate the transport and scaling of logs for this
proposed project and future long-term production of young-growth from
the project area. This project is within the MitkofYKupreanof
biogeographic province. The Record of Decision will disclose whether
and where the Forest Supervisor has decided to provide timber harvest
units, roads and associated timber harvesting facilities.
DATES: A scoping letter will be mailed out in December 2008.
Individuals who want to receive a copy of this mailing or who want to
be on the project mailing list should contact the Petersburg Ranger
District at the address below. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement
is projected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
in the summer of 2009 and will begin a 45-day public comment period.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision are
scheduled to be published the spring of 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may comment on the project in the following ways: Send
written comments to the Petersburg Ranger District, Tongass National
Forest, Attn: Ben Case Tonka Timber Sale Project EIS, P.O. Box 1328,
Petersburg, AK 99833, or hand deliver them to the Petersburg Ranger
District, 12 N Nordic Drive, Petersburg, Alaska. The FAX number is
(907) 772-5995. Send e-mail comments to: comments-alaska-tongass-
petersburg@fs.fed.us with Tonka Timber Sale Project EIS in the subject
line. Include your name, address and organization name if you are
commenting as a representative.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposal and ElS
should be directed to Christopher Savage, District Ranger, Petersburg
Ranger District, Tongass National Forest, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, AK
99833, telephone (907) 772-3871, or Ben Case, Team Leader, Petersburg
Ranger District, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, AK 99833, telephone (907)
772-3871.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The proposed Tonka Timber Sale Project Area is
approximately 62,150 acres and falls within the Tongass Land Management
[[Page 8498]]
Value Comparison Units (VCUs) 4370, 4390 and 4470. These VCUs and the
Tonka Project Area are entirely within the Phase 1 Adaptive Management
Strategy area of the 2008 Forest Plan. The project area is within
Townships 58, 59, 60 and 61 South, and Ranges 77, 78, and 79 East,
Copper River Meridian. The area is partially roaded as a result of
ongoing timber sales and past timber sales dating back to 1980. The
Tonka marine access facility, and the associated road system, provides
vehicle access to the project area.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for the proposed action responds to the goals
and objectives identified by the Tongass Land Management Plan, as
amended, and helps move the area toward the desired conditions as
described in the Forest Plan. The Forest Supervisor is the Responsible
Official for this action and will decide whether or not to harvest
timber from the Tonka Timber Sale project area, and if so, how this
timber will be harvested. The decision will be based on the information
that is disclosed in the environmental impact statement. The
responsible official will consider comments, responses, the disclosure
of environmental consequences, and applicable laws, regulations, and
policies in making the decision and will state that rationale in the
Record of Decision.
The purpose of the Tonka Timber Sale Project is to:
Manage the timber resource for production of sawtimber and
other wood products from suitable lands made available for timber
harvest on an even flow, long-term sustained yield basis, and in an
economically efficient manner.
Seek to provide a timber supply sufficient to meet the
annual market demand for Tongass National Forest timber and the market
demand for the planning cycle.
Proposed Action: The Tonka Timber Sale Project proposes harvest of
approximately 60 million board feet (mmbf) of timber from approximately
3,500 acres of forested land. An estimated 11 miles of new road would
be necessary for this timber harvest. This proposal includes further
study and development of the marine access facilitie (MAF). The
existing MAF located along the eastern shore of Lindenberg Peninsula,
in the Wrangell Narrows, would be used to transfer logs into the water
or onto barges for transport to a mill. Actions associated with this
development of the MAE includes clearing five additional acres in close
proximity to the Tonka MAF to accommodate log sorting, scaling and
service equipment, and modifying the approach and turn-around that
equipment uses to access the water or barges. Management activities
will adhere to Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines and best management
practices will be applied. Alternatives to the proposed action,
including a ``no action'' alternative, will be developed for the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement. Subsistence hearings, as provided for
in Title VIII, Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA), will be conducted, if necessary, during the
comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Public Participation: This project was placed on the 2007 Schedule
of Proposed Actions. This notice of intent initiates the scoping
process which guides the development of the environmental impact
statement. Public participation has been an integral component of the
study process and will continue to be especially important at several
points during the analysis. The Forest Service will be seeking
information, comments, and assistance from Tribal Governments and
corporations, Federal, State, and local agencies, individuals and
organizations that may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed
activities. The mailing list will include: those who have requested to
be on this project mailing list, or any timber harvest projects mailing
list; those people who reside within the project area; outfitters/
guides who have permits within or adjacent to the area; and local,
state, federally-recognized tribal governments, and federal government
agencies. The Tonka project was presented to the public at two
Petersburg Ranger District Open-houses; one held on May, 5 2008 in
Petersbrurg, Alaska, and one held in Kake, Alaska on July 7, 2008.
Public input on the project was received through written comments.
The scoping package will be available at future Petersburg Ranger
District open houses. The scoping process includes: (1) Identification
of potential issues; (2) identification of issues to be analyzed in
depth; and (3) elimination of non-significant issues or those which
have been covered by a previous environmental review.
Tentative Issues: Tentative issues identified for analysis in the
EIS include the potential effects of the project on and the
relationship of the project to: Deer habitat/deer subsistence use,
timber supply and timber sale economics, and scenery. Based on results
of scoping and the interdisciplinary development of significant issues,
alternatives, including a ``no action'' alternative, will be developed
for the Draft Environmental Impact.
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 published the notice of availability in the Federal
Register. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such
times and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's
preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the
reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and
specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in
subsequent administrative review or judicial review. Comments received
in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of
those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed
action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered;
however, anonymous comments will not provide the respondent with
standing to participate in subsequent administrative review or judicial
review. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering
issues and concerns of the proposed action, comments during scoping and
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 Environmental Impact 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 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 in response to this
solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will
be considered part of the public record on this proposed action and
will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered;
however, those who submit anonymous
[[Page 8499]]
comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under
36 CFR Parts 215 or 217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any
person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public
record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits
such confidentiality. Requesters should be aware that, under FOIA,
confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such
as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the
requester of the agency's decision regarding the request for
confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the agency will
return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be
resubmitted with or without name and address within 7 days.
Permits: Permits required for implementation include the following:
1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
--Approval of discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of
the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act;
--Approval of the construction of structures or work in navigable
waters of the United States under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors
Act of 1899.
2. Environmental Protection Agency
--General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for
Log Transfer Facilities in Alaska;
--Review Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan.
3. State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources
--Tideland Permit and Lease or Easement;
--Certification of Compliance with Alaska Water Quality Standards (401
Certification) Chapter 20.
4. Office of Project Management & Permitting (DNR)
--Coastal Zone Consistency Determination concurrence.
5. State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation
--Solid Waste Disposal Permit.
Responsible Official: Forrest Cole, Forest Supervisor, Tongass
National Forest, Federal Building, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901.
Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Forest Supervisor is the
Responsible Official for this action and will decide whether or not to
harvest timber from the Tonka Timber Sale Project project area, and if
so, the amount, location and method how this timber will be harvested.
The decision will be based on the information that is disclosed in the
environmental impact statement. The responsible official will consider
comments, responses, the disclosure of environmental consequences, and
applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making the decision and
will state that rationale in the Record of Decision.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: February 17, 2009.
Forrest Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-3878 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M