Wrangell Ranger District; Alaska; Wrangell Island Project Environmental Impact Statement, 81210-81211 [2010-32416]
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81210
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 247 / Monday, December 27, 2010 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Wrangell Ranger District; Alaska;
Wrangell Island Project Environmental
Impact Statement
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare
an environmental impact statement
(EIS) for the Wrangell Island Project
located on Wrangell Island, part of the
Wrangell Ranger District of the Tongass
National Forest. This proposal is a
multi-year stewardship opportunity
involving a variety of timber harvest,
road construction, and forest restoration
and enhancement activities. The
proposed project will use the
contracting opportunities (timber sales
and stewardship contracts) available to
the Forest Service to implement the
decision.
SUMMARY:
Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
January 26, 2011. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in September 2011 and the
final environmental impact statement is
expected in January 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:
SWCA, 317 Forest Park Drive,
Ketchikan, AK 99901, Attn: Wrangell
Island Project EIS. Comments may be
hand-delivered to the Wrangell Ranger
District, 525 Bennett Drive, Wrangell,
AK 99929, Attn: Wrangell Island Project
EIS. Comments may also be sent via
webform to: https://
www.wrangellislandprojecteis.com/
comment, or via facsimile to 907–279–
7944, Attn: Wrangell Island Project EIS.
In all correspondence, please include
your name, address, and organization
name if you are commenting as a
representative of an organization.
DATES:
Tim
Piazza, Team Leader, Federal Building,
Ketchikan, AK 99901, (907) 228–6318 or
Austin O’Brien, Wrangell Ranger
District, P.O. Box 51, Wrangell, AK
99929, (907) 874–2323. 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.
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for the
Wrangell Island Project is to implement
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15:15 Dec 23, 2010
Jkt 223001
the Forest Plan, aligned with the
Tongass National Forest transition
strategy and the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Strategic Plan FY 2010–2015. In the
USDA Strategic Plan, key priorities and
desired outcomes such as the goals of
rural prosperity, and preservation and
maintenance of forests are identified, as
well as means and strategies to achieve
them. This project will help to provide
an economically viable, reliable, longterm supply of timber that will support
jobs for the communities of Southeast
Alaska and facilitate the transition to a
sustainable forest industry based on
young-growth management. Forest
restoration and enhancement activities
on Wrangell Island will be included to
further accomplish the goals of the
Strategic Plan.
the roaded land base on Wrangell
Island. Scoping comments will be used
by the Forest Service to develop a range
of alternatives in response to significant
issues. A no-action alternative will be
analyzed.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service is proposing a
multi-year stewardship project
involving a variety of timber harvest,
road construction, and forest restoration
and enhancement activities. The
proposed action would harvest timber
from up to 7,489 acres of forested land
using various sizes of timber sales,
offered over a period of years, within
the roaded land base on Wrangell
Island. Up to 21 miles of National Forest
System road would be constructed and
about 12 miles of existing road would be
reconstructed. Preliminary analysis
shows that up to an estimated 91
million board feet of sawtimber and
utility wood could be made available to
industry for harvest. Existing log
transfer facilities will be used as
needed.
Harvest would include helicopter,
ground based, and cable-yarding
systems and include even-aged and
uneven-aged harvest prescriptions to
achieve stand objectives. All proposed
activities would meet the standards and
guidelines of the Tongass Forest Plan.
In conjunction with proposed timber
harvest, restoration and stewardship
opportunities could include roads and
transportation activities (for example,
repairing ‘‘red pipes’’ or bridges, erosion
control, vegetation removal, or road
relocation); recreation activities (for
example, campground and trails
improvements, picnic sites, or
vegetation management); and wildlife
and fisheries habitat improvement
projects (for example, beach fringe
thinning, or placement of large woody
debris in streams).
Preliminary potential issues which
may be analyzed in the EIS include the
potential effects of the project on the
timber supply, supporting the timber
industry through the transition from
old-growth harvest to young-growth
management, road management,
economic and rural stability,
subsistence, and inventoried roadless
areas.
Possible Alternatives
The proposed action includes an
estimated harvest of up to 91 million
board feet from up to 7,489 acres within
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Responsible Official
The responsible official for the
decision on this project is the Forest
Supervisor, Tongass National Forest,
Federal Building, 648 Mission Street,
Ketchikan, Alaska, 99901.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The responsible official will decide
whether or not to authorize forest
restoration and enhancement activities,
timber harvest, and associated road
construction on Wrangell Island.
Preliminary Issues
Permits or Licenses Required
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency:
• Review Spill Prevention Control
and Countermeasure Plan. State of
Alaska, Department of Environmental
Conservation:
• Certification of Compliance with
Alaska Water Quality Standards (401
Certification);
• Storm water discharge permit/
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System review under
Section 402 of the Clean Water Act
(402);
• Solid Waste Disposal Permit. State
of Alaska, Department of Natural
Resources (DNR):
• Authorization for occupancy and
use of tidelands and submerged lands.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. A scoping document
has been posted on the Tongass
National Forest public Web site at
https://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/
projects/projects.shtml. and a scoping
letter will be mailed out in late
December. Individuals who want to be
on the project mailing list should
contact the Wrangell Ranger District at
the address above. The scoping package
will be available at future public open
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 247 / Monday, December 27, 2010 / Notices
house meetings planned to be held in
Wrangell, Alaska and Petersburg, Alaska
in January 2011. These meetings will be
announced in local newspapers and on
local radio stations.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
become part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered, however.
Dated: December 16, 2010.
Forrest Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
Kate
Goodrich-Arling, RAC coordinator,
USDA, Monongahela National Forest,
200 Sycamore Street, Elkins, WV 26241;
(304) 636–1800; E-mail
kgoodricharling@fs.fed.us.
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
Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
meeting is open to the public. The
following business will be conducted:
(1) Review and approval or amendment
of notes from previous meeting (2)
Consider new project proposals; and (3)
Public Comment. Persons who wish to
bring related matters to the attention of
the Committee may file written
statements with the Committee staff
before or after the meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: November 8, 2010.
Clyde N. Thompson,
Designated Federal Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010–32416 Filed 12–23–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
[FR Doc. 2010–32403 Filed 12–23–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
West Virginia Resource Advisory
Committee
Forest Service
Notice of Lincoln County Resource
Advisory Committee Meeting
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
The West Virginia Resource
Advisory Committee will meet in
Elkins, West Virginia. The committee is
meeting as authorized under the Secure
Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L 110–343) and
in compliance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose
is for the committee to consider new
project proposals.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
December 8, 2010, and will begin at 10
a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Monongahela National Forest
Supervisor’s Office, 200 Sycamore
Street, Elkins, WV 26241. Written
comments should be sent to Kate
Goodrich-Arling at the same address.
Comments may also be sent via e-mail
to kgoodricharling@fs.fed.us, or via
facsimile to 304–637–0582.
All comments, including names and
addresses when provided, are placed in
the record and are available for public
inspection and copying. The public may
inspect comments received at
Monongahela National Forest, 200
Sycamore Street, Elkins, WV 26241.
SUMMARY:
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15:15 Dec 23, 2010
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ACTION:
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
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 (Public Law
106–393) the Kootenai National Forest’s
Lincoln County Resource Advisory
Committee will meet on Wednesday,
January 5, 2011 at 6 p.m. at the Forest
Supervisor’s Office in Libby, Montana
for a business meeting. The meeting is
open to the public.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
January 5, 2011.
Forest Supervisor’s Office,
31374 US Hwy 2, Libby, Montana.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janette Turk, Committee Coordinator,
Kootenai National Forest at (406) 283–
7764, or e-mail jturk@fs.fed.us.
Agenda
will include planning for future RAC
priorities. If the meeting date or location
is changed, notice will be posted in the
local newspapers, including the Daily
Interlake based in Kalispell, Montana.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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81211
Dated: December 16, 2010.
Paul Bradford,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010–32442 Filed 12–23–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: NOAA Teacher-At-Sea Alumni
Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0600.
Form Number(s): NA.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
information collection).
Number of Respondents: 60.
Average Hours per Response: 30
minutes.
Burden Hours: 30.
Needs and Uses: Consistent with the
support for research and education
under the National Marine Sanctuaries
Act (16 U.S.C. 32 § 1440) and other
coastal and marine protection
legislation, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
provides educators an opportunity to
gain first-hand experience with field
research activities through the Teacher
at Sea Program. Through this program,
educators spend up to three weeks at
sea on a NOAA research vessel,
participating in an on-going research
project with NOAA scientists. In order
to better serve the participants, the
Teacher-at-Sea Program will survey the
teacher participants on their experience
before, during, and after they return
from sea.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Frequency: Semi-annually.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
OMB Desk Officer:
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
Copies of the above information
collection proposal can be obtained by
calling or writing Diana Hynek,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance
Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of
Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
dHynek@doc.gov).
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81210-81211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32416]
[[Page 81210]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Wrangell Ranger District; Alaska; Wrangell Island 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) for the Wrangell Island Project
located on Wrangell Island, part of the Wrangell Ranger District of the
Tongass National Forest. This proposal is a multi-year stewardship
opportunity involving a variety of timber harvest, road construction,
and forest restoration and enhancement activities. The proposed project
will use the contracting opportunities (timber sales and stewardship
contracts) available to the Forest Service to implement the decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by January 26, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected in September 2011 and the final environmental impact statement
is expected in January 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: SWCA, 317 Forest Park Drive,
Ketchikan, AK 99901, Attn: Wrangell Island Project EIS. Comments may be
hand-delivered to the Wrangell Ranger District, 525 Bennett Drive,
Wrangell, AK 99929, Attn: Wrangell Island Project EIS. Comments may
also be sent via webform to: https://www.wrangellislandprojecteis.com/comment, or via facsimile to 907-279-7944, Attn: Wrangell Island
Project EIS. In all correspondence, please include your name, address,
and organization name if you are commenting as a representative of an
organization.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Piazza, Team Leader, Federal
Building, Ketchikan, AK 99901, (907) 228-6318 or Austin O'Brien,
Wrangell Ranger District, P.O. Box 51, Wrangell, AK 99929, (907) 874-
2323. 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for the Wrangell Island Project is to
implement the Forest Plan, aligned with the Tongass National Forest
transition strategy and the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Strategic Plan FY 2010-2015. In the USDA Strategic Plan, key
priorities and desired outcomes such as the goals of rural prosperity,
and preservation and maintenance of forests are identified, as well as
means and strategies to achieve them. This project will help to provide
an economically viable, reliable, long-term supply of timber that will
support jobs for the communities of Southeast Alaska and facilitate the
transition to a sustainable forest industry based on young-growth
management. Forest restoration and enhancement activities on Wrangell
Island will be included to further accomplish the goals of the
Strategic Plan.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service is proposing a multi-year stewardship project
involving a variety of timber harvest, road construction, and forest
restoration and enhancement activities. The proposed action would
harvest timber from up to 7,489 acres of forested land using various
sizes of timber sales, offered over a period of years, within the
roaded land base on Wrangell Island. Up to 21 miles of National Forest
System road would be constructed and about 12 miles of existing road
would be reconstructed. Preliminary analysis shows that up to an
estimated 91 million board feet of sawtimber and utility wood could be
made available to industry for harvest. Existing log transfer
facilities will be used as needed.
Harvest would include helicopter, ground based, and cable-yarding
systems and include even-aged and uneven-aged harvest prescriptions to
achieve stand objectives. All proposed activities would meet the
standards and guidelines of the Tongass Forest Plan.
In conjunction with proposed timber harvest, restoration and
stewardship opportunities could include roads and transportation
activities (for example, repairing ``red pipes'' or bridges, erosion
control, vegetation removal, or road relocation); recreation activities
(for example, campground and trails improvements, picnic sites, or
vegetation management); and wildlife and fisheries habitat improvement
projects (for example, beach fringe thinning, or placement of large
woody debris in streams).
Possible Alternatives
The proposed action includes an estimated harvest of up to 91
million board feet from up to 7,489 acres within the roaded land base
on Wrangell Island. Scoping comments will be used by the Forest Service
to develop a range of alternatives in response to significant issues. A
no-action alternative will be analyzed.
Responsible Official
The responsible official for the decision on this project is the
Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, Federal Building, 648
Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska, 99901.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The responsible official will decide whether or not to authorize
forest restoration and enhancement activities, timber harvest, and
associated road construction on Wrangell Island.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary potential issues which may be analyzed in the EIS
include the potential effects of the project on the timber supply,
supporting the timber industry through the transition from old-growth
harvest to young-growth management, road management, economic and rural
stability, subsistence, and inventoried roadless areas.
Permits or Licenses Required
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
Review Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan.
State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation:
Certification of Compliance with Alaska Water Quality
Standards (401 Certification);
Storm water discharge permit/National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System review under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act
(402);
Solid Waste Disposal Permit. State of Alaska, Department
of Natural Resources (DNR):
Authorization for occupancy and use of tidelands and
submerged lands.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. A scoping
document has been posted on the Tongass National Forest public Web site
at https://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/projects/projects.shtml. and a
scoping letter will be mailed out in late December. Individuals who
want to be on the project mailing list should contact the Wrangell
Ranger District at the address above. The scoping package will be
available at future public open
[[Page 81211]]
house meetings planned to be held in Wrangell, Alaska and Petersburg,
Alaska in January 2011. These meetings will be announced in local
newspapers and on local radio stations.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will become part of the public
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered, however.
Dated: December 16, 2010.
Forrest Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-32416 Filed 12-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P