Tongass National Forest Wrangell Ranger District; Alaska; Wrangell Island Project Environmental Impact Statement, 65691-65692 [2015-27204]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65691-65692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27204]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tongass National Forest Wrangell Ranger District; Alaska; 
Wrangell Island Project Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Corrected Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: A Notice of Intent (NOI) for this project was first published 
in the Federal Register (75 FR 81210) on December 27, 2010. Subsequent 
NOIs were published in the Federal Register noting the passage of time 
and procedural changes. This NOI is being published (1) to update the 
project schedule, (2) to note that M. Earl Stewart is the new Forest 
Supervisor of the Tongass National Forest and is the Responsible 
Official for this Project, (3) to note that the Proposed Action 
contains fewer acres for timber harvest, and (4) that the Forest 
Service is no longer proposing project-specific Forest Plan amendments 
in the alternatives.

DATES: Comments submitted previously will be considered in the 
analysis. This corrected NOI triggers a public comment opportunity 
during which persons wishing to obtain standing under the pre-
decisional administrative review, or ``objection'' process (36 CFR 218, 
Subpart B), may submit timely, written comments regarding the project. 
New or additional comments should be received by the Wrangell Ranger 
District by November 27, 2015, 30 days from date of publication of this 
Corrected NOI in the Federal Register. The draft environmental impact 
statement is expected in February 2016, and the final environmental 
impact statement is expected in May 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Tongass National Forest, c/o 
Andrea Slusser, P.O. Box 51, Wrangell, AK 99929, 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 email to: 
wrangell_island_project_eis@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 907-874-
7595, 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: Andrea Slusser, Team Leader; 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 of the Wrangell Island Project is to respond to the 
goals and objectives identified by the Tongass Land and Resource 
Management Plan (Forest Plan) to guide timber management to support the 
local and regional economies of Southeast Alaska, while moving the 
Wrangell Island Project Area towards the desired future condition for 
all resources.
    The underlying need for the Wrangell Island Project comes from the 
Forest Service's obligation, subject to applicable law, to seek to 
provide a supply of timber from the Tongass National Forest that meets 
market demand annually and for the planning cycle, and to restore and 
improve forest resources to a condition where they provide increased 
benefits to society.
    This project would contribute to the orderly flow of timber to 
large and small timber purchasers, mill operators, and value-added wood 
product industries in Southeast Alaska and benefit the local and 
regional economies of Wrangell and Southeast Alaska while also 
improving forest resource conditions. This project would help provide a 
reliable, long-term supply of ``bridge'' timber that would support 
local jobs and facilitate the industry transition to a sustainable wood 
product industry based on young-growth management on the Tongass 
National Forest.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service is proposing a multi-year project involving 
timber harvest and associated road construction and forest restoration 
activities. The proposed action includes the harvest of timber from 
approximately 5,290 acres of forested land. The harvest would produce 
an estimated 73 million board feet (MMBF) of sawtimber and utility wood 
that could be made available to industry. Timber harvest would occur 
with both even-aged (clearcut) and uneven-aged (partial cut) harvest 
using cable, helicopter and ground-based methods.
    The timber harvest would require approximately 18 miles of National 
Forest Road construction, six miles of reconstruction and approximately 
13 miles of temporary road construction. Existing road systems and log 
transfer facilities would also be used as needed to transport the 
timber.
    Integrated restoration activities associated with the road system 
used for harvest would include road maintenance and improvements, 
invasive species treatments, erosion control, and fish passage 
improvements. All activities would be conducted in a

[[Page 65692]]

manner conducive to moving resources towards the desired conditions 
described in the Forest Plan.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the proposed action and the no action alternative, 
the Forest Service is considering a range of action alternatives with 
varying levels of harvest and road construction based on public input 
received to date. Because the Forest Plan is now undergoing an 
amendment process, the project will not propose any project-specific 
Forest Plan amendments.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for this project is M. Earl Stewart, 
Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, Federal Building, 648 
Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide: (1) The estimated timber 
volume to make available from the project, as well as the location, 
design, and scheduling of timber harvest, road construction and 
reconstruction, and silvicultural practices used; (2) road and access 
management; (3) mitigation measures and monitoring requirements; and 
(4) whether there may be a significant restriction on subsistence uses.

Preliminary Issues

    The initial scoping identified preliminary issues and concerns 
which may be analyzed in the EIS to disclose potential effects of the 
project on the following: Timber supply, timber sale economics, 
supporting the timber industry through the transition from old-growth 
harvest to young-growth management, road and access management, 
economic and rural stability, wildlife habitat, aquatic habitat 
(fisheries/hydrology/watersheds), soil productivity and slope 
stability, invasive species, heritage resources, roadless area 
characteristics, scenery, recreation, subsistence use, and climate 
change and carbon cycling. Preliminary key issues identified include 
timber supply, timber demand, scenery, wildlife habitat and access 
management.

Preliminary List of Permits or Licenses Required

    All necessary permits would be obtained prior to project 
implementation, and may include the following:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

     Review Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan 
State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation;
     Solid Waste Disposal Permit State of Alaska, Department of 
Natural Resources;
     Authorization for occupancy and use of tidelands and 
submerged lands.

Scoping Process

    The initial scoping period started when the NOI was published in 
2010. This proposal has been listed on the Tongass National Forest 
Schedule of Proposed Actions since January, 2011. An updated scoping 
document has been posted on the Tongass National Forest public Web site 
at https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/R10/Tongass/WrangellEIS, and a project 
update letter will be mailed out to those who previously commented.
    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 be part of the public record. Comments 
submitted anonymously will also be accepted and considered.

    Dated: October 19, 2015.
M. Earl Stewart,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-27204 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P