Tongass National Forest; Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District; Alaska; South Revillagigedo Integrated Resource Project Environmental Impact Statement, 31288-31290 [2019-13915]

Download as PDF 31288 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2019 / Notices nareeeab.ree.usda.gov/meetings/ general-meetings. On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, the Advisory Board will convene from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EDT. On Thursday, July 18, 2017, the Advisory Board will reconvene from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. And on Friday, July 19, 2019, the Board will begin at 8:00 a.m. EDT and adjourn by 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT. Public Participation: This meeting is open to the public and any interested individuals wishing to attend. Opportunity for public comment will be offered each day of the meeting. To attend the meeting and/or make oral statements regarding any items on the agenda, you must contact Michele Esch or Shirley Morgan-Jordan at 202–720– 3684; email: nareee@ars.usda.gov at least 5 business days prior to the meeting. Members of the public will be heard in the order in which they sign up at the beginning of the meeting. The Chair will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Written comments by attendees or other interested stakeholders will be welcomed for the public record before and up to two weeks following the Board meeting (or by close of business Friday, August 2, 2019). All written statements must be sent to Michele Esch, Designated Federal Officer and Executive Director, National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 332A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Mail Stop 0321,1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–0321; or email: nareee@ ars.usda.gov. All statements will become a part of the official record of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and will be kept on file for public review in the Research, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Office. Steve Censky, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture. [FR Doc. 2019–14013 Filed 6–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–03–P khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Forest Service Tongass National Forest; Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District; Alaska; South Revillagigedo Integrated Resource Project Environmental Impact Statement Forest Service, USDA. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:58 Jun 28, 2019 Jkt 247001 The Forest Service is issuing this notice to update information included in the original Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the South Revillagigedo Integrated Resource Project (South Revilla IRP) and to reopen the public scoping period. The original NOI was published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2018 (83 FR 39050). This revised NOI modifies the Proposed Action, including replacing timber volume projections with proposed harvest acres to evaluate harvest potential; adds a young-growth component; revises road requirements for access; and modifies the anticipated publication dates of the Draft and Final EIS. SUMMARY: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by July 31, 2019. The Draft EIS is expected to be published in September 2019 and the Final EIS is expected in September 2020. DATES: Send or hand-deliver specific written comments to the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, Attn: South Revilla IRP, 3031 Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901; telephone (907) 225–2148; fax (907) 225–8738. Comments may be emailed to: comments-alaska-tongass-ketchikanmistyfiord@fs.fed.us with South Revilla IRP in the subject line. In all correspondence, include your name, address, and organization name if you are commenting as a representative of an organization. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Damien Zona, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, 3031 Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 or by phone at (907) 228–4126. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. This EIS will tier to and incorporate by reference the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) Final EIS. The project area is located on Revillagigedo Island, approximately 17 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska, within the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, Tongass National Forest and encompasses about 56,282 acres of National Forest System lands. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY: Revised Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; reopening of public scoping period. ACTION: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the South Revilla IRP is to implement the 2016 Forest Plan direction to move the project area toward the desired future conditions described in that plan. More specifically, the purpose is to manage the timber resource for production of sawtimber and other wood products, improve ecosystem and watershed health, and provide a range of recreation opportunities to meet public and tourism business demand through an integrated approach to meet multiple resource objectives. Maintaining existing and expanding future opportunities for the recreation and tourism sector would contribute to the local economy. There is a need to provide a sustainable level of forest products to contribute to the economic sustainability of the region. Providing old-growth timber and currently merchantable young-growth timber would preserve a viable timber industry by providing timber volume in an economically efficient manner while providing jobs and opportunities for Southeast Alaska residents. Past management activities have affected watershed function in the project area. There is a need to improve and restore the natural range of habitat conditions in the project area to support viable wildlife, fish, and plant populations and to sustain diversity and production which would contribute to traditional, cultural, and subsistence uses by residents of Southeast Alaska. There is also a need to provide sustainable recreation opportunities to a diverse and growing group of forest users. A sustainable recreation program in terms of operations and maintenance is needed to maintain infrastructure at an acceptable level. Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to harvest timber, construct and reconstruct roads, restore watershed function, enhance or restore fish and wildlife habitat, and develop recreation opportunities in the Shelter Cove, Shoal Cove and Thorne Arm areas within the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District. The project area includes the following land use designations (LUDs): Wilderness, Semi-remote Recreation, Old-growth Habitat, Special Interest Area, Scenic River, Modified Landscape, and Timber Production (Forest Plan, Chapter 3). Maps and information on the 2018 Shelter Cove Recreation Area Master Plan are provided on the project web page at: E:\FR\FM\01JYN1.SGM 01JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2019 / Notices https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/ ?project=53477. Forest and Transportation Management The Forest Service proposes to harvest timber from up to 5,500 acres of old-growth forested land and about 1,000 acres of young-growth in the Modified Landscape and Timber Production LUDs using one or more timber sales that would be implemented over the course of 15 years. About 5,700 acres of even-aged management and about 800 acres of uneven-aged management are proposed. The Proposed Action would construct about 10 miles of new National Forest System road and recondition about 65 miles of existing roads. Temporary road construction would include about 45 miles of new temporary road, and about 8 miles of temporary road on an existing road prism. Existing rock quarries would be used as available or new quarries would be developed as necessary to provide materials for road construction. Existing log transfer facilities at Shelter Cove and Shoal Cove could be used. Watershed and Wildlife Habitat Management Watershed enhancement and restoration activities include instream and floodplain wood placement, riparian thinning, blasting of a partial fish barrier, invasive plant management and culvert replacement/removal. Wildlife treatments will be planned based on project design and identified needs. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Recreation Management Recreation opportunities will be developed using the 2018 Shelter Cove Recreation Area Master Plan and ongoing public input. The Proposed Action will be refined through internal and external involvement. The 2008 Access and Travel Management Plan and current Motor Vehicle Use Map would be reviewed and updated as needed. Proposed Forest Plan Amendments The 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.13(b)(2)) requires the Responsible Official to identify which substantive requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule are likely to be directly related to a proposed land management plan amendment (36 CFR 219.13(b)(5) and 36 CFR 219.8 through 219.11) in the initial notice for the amendment (36 CFR 219.16(a)(1)). At this time, the Responsible Official believes that changes to plan components are needed for modification of a small old-growth reserve (Forest Plan, Appendix K), and VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:58 Jun 28, 2019 Jkt 247001 modification of Scenic Integrity Objectives (Forest Plan, p. 4–54 to 4– 56). These plan amendments are needed to meet the purpose and need; specifically, by providing timber volume in an economically efficient manner while providing jobs and opportunities for Southeast Alaska residents. These amendments would apply to the commercial timber sales undertaken as part of this specific project only; therefore, the notification requirements and objection procedures of 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B, apply rather than the notification requirements of 36 CFR 219. Possible Alternatives Scoping comments will be used to develop a range of alternatives to the Proposed Action in response to significant issues that are identified. A No Action Alternative will be analyzed as the baseline for comparison of action alternatives. Lead and Cooperating Agencies The Forest Service is the lead agency for this project. Invited cooperating agencies include: Ketchikan Indian Community, Organized Village of Saxman, Metlakatla Indian Community, State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, State of Alaska Department of Forestry, and Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Responsible Official The Responsible Official for this project is M. Earl Stewart, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest. Nature of Decision To Be Made Given the purpose and need of the project, the Forest Supervisor will review alternatives, and consider the environmental consequences to make decisions including: (1) Whether to select the proposed action or another alternative; (2) the locations and design of restoration activities and habitat improvements; (3) road construction and reconstruction; (4) recreation development; (5) mitigation measures and monitoring; (6) whether there may be a significant restriction to subsistence resources; and (7) project-specific Forest Plan amendments. Preliminary Issues Preliminary concerns identified by the interdisciplinary team include: (1) Designing an economical timber sale(s) that meets market demand; (2) effects of Forest Plan scenery direction on the ability to design an economical timber sale; (3) effects of timber harvest and road construction on wildlife habitat and travel corridors; (4) effects of timber PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31289 harvest and road construction on watershed condition; and (5) the effects of herbicide use to other resources. Permits or Licenses Required All necessary permits will be obtained prior to project implementation. Scoping Process This revised NOI re-opens the scoping process. The Forest Service is soliciting internal and external input on the issues, impacts, and alternatives that will be addressed in the EIS. Comments previously submitted on the original NOI published on August 8, 2018 (83 FR 39050) will be considered and resubmission is not required. Scoping information has been updated and will be distributed to interested parties who have subscribed through an electronic mailing list to receive project information. Individuals and organizations wishing to subscribe may do so at: https://public.govdelivery.com/ accounts/USDAFS/subscriber/ new?preferences=true. Additionally, there will be in-person opportunities for involvement including open houses and subsistence hearings held in Ketchikan, Alaska. Project information, meeting announcements, notices, and documents will be provided on the project web page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/ ?project=53477. Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B (78 FR 18481–18504) regarding the projectlevel predecisional administrative review process applies to projects and activities implementing land management plans that are not authorized under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. The South Revilla IRP is an activity implementing the Forest Plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218. Only individuals or entities who submit timely and specific written comments concerning this project during this or other public comment periods established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to file an objection. 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 EIS. 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 for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered. Anonymous commenters E:\FR\FM\01JYN1.SGM 01JYN1 31290 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2019 / Notices will not gain standing to object as defined in 36 CFR 218.2. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meeting of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee Dated: March 14, 2019. Allen Rowley, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. ACTION: Editorial note: This document was received for publication by the Office of the Federal Register on June 25, 2019. [FR Doc. 2019–13915 Filed 6–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Kootenai National Forest; Montana; Forest-Wide Young Growth Project— Withdrawal of Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Forest Service, USDA. Withdrawal of notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: The Kootenai National Forest is withdrawing its Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Forest-wide Young Growth Project. The original NOI was published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2015 (80 FR 43056) and the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2017 (82 FR 40577). The Kootenai National Forest (KNF) decision to withdraw the Forestwide Young Growth DEIS is based on several factors including: Recent wildfires, post-fire salvage planning areas that already incorporate young growth stands, economic feasibility of treating young growth stands, and new authorities provided in the 2018 Farm Bill. Upon further evaluation, the Kootenai National Forest has decided to withdraw the EIS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this notice should be directed to Craig Kendall at craig.kendall@usda.gov or 406–758– 6485. 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. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Dated: June 6, 2019. Frank R. Beum, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2019–13999 Filed 6–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:58 Jun 28, 2019 Jkt 247001 Commission on Civil Rights. Announcement of meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that a meeting of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee to the Commission will convene by conference call at 11:30 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, July, 16, 2019. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss plans for the briefing meeting on the Committee’s project titled, Disparate Discipline of Students of Color, Students with Disabilities, and LGBTQ Students and to announce the members to the Planning Workgroup. DATES: Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. (EDT). Public call-in information: Conference call-in number: 800–949–2175 and conference call ID number: 8426059. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivy Davis at ero@usccr.gov or by phone at 202–376–7533. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested members of the public may listen to the discussion by calling the following tollfree conference call-in number: 800– 949–2175 and conference call ID number: 8426059. Please be advised that before placing them into the conference call, the conference call operator will ask callers to provide their names, their organizational affiliations (if any), and email addresses (so that callers may be notified of future meetings). Callers can expect to incur charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, and the Commission will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free conference call-in number. Persons with hearing impairments may also follow the discussion by first calling the Federal Relay Service at 1– 800–877–8339 and providing the operator with the toll-free conference call-in number: 800–949–2175 and conference call ID number: 8426059. Members of the public are invited to make statements during the Public Comment section of the meeting or to submit written comments. The statements must be received in the regional office approximately 30 days after the scheduled meeting. Written comments may be mailed to the Eastern Regional Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 1331 Pennsylvania SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Avenue, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20425, or emailed to Corrine Sanders at ero@usccr.gov. Persons who desire additional information may phone the Eastern Regional Office at (202) 376– 7533. Records and documents discussed during the meeting will be available for public viewing as they become available at: https://www.facadatabase.gov/ FACA/FACAPublicViewCommittee Details?id=a10t0000001gzjZAAQ; click the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’ links. Records generated from this meeting may also be inspected and reproduced at the Eastern Regional Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Persons interested in the work of this advisory committee are advised to go to the Commission’s website, www.usccr.gov, or to contact the Eastern Regional Office at the above phone number, email or street address. Agenda Tuesday, July 16, 2019 I. Rollcall II. Welcome III. Project Planning —Announce members of the Planning Workgroup —Discuss Plans for the Briefing Meeting on the Committee’s Civil Rights Project IV. Other Business V. Next Meeting VI. Public Comments VII. Adjourn Dated: June 25, 2019. David Mussatt, Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit. [FR Doc. 2019–13917 Filed 6–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6335–01–P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Notice of Public Meeting of the West Virginia Advisory Committee Commission on Civil Rights. Announcement of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that a meeting of the West Virginia Advisory Committee to the Commission will convene by conference call at 12 p.m. (EST) on Friday, July 12, 2019. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the status of the Committee’s draft report on its civil rights project that examined the collateral consequences of a felony record on West SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01JYN1.SGM 01JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31288-31290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13915]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tongass National Forest; Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District; 
Alaska; South Revillagigedo Integrated Resource Project Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement; reopening of public scoping period.

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

SUMMARY: The Forest Service is issuing this notice to update 
information included in the original Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the South Revillagigedo 
Integrated Resource Project (South Revilla IRP) and to reopen the 
public scoping period. The original NOI was published in the Federal 
Register on August 8, 2018 (83 FR 39050). This revised NOI modifies the 
Proposed Action, including replacing timber volume projections with 
proposed harvest acres to evaluate harvest potential; adds a young-
growth component; revises road requirements for access; and modifies 
the anticipated publication dates of the Draft and Final EIS.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 31, 2019. The Draft EIS is expected to be published in 
September 2019 and the Final EIS is expected in September 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send or hand-deliver specific written comments to the 
Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, Attn: South Revilla IRP, 3031 
Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901; telephone (907) 225-2148; fax 
(907) 225-8738. Comments may be emailed to: [email protected] with South Revilla IRP in the subject 
line. In all correspondence, include your name, address, and 
organization name if you are commenting as a representative of an 
organization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Damien Zona, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, 3031 Tongass Avenue, 
Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 or by phone at (907) 228-4126. Individuals who 
use telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS will tier to and incorporate by 
reference the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest 
Plan) Final EIS. The project area is located on Revillagigedo Island, 
approximately 17 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska, within the 
Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District, Tongass National Forest and 
encompasses about 56,282 acres of National Forest System lands.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the South Revilla IRP is to implement the 2016 
Forest Plan direction to move the project area toward the desired 
future conditions described in that plan. More specifically, the 
purpose is to manage the timber resource for production of sawtimber 
and other wood products, improve ecosystem and watershed health, and 
provide a range of recreation opportunities to meet public and tourism 
business demand through an integrated approach to meet multiple 
resource objectives. Maintaining existing and expanding future 
opportunities for the recreation and tourism sector would contribute to 
the local economy.
    There is a need to provide a sustainable level of forest products 
to contribute to the economic sustainability of the region. Providing 
old-growth timber and currently merchantable young-growth timber would 
preserve a viable timber industry by providing timber volume in an 
economically efficient manner while providing jobs and opportunities 
for Southeast Alaska residents. Past management activities have 
affected watershed function in the project area. There is a need to 
improve and restore the natural range of habitat conditions in the 
project area to support viable wildlife, fish, and plant populations 
and to sustain diversity and production which would contribute to 
traditional, cultural, and subsistence uses by residents of Southeast 
Alaska.
    There is also a need to provide sustainable recreation 
opportunities to a diverse and growing group of forest users. A 
sustainable recreation program in terms of operations and maintenance 
is needed to maintain infrastructure at an acceptable level.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to harvest timber, construct and 
reconstruct roads, restore watershed function, enhance or restore fish 
and wildlife habitat, and develop recreation opportunities in the 
Shelter Cove, Shoal Cove and Thorne Arm areas within the Ketchikan 
Misty Fjords Ranger District. The project area includes the following 
land use designations (LUDs): Wilderness, Semi-remote Recreation, Old-
growth Habitat, Special Interest Area, Scenic River, Modified 
Landscape, and Timber Production (Forest Plan, Chapter 3). Maps and 
information on the 2018 Shelter Cove Recreation Area Master Plan are 
provided on the project web page at:

[[Page 31289]]

https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53477.

Forest and Transportation Management

    The Forest Service proposes to harvest timber from up to 5,500 
acres of old-growth forested land and about 1,000 acres of young-growth 
in the Modified Landscape and Timber Production LUDs using one or more 
timber sales that would be implemented over the course of 15 years. 
About 5,700 acres of even-aged management and about 800 acres of 
uneven-aged management are proposed. The Proposed Action would 
construct about 10 miles of new National Forest System road and 
recondition about 65 miles of existing roads. Temporary road 
construction would include about 45 miles of new temporary road, and 
about 8 miles of temporary road on an existing road prism. Existing 
rock quarries would be used as available or new quarries would be 
developed as necessary to provide materials for road construction. 
Existing log transfer facilities at Shelter Cove and Shoal Cove could 
be used.

Watershed and Wildlife Habitat Management

    Watershed enhancement and restoration activities include instream 
and floodplain wood placement, riparian thinning, blasting of a partial 
fish barrier, invasive plant management and culvert replacement/
removal. Wildlife treatments will be planned based on project design 
and identified needs.

Recreation Management

    Recreation opportunities will be developed using the 2018 Shelter 
Cove Recreation Area Master Plan and ongoing public input. The Proposed 
Action will be refined through internal and external involvement. The 
2008 Access and Travel Management Plan and current Motor Vehicle Use 
Map would be reviewed and updated as needed.

Proposed Forest Plan Amendments

    The 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.13(b)(2)) requires the 
Responsible Official to identify which substantive requirements of the 
2012 Planning Rule are likely to be directly related to a proposed land 
management plan amendment (36 CFR 219.13(b)(5) and 36 CFR 219.8 through 
219.11) in the initial notice for the amendment (36 CFR 219.16(a)(1)). 
At this time, the Responsible Official believes that changes to plan 
components are needed for modification of a small old-growth reserve 
(Forest Plan, Appendix K), and modification of Scenic Integrity 
Objectives (Forest Plan, p. 4-54 to 4-56). These plan amendments are 
needed to meet the purpose and need; specifically, by providing timber 
volume in an economically efficient manner while providing jobs and 
opportunities for Southeast Alaska residents. These amendments would 
apply to the commercial timber sales undertaken as part of this 
specific project only; therefore, the notification requirements and 
objection procedures of 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B, apply rather than 
the notification requirements of 36 CFR 219.

Possible Alternatives

    Scoping comments will be used to develop a range of alternatives to 
the Proposed Action in response to significant issues that are 
identified. A No Action Alternative will be analyzed as the baseline 
for comparison of action alternatives.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service is the lead agency for this project. Invited 
cooperating agencies include: Ketchikan Indian Community, Organized 
Village of Saxman, Metlakatla Indian Community, State of Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game, State of Alaska Department of Forestry, 
and Ketchikan Gateway Borough.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for this project is M. Earl Stewart, 
Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need of the project, the Forest Supervisor 
will review alternatives, and consider the environmental consequences 
to make decisions including: (1) Whether to select the proposed action 
or another alternative; (2) the locations and design of restoration 
activities and habitat improvements; (3) road construction and 
reconstruction; (4) recreation development; (5) mitigation measures and 
monitoring; (6) whether there may be a significant restriction to 
subsistence resources; and (7) project-specific Forest Plan amendments.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary concerns identified by the interdisciplinary team 
include: (1) Designing an economical timber sale(s) that meets market 
demand; (2) effects of Forest Plan scenery direction on the ability to 
design an economical timber sale; (3) effects of timber harvest and 
road construction on wildlife habitat and travel corridors; (4) effects 
of timber harvest and road construction on watershed condition; and (5) 
the effects of herbicide use to other resources.

Permits or Licenses Required

    All necessary permits will be obtained prior to project 
implementation.

Scoping Process

    This revised NOI re-opens the scoping process. The Forest Service 
is soliciting internal and external input on the issues, impacts, and 
alternatives that will be addressed in the EIS. Comments previously 
submitted on the original NOI published on August 8, 2018 (83 FR 39050) 
will be considered and resubmission is not required. Scoping 
information has been updated and will be distributed to interested 
parties who have subscribed through an electronic mailing list to 
receive project information. Individuals and organizations wishing to 
subscribe may do so at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFS/subscriber/new?preferences=true.
    Additionally, there will be in-person opportunities for involvement 
including open houses and subsistence hearings held in Ketchikan, 
Alaska. Project information, meeting announcements, notices, and 
documents will be provided on the project web page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53477.
    Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B (78 
FR 18481-18504) regarding the project-level predecisional 
administrative review process applies to projects and activities 
implementing land management plans that are not authorized under the 
Healthy Forest Restoration Act. The South Revilla IRP is an activity 
implementing the Forest Plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218.
    Only individuals or entities who submit timely and specific written 
comments concerning this project during this or other public comment 
periods established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to 
file an objection. 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 EIS. 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 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered. Anonymous commenters

[[Page 31290]]

will not gain standing to object as defined in 36 CFR 218.2.

    Dated: March 14, 2019.
Allen Rowley,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.

    Editorial note: This document was received for publication by 
the Office of the Federal Register on June 25, 2019.

[FR Doc. 2019-13915 Filed 6-28-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P


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