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Shoreline Outfitter/Guide Environmental Impact Statement
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: April 5, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 66)]
[Notices]
[Page 18072-18073]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ap01-18]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Shoreline Outfitter/Guide Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision of the notice of intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement for the saltwater shoreline-based outfitter-guide
capacity previously published in Federal Register (65 FR 2575-2576,
Jan. 18, 2000). This revision is in response to public comment and
includes changes in the title, proposed action, and project schedule.
The project area has been expanded to include the Tracy Arm-Fords
Terror Wilderness.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to authorize commercial outfitter/
guide activities within the Admiralty Island National Monument and
Juneau, Hoonah and Sitka Ranger Districts of the Tongass National
Forest including the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. The analysis
will consider shoreline-based commercial recreation use. The decision
to prepare an EIS is a result of initial public involvement that began
with public scoping in October 1998. The Record of Decision will
disclose how the Forest Service has decided to allocate shoreline-based
recreation capacity for commercial and noncommercial recreation uses.
The recreation capacity of the study area has been determined in a
previous analysis of available shoreline recreational capacity based on
the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, Tongass Forest Plan standards and
guidelines dealing with social encounters, and physical conditions such
as anchorages, shoreline facilities, and resource concerns. Proposed
commercial allocations are based on a percentage of the total
recreation carrying capacity of individual Use Areas, or subunits
within the Use Areas. Under the Proposed Action, allocation to
commercial guided use would range from 10 to 40 percent of the total
recreation carrying capacity within each Use Area and would depend on
considerations such as season, distance from communities, subsistence
use and potential impacts to resources. Areas would be identified for
large group use. The Proposed Action no longer allocates commercial
recreation capacity specifically to brown bear hunting guides; they are
included in the general commercial allocation. The Proposed Action
provides for limited commercial allocations in the spring and fall
season to provide more opportunities for a primitive recreation
experience. A No Action alternative and other alternatives which
respond to significant issues will be developed, analyzed and compared
in the Draft EIS (DEIS).
DATES: To be most useful in this analysis scoping comments should be
received by May 1, 2001; however scoping comments will be accepted at
any time. Comments received in response to the original Notice of
Intent are included in this analysis.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to: Sitka Supervisor's Office,
Tongass National Forest, 204 Siginaka Way, Sitka, AK 99835 Attention:
Shoreline Outfitter/Guide EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Dalrymple, Planning Team Leader,
or Mary Beth Nelson, Recreation Specialist, at the Sitka Supervisor's
Office, Tongass National Forest, 204 Siginaka Way, Sitka, AK 99835
telephone (907) 747-6671.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service will continue to seek
information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State and local
agencies, tribal organizations, individuals, and organizations that may
be interested in, or affected by the proposed activities. Comments
received as a result of both the earlier public involvement and the
current scoping will be included in this analysis. All comments will be
analyzed to identify issues to be considered in the EIS. Tentative
issues for analysis in the EIS identified from previous scoping include
potential effects of the allocation to economic opportunities,
conflicts between commercial operations, and effects on noncommercial
resident users. Impacts to wildlife habitat and other forest resources,
and the effect on subsistence uses will be included in the analysis.
Based on the results of scoping and the resource capabilities within
the study area, alternatives including a no-action alternative will be
developed, analyzed, and compared. The DEIS is projected to be filed
with the EPA in May 2001. The comment period on the DEIS will be 45
days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the
notice of availability in the Federal Register. Comments on the DEIS
will be considered and responded to in the Final EIS (FEIS),
anticipated by July 2001.
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
the DEIS 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 DEIS stage but that are not raised until after
completion of the FEIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803
[[Page 18073]]
F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v.
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this
proposed action participate by the close of the comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the FEIS. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and
considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the
DEIS should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments
refer to specific pages or chapters of the DEIS. Comments may also
address the adequacy of the DEIS 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 and May be Released
Under FOIA. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent decision (36 CFR parts 215 or 217).
Responsible Official
Fred Salinas, Assistant Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest,
204 Siginaka Way, Sitka, Alaska 99835-7316, is the responsible
official. In making the decision, the responsible official will
consider the comments, responses, disclosure of environmental
consequences, and applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The
responsible official will state the rationale for the chosen
alternative in the Record of Decision.
Dated: March 23, 2001.
Fred S. Salinas,
Assistant Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-8402 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M