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Historic, Archive Document Do assume not content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. a,^x>i) Rli United States Landings Helicopter Department of Agriculture Forest Service Wilderness in Tongass National Forest Draft Environmental Impact R10-MB-318b April 1996 Statement ' - " .i i- - > United States Forest Alaska Region P.O. Box 21628 Department Service Juneau, AK 99802-1628 of Agriculture (907-586-8863) File Code: 1950 Date: NAY 8 3 Dear Reviewer: This is a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Helicopter Landings in Wilderness Project, Tongass National Forest, Alaska This Draft EIS describes a no action alternative, as well as seven action alternatives designating landing sites for helicopters within Wilderness in the Tongass National Forest for general public access. Access would be only to areas where such use had been established prior to the designation of these areas as Wilderness. Allowance of certain motorized use is consistent with the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and with the procedures in section 4(d)(1) of the 1964 Wilderness Act. Given Congressional recognition in ANILCAthat certain motorized accesstoWilderness is permitted, it is appropriate to use the discretion granted to authorize helicopter access in Alaska Wildernesses administered by the USDA Forest Service. have identified Alternative 3B as the Preferred Alternative. This alternative recognizes the unique access I challenges of Alaska Wilderness, protects Alaska Wilderness values, and is consistent with the other forms of motorized access to Alaska Wilderness as provided by ANILCA. This alternative also maintains access frequencies to specific sites at levels which occurred priorto Wilderness designation, and responds to public comment received by the Forest Service on this issue. This alternative, as well as the others, will be examined before preparation of a Final EIS, taking into consideration public comments as well as additional information and analysis. To be most useful, comments on this Preferred Alternative and the other alternatives in this document should focus on particular aspects that you either like or dislike. The alternative finally select may be the same as the Preferred Alternative, a I modified version of the Preferred Alternative, or an entirely different alternative within the range of those displayed in the Draft EIS. The comment period on the Draft EIS will be at least 60 days from the date on which notice of availability of the Draft EIS is published in the Federal Register, anticipated to be May 10. The deadline for comments is anticipated to be July 12. Federal court decisions have established that reviewers of Draft EISs must structure their participation so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to their position and contentions. Environmental objections that could have been raised at the Draft stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of the Final EIS. This is so substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when we can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the Final EIS. As Regional Forester of the Alaska Region, am the official responsible for the final decision. I Please send written comments to Bill Tremblay, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, AK 99833, or call (907) 772-3841 for additional information or if you would like additional copies of the Draft EIS. The Final EIS is expected to be completed in October 1996. Helicopter Landings Wilderness in Draft Environmental Impact Statement U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Alaska Region Tongass National Forest, Chatham, Stikine and Ketchikan Areas Lead Agency: Responsible Official: U.S.D.A. Forest Service Phil Janik, Regional Forester Alaska Region Alaska Region - Region 10 AK Tongass National Forest 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, 99801 Chatham Area Stikine Area Ketchikan Area For Further Information. Contact: Bill Tremblay, Team Leader Marti Marshall Grady McMahan Tongass National Forest Tongass National Forest Tongass National Forest Stikine Area Chatham Area Ketchikan Area P. O. Box 309 204 Siginaka Way Federal Building AK AK AK Petersburg, 99833 Sitka, 99835 Ketchikan, 99901 Abstract: This draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) describes seven alternatives that would allow forthe use ofhelicopters within Wilderness on the Tongass National Forest for the purpose ofgeneral public access to areas where use had been established priorto the designation ofthese areas as Wilderness. Another alternative, the no action alternative, is also described in detail. Allowance ofthis use is consistent with the 1980 AlaskaNational Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and with the provisions available to the agency found in section 4 (d) (1) ofthe 1964 Wilderness Act. There are 19 Wildernesses designated within the Tongass National Forest, ofwhich 12 may be affected by the decisions in this document. A total of 135 access areas, ranging from a few acres to over 12,000 acres, are evaluated in this analysis. Reviewers should provide the Forest Service with their comments during the review period of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This will enable the Forest Service to analyze and respond to the comments at one time and to use information acquired in the preparation ofthe Final Impact Statement, thus avoiding undue delay in the decision-making process. Reviewers have an obligation to structure their participation in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the reviewer's position and contentions. Comments on the DEIS should be specific and should address the adequacy ofthe statement and the merits ofthe alternatives discussed CFR (40 1503.3). Summary