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United States
Landings
Helicopter
Department of
Agriculture
Forest Service Wilderness
in
Tongass
National
Forest
Draft Environmental Impact
R10-MB-318b
April 1996 Statement
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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
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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
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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.
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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
