Scratchings record of decision

2007·22.9 MB·English

by  Cole, Forrest

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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aSD1
R23
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United States
Departmentof Scratchings Record
Agriculture
Forest Service of Decision
Tongass National
Forest
R10-MB-606b
March 2007
Suemez Island

United Stales Forest AlaskaEegitaft §4S Slissisn Street
USDA Department of Service TamgassNational Forest Ketchikan,AK WWl
Agriettl.rure Phone: <907)225-3101
Fas: (907) 22S-6215
File Code: 1950
Date: March 12, 2007
Dear Reader:
Here is your copy ofthe FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement (final IIS) and the Record of
Decision (ROD) forthe Scmiehmgs Timber Sale project on the Craig Ranger District, Tongass
National Forest.
The Final E1S describes five alternatives, including a No-action Alternative, which provide
different combinationsofresource outputs and spatial locations ofharvest units. The action
M
alternatives would make between and36 million board feet (MMBF) oftimber available for
harvest within the project area. The significant issues addressed by the alternatives and the Final
EIS include: I) timberharvest economics; 2) cumulative impacts in the Port Dolores Watershed;
and 3) roadless and unloaded areas. The Final EIS discloses the environmental effects that are
expected from the Proposed Actios and each ofthe other alternatives, including the No-action
Alternative,
The ROD explains my decision to select a modified version ofAlternative 3, and the factors I
considered in reachingthis decision. This decision also includes a non-significant amendment to
the 1997 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) to adjust the Old-growth
Reserves in VCUs 6330, 6340, 6350, and 6370. The effective date ofimplementationand the
Notice ofRights ofAppeal are also specified in the ROD,
Copies ofthis Final EIS and the Record ofDecision have been sent to everyone who commented
on the Draft EIS or who requested the Final EIS Copies are also available for review at public
,
libraries and Forest Service offices throughout the Tongass, For more information, contact the
Craig Ranger District at [phone]
-
I want to thank those ofyou who took the time to review and comment on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement. Your interest in the management ofthe Tongass National
Forest is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Caringfor the Land and Serving People

Record
of
Decision
Scratchings
USDA
Forest Service
Craig Ranger District
Tongass National Forest
Alaska Region
Introduction
The Scratchings Timber Sale project area is Suemez Island, which is located
west ofPrince ofWales Island and 12 miles southwest ofCraig, Alaska in
southeast Alaska on the Tongass National Forest. Suemez Island is comprised
of37,127 acres, 35,960 acres ofwhich are National Forest System lands. The
remaining 1,167-acre parcel, in the northwest comer ofthe island is owned by
the University ofAlaska. Suemez Island is only accessible by water or air.
Decision
This Record ofDecision (ROD) documents my decision to select a modified
version ofAlternative 3 from the Scratchings Final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) (Figure R-l). The modification includes the deferral ofthe
seven units that lie partially or entirely within Inventoried Roadless Area 502,
which are deferred at this time. Construction ofNational Forest System (NFS)
Road 1086500, which would be used to access these units, will also be
deferred. Depending on the decision on the Forest Plan Amendment, there may
be a subsequent decision to harvest these units.
My
decision encompasses the following:
• The location, amount, and method oftimber harvest, road
construction, log transfer facilities, and silvicultural practices (see
Appendix
2);
Scratchings Record of Decision ROD R-1
Record of Decision
• Road management objectives (see Appendix 3 and Figure R-3);
• Any necessary project-specific design criteria, mitigation measures,
and monitoring requirements;
• A finding on significant restrictions on subsistence uses; and
• Approval ofa non-significant amendment to the Forest Plan
adopting changes in small Old-growth Flabitat Reserves (see
Appendix and Figures R-l and R-2).
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This decision is based on the environmental analysis in the Final EIS including
agency, tribal, and public comments received during the comment period on the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This decision meets the Purpose and
Need for the project; is consistent with the Tongass National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan; and is responsive to issues raised during scoping,
information gathered during the environmental analysis, and public and agency
comments on the Draft EIS.
Description of Alternative 3 in the Final EIS is modified in this Record ofDecision to respond
Selected Alternative to public comments on the Draft EIS and is hereafter referred to as the Selected
Alternative. The Selected Alternative modified Alternative 3 by deferring
Units 634-067, 634-068, 634-069, 634-070, 634-073, 634-098, and 634-111.
These units are located entirely or partially within Suemez Inventoried
Roadless Area 502 (see Figure R-l). NFS Road 1086500, which accesses these
units, is also deferred.
The Selected Alternative will harvest timber from approximately 866 acres
(Table R-l) within 28 units. This harvest will provide an estimated 21 million
board feet oftimber harvest volume. Design features and mitigation measures
for the harvest units are described in detail on the unit cards in Appendix 2 of
this Record ofDecision.
The Selected Alternative builds about 6 miles ofNFS Road and 4 miles of
temporary roads. The Selected Alternative will place in storage or
decommissioned all newly constructed roads and about 1 1 miles ofexisting
National Forest System (NFS) road upon completion oftimber harvest
activities. Approximately 10 miles ofexisting NFS road will remain open.
Design features and mitigation measures are described in Appendix 2 (Unit
Cards) and Appendix 3 (Road Cards) ofthis Record ofDecision, and in
Chapter 2 ofthe Final EIS.
The Selected Alternative modifies four small Old-growth Reserves (OGRs) in
Value Comparison Units (VCUs) 6330, 6340, 6350, and 6370, through a non-
significant amendment to the Forest Plan (Appendix ofthis Record of
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Decision). For three ofthe small OGRs, I have decided to implement the
interagency small OGR design for VCUs 6330, 6350, and 6370. For the OGR
in VCU 6340. selected the minimum OGR design for implementation. The
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OGR in VCU 6340 meets the acreage requirements specified in Appendix K of
the Forest Plan.
R-2 BROD Scratchings Record of Decision
N
*<Z/ w
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Scratchings
Record of Decision
Selected Alternative
1 Project Boundary
ROD Units
ROD New NFS Roads
ROD Old Growth
* A A Habitat LUD (OGR)
Inventoried Roadless Area 502
University of Alaska Lands
Saltwater
Lakes
Existing NFS A Private Roads
Stream Classes I & II
Ports anta Ct Log Transfer Facility
0.5 0.25 0.5
>d
Miles
Note: This map is compiled from various
digital geographic data and may not meet
National Map Accuracy Standards.
Figure R-l