[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 203 (Friday, October 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26116]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 21, 1994]


                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 203

                                           Friday, October 21, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

 

Helicopter Landing Tours on the Juneau Icefields, Tongass 
National Forest, Chatham Area, Juneau Ranger District, Juneau, AK

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental 
impacts of authorizing helicopter landing tours on icefields adjacent 
to the city of Juneau, Alaska. The proposed action is to issue five 
year special use permits (1995-1999) authorizing Coastal Helicopter, 
Inc., ERA Helicopters, Inc. and Temsco Helicopter, Inc. to land on the 
Juneau icefields at specified locations and conduct tours. The majority 
of use would occur between May and September of each year. Tours would 
originate at private heliports and helicopter flightpaths would transit 
a variety of private and municipal lands prior to entering the National 
Forest. The proposed action would increase authorized helicopter 
landings tours on the Juneau icefields from 11,000 in 1994 to a maximum 
of 22,000 in 1999.
    The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from 
Federal, State and local agencies as well as individuals and 
organizations who may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed 
action.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by October 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments or requests for additional information 
to John Favro, Recreation Staff Officer, Juneau Ranger District, 8465 
Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska 99801, (907) 586-8800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose and need for the proposed action 
is to meet public demand for quality guided services which provide safe 
access to remote locations on the Juneau Icefield. Meeting this demand 
includes providing for visitor safety and an appropriate balance 
between commercial guided recreation opportunities and non-commercial, 
non-guided recreation opportunities without unacceptable impacts to 
other forest users and resources.
    Kenneth E. Mitchell, Juneau District Ranger, Tongass National 
Forest, Chatham Area, is the deciding official. The decision to be made 
is whether or not to issue special use permits for helicopter landing 
tours as requested, and if permits are issued, decide the levels to be 
authorized and the mitigation measures that will be required.
    The no action and proposed action alternatives will be considered 
in the EIS as well as other alternatives which address significant 
issues and satisfy the purpose and need for the action. Alternatives 
may consider limiting the number of landings, moving heliports, or 
defining flight paths.
    Preliminary issues that have been identified include helicopter 
noise disturbance to residential areas, wildlife, and ground-based 
recreation users; impacts to the local economy; and public demand for 
helicopter landing tours.
    In 1992, an environmental assessment analyzing the effects of these 
tours was completed. A Finding of No Significant Impact was made. That 
decision was reversed on appeal and remanded to the deciding official.
    Comments from the 1992 EA were used to identify issues for this 
EIS. Comments were also solicited between May 17 and June 27, 1994 
through a news release and letters to the public. Federal, state and 
local agencies, interested individuals and groups are invited to 
participate in this analysis. Comments will be accepted throughout the 
EIS process but, to be most useful, should be received by October 21, 
1994.
    Because most of the data collection and scoping was completed 
during preparation of the 1992 EA and subsequent re-evaluation of the 
original proposed action, the draft environmental impact statement 
should be available for review by November 5, 1994. The final 
environmental impact statement is scheduled to be completed by January 
15, 1995.
    The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will 
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
    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 
draft environmental impact statements 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 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after the completion of the final environmental impact statement 
may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 
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 45 day 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 final environmental impact statement. To assist 
the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns 
on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact 
statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if 
comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. 
Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental 
impact statement 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.
    The Final EIS and Record of Decision is expected to be released in 
January 1995. The Juneau District Ranger, Chatham Area. Tongass 
National Forest will, as the responsible official for the EIS, make a 
decision regarding this proposal considering the comments, responses, 
and environmental consequences discussed in the Final EIS, and 
applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and supporting 
reasons will be documented in the Record of Decision.

    Dated: September 29, 1994.
Kenneth E. Mitchell,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-26116 Filed 10-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M