[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 16601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7888]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Environmental Impact Statement Helicopter Landings in Wilderness, 
Tongass National Forest, Alaska

AGENCY: Forst Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The original notice of intent to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for helicopter landings in Wilderness, Tongass 
National Forest, Alaska was published in the August 31, 1994 Federal 
Register (pages 44964-44965).
    The purpose of this revised notice is to clarify the scope of 
activities to be analyzed in the helicopter landings in wilderness EIS. 
The EIS will include all helicopter access for recreational purposes 
including tours, sightseeing, guiding and other commercial recreation 
purposes. The environmental consequences of helicopter landing for 
general public access will be addressed. If helicopter landings are 
approved within Tongass wildernesses, allocation of those landings 
between commercial visitor service providers and other members of the 
public would be made in a separate process.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Written comments concerning the revised proposed action 
to approve helicopter landing areas in Tongass National Forest 
wilderness should be received on or before May 1, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Bill Tremblay, Team Leader USDA 
Forest Service, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, AK 99833.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the environmental impact statement should be 
directed to Bill Tremblay, Team Leader, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 
309, Petersburg, AK 99833, phone: (907) 772-3841.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the project is to provide for 
use of helicopters for general public access where this use was 
established prior to designation of Wilderness while managing Tongass 
National Forest wilderness to provide high quality Wilderness 
opportunities. In this context, general public access is for activities 
such as hiking, camping, photography, fishing, skiing, sightseeing, 
guiding, and other Wilderness-oriented forms of recreation.
    The Regional Forester, Phil Janik, will decide whether to allow 
helicopter landings for access in areas that were used prior to 
Wilderness designation. If helicopter landings are approved, the 
Regional Forester will decide which areas will be designated and what 
restrictions, if any, will be established.
    Issuance of the final environmental impact statement is projected 
in the spring of 1996. The Responsible official for the decision is 
Phil Janik, Regional Forester, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21628, Juneau 
Alaska, 99802-1628.

    Dated: March 22, 1995.
Phil Janik,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 95-7888 Filed 3-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M