[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8289-8290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4091]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8289]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helicopter Landing Tours on the Juneau Icefield EIS 2000, Tongass 
National Forest, Chatham Area, Juneau Ranger District, Juneau, Alaska

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 the icefield 
adjacent to Juneau, Alaska. The proposed action is to issue special use 
permits (2000-2004) authorizing helicopter tour companies to land on 
the Juneau Icefield at specified locations and conduct tours. In 
addition to the regular glacier tours, this EIS will also analyze the 
effects of dogsled tours, glacier trekking tours, and a combined fixed-
wing/helicopter tour that would land at the lake at Antler Glacier. The 
majority of use would occur between May and September of each year. 
Tours would originate at private heliports and helicopter flight paths 
would transit a variety of private and municipal lands prior to 
entering the National Forest.
    The proposed action would maintain the authorized helicopter 
landings on the Juneau Icefield at the 1999 level of 19,039 landings. 
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 March 9, 1999. A public meeting will be held at the 
Juneau Ranger District on February 25 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. 
District staff will be available at this open house to explain the 
project, accept your comments, and answer questions.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the analysis 
should be sent to Roger Birk, Environmental Coordinator, Juneau Ranger 
District Office, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Birk, Environmental Coordinator, 
Juneau Ranger District Office, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska 
99801, (907) 586-8800, fax number (907) 586-8808. Email may be sent to 
rbirk/[email protected].

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.
    Peter Griffin, 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, if any, 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.
    Preliminary issues that have been identified include helicopter 
noise disturbance to residential areas, wildlife, and ground-based 
recreation users.
    In 1992 an environmental assessment and in 1995 an environmental 
impact statement were prepared to analyze the effects of these tours. 
Comments from the EA and EIS were used to identify issues for this EIS. 
Comments will be accepted throughout the EIS process but, to be most 
useful, should be received by March 9, 1999.
    The draft environmental impact statement should be available for 
review by August 1, 1999. The comment period of 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, 
#533 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage 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. 1335, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate at 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 meaningful 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 
November, 1999. 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

[[Page 8290]]

supporting reasons will be documented in the Record of Decision.

    Dated: February 3, 1999.
John H. Favro,
Acting District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 99-4091 Filed 2-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M