[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 58 (Friday, March 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15895-15896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7280]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helicopter Landing Tours on the Juneau Icefield EIS 2000, Tongass 
National Forest, 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. A previous Notice Of Intent (NOI), 
published on February 3, identified the analysis and decision period as 
extending from 2000 to 2004. This is the revised NOI for the same 
project. The Proposed Action has been modified by changing the analysis 
and decision period to 2001-2005.
    The proposed action is to issue special use permits (2001-2005) 
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 dog sled 
mushing 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

[[Page 15896]]

authorized level of 19,039 landings. The Forest Service continues to 
seek 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 31, 2000. A public meeting was held at the Juneau 
Ranger District on February 25 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. District 
staff were available at this open house to explain the project, accept 
comments, and answer questions. The Forrest Service is also 
participating with City and Borough of Juneau Tourism Advisory and 
Planning and Policy Committees who are addressing the noise impacts of 
flightseeing tours on the community, including the proposed helicopter 
tours, through a series of public and municipal meetings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the analysis 
should be sent to Laurie Thorpe, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Juneau 
Ranger District Office, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Thorpe, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Juneau Ranger District Office, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, 
Alaska 99801, (907) 586-8800, fax number (907) 586-8808. Email may be 
sent to lthorpe/[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.
    The District Ranger, Juneau Ranger District, is the official 
responsible for authorizing the special use permits that have been 
requested. The decision to be made is whether or not to issue special 
use permits for helicopter landing tours on the Icefield as requested, 
and if issued, the authorized locations, levels of use, and the types 
of activities. The District Ranger will also determine any 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.
    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 31, 2000.
    The draft environmental impact statement should be available for 
review by April 30, 2000. 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 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 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 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 
October, 2000. The Juneau District Ranger, 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: March 9, 2000.
Pete Griffin,
Juneau District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 00-7280 Filed 3-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M