[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25805-25807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9758]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Whistle Stop Project on the Chugach National Forest, Kenai 
Peninsula Borough, AK

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on a proposed action to develop a series of remote 
interconnected backcountry train on-off load platforms along 
approximately 25 miles of existing Alaska Railroad track. The proposed 
action calls for six backcountry train on-off load platforms, 
construction of approximately 44 miles of new backcountry dispersed 
trail, and development of approximately six backcountry public use 
cabins and 34 dispersed, hardened backcountry sites for remote camping. 
The majority of all components of this project would occur on Chugach 
National Forest land in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by June 15, 2005.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review during 
the winter of 2005/2006. At that time, EPA will publish a Notice of 
Availability of the Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment 
period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes 
the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The Final EIS is 
scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2006.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to the Chugach 
National Forest, ATTN: Whistle Stop Project, P.O. Box 129, Girdwood, AK 
99587. E-mail comments may be sent to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam McClory, Glacier Ranger District, 
Chugach National Forest, (907) 754-2352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is 
included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or 
potentially affected by the proposed action.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service seeks to meet the growing demand for dispersed 
recreation opportunities and growing

[[Page 25806]]

demands of recreation-based tourism by developing remote, backcountry 
trails and minimal support facilities adjacent to the existing rail way 
infrastructure, along with a series of interconnected recreation sites 
that will provide the public with a unique recreation and travel 
experience not found anywhere else in the United States. Utilizing the 
existing infrastructure and transportation service capability of the 
Alaska Railroad, the Forest Service proposes to create a wide variety 
of world-class recreation and transportation opportunities for users of 
the Chugach National Forest. Access would be gained by existing 
railroad to spectacular ice-capped mountains, glacial lakes, wild 
rivers and dispersed backcountry campsites, huts and trails, with 
transportation provided through Alaska Railroad passenger rail cars.
    Completion of this project will both better disperse concentration 
of visitor use and strengthen the ability for Chugach National Forest 
visitors to get out and experience National Forest lands instead of 
experiencing them through the ``glass window'' that currently exists 
for the majority of Alaska Railroad passengers traveling through this 
scenic corridor. The purpose and need for this project is to:
     Provide additional backcountry access and better disperse 
recreation opportunities available to Chugach National Forest visitors 
while maintaining an Alaskan backcountry experience and maintaining the 
area's natural quality. With a large land base in the eastern Kenai 
Peninsula and few existing backcountry recreation facilities, the 
proposed mix of trails, overnight facilities, viewing platforms and 
information and education sites will meet the needs of Chugach National 
Forest visitors for years to come. Use would be better spread 
throughout the Kenai Peninsula thereby providing users with a more 
remote, Alaskan backcountry experience. The additional backcountry 
access that is required due to growing demand will be provided 
utilizing the existing Alaska Railroad infrastructure and will not 
necessitate development of new roads.
     Provide opportunities for visitor information and 
education regarding various forest resources including wildlife and 
fisheries. The Chugach National Forest Revised Land and Resource 
Management Plan emphasizes the need to provide Forest visitors with 
information and education regarding Forest resources. From the glacial 
movement evident at Spencer Lake, to the dynamic hydrological activity, 
to the historical remnants scattered along the Alaska Railroad, the 
Forest Service can provide a diverse view of the natural and human 
history of the area. Additionally, both Alaska residents and visitors 
alike are drawn to the annual spawning of various fish species and the 
incredible diversity of wildlife found in Alaska including brown and 
black bears, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and mountain goats. Located at 
each remote Whistle Stop station and throughout the inter-connected 
trail system, minimally developed backcountry kiosks will interpret the 
important aspects of each geographical area.
     Provide a unique transportation and recreation experience 
found nowhere else in the United States, while encouraging 
transportation dispersal and public safety. Alaska is famous for and 
attracts a tremendous number of tourists because of its immense 
glaciers and ice-capped mountains. The Railroad is unquestionably the 
best land-based transportation route to view and access glaciers. 
Furthermore, development of this transportation route would diminish 
somewhat the congestion on the Seward Highway, thereby providing safety 
on the road while creating significant opportunities to disperse 
recreation opportunities away from heavy used areas of concentration 
along the Seward highway.
    Implementation of the Whistle Stop project will help meet the 
purpose and need outlined above and follow direction outlined in the 
Chugach National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan 
(CRLRMP). Forestwide direction outlined in the CRLRMP identifies 
Recreational Opportunities, Access and Facilities as a major area of 
emphasis to be accomplished through Forest Plan implementation (CRLRMP, 
3-1, 3-7-3-9). Three goals identified in this section of the CRLRMP 
will be met with implementation of the Whistle Stop project including: 
Maintaining quality settings for nonmotorized recreation opportunities; 
provide[ing] recreation opportunities for interpretation and education 
as related to all Forest resources; and expand[ing] recreational 
capacity by developing new recreational facilities and trails in 
response to user demands and where appropriate to management area 
objectives (CRLRMP, 3-8, 3-9). Forest Plan direction for the Kenai 
Peninsula Geographic Area, where the Whistle Stop project is located, 
dictates that ``during the summer season nonmotorized use will 
predominate across the area. These opportunities will include hiking, 
camping, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and mountaineering with 
opportunities for canoeing, rafting and other forms of boating on lakes 
and rivers * * * Campgrounds or similar developments (i.e., ``Whistle 
Stop'') along the Alaska Railroad between Moose Pass and Portage may 
also be available (CRLRMP, 3-15).''

Proposed Action

Recreation Facilities

    The project proposal calls for a variety of dispersed recreation 
facility developments that are summarized below:
    [ssbox] Whistle Stop stations. Six backcountry Whistle Stop 
stations are proposed for development along approximately 25 miles of 
Alaska Railroad track between Luebner Lake and Trail Creek. The six 
proposed stops, from north to south include: Luebner Lake, Spencer 
Lake, Bartlett Glacier, Grandview, Hunter and Trail Creek.
    [ssbox] Trail system.
     A system consisting of approximately 44 miles of new 
trails are proposed for the project area. The backbone of this trail 
system is the proposed Placer Valley Trail which will connect the 
Whistle Stops of Luebner Lake, Spencer Lake, Bartlett Glacier and 
Grandview. Spurs trails off of the Placer Valley Trail will be located 
in the Spencer Lake, Bartlett Glacier and Grandview areas.
     The majority of the trail system would be designed and 
actively managed for hiker/pedestrian and bicycle use.
     Easements will be established where necessary to survey, 
construct and manage certain trail segments that cross other 
landowners. At this time, proposed trail segments totaling 
approximately 3 miles cross land owned by the State of Alaska 
Department of Natural Resources.
     Overnight sites.
     Six public-use cabins are proposed for development along 
various sections of the trail system.
     Thirty-four dispersed, hardened overnight sites are 
proposed for development throughout the trail system.
     One group campsite, capable of accommodating at least 150 
people is proposed for development in the Spencer Lake area where such 
uses already occur.
     Wildlife and Scenic viewing platforms.
     Two wildlife viewing platforms, including interpretive 
kiosks and viewfinders, would be located along the boardwalk trail at 
the Luebner Lake Whistle Stop.
     A wildlife and scenic viewing platform, including 
interpretive kiosks and viewfinders, would be located along

[[Page 25807]]

the boardwalk trail at the Grandview Whistle Stop.
     Rafting take-out locations. The rafting take-out locations 
at Luebner Lake and Trail Creek will include a platform that will allow 
for safe transfer of gear from the platform to the rail car. 
Additionally, at both sites a temporary storage facility (approximately 
250 square feet) for rafting gear will be located at these locations 
from May-September.

Train Schedule

    Currently the Alaska Railroad conducts daily business, carrying 
both freight and passengers, throughout the project area multiple times 
per day. In terms of passenger business, up to three trains per day 
visit the project area: The Coastal Classic and Glacier Discovery both 
operate daily from mid-May to mid-September and a train chartered by 
Cruise Ship companies periodically traverses the project area.

Preliminary Issues

    Listed below are possible issues that may be related to this 
project, but are not limited to:
     Impacts to wildlife, including brown bears, mountain goats 
and Dall sheep.
     Impacts to heritage resources throughout the project area.
     Visual impacts due to placement of developed facilities in 
the backcountry.
     Conflicts between different types of recreation throughout 
the project area.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor, Chugach National Forest, is the Responsible 
Official. The address is Chugach National Forest Supervisor's Office, 
3301 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99503.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor, as Responsible Official, may decide to: (1) 
Select the proposed action, (2) select one of the alternatives, (3) 
select one of the alternatives after modifying the alternative with 
additional mitigating measures or combinations of activities from other 
alternatives, or (4) select the no action alternative and take no 
action at this time.

Comment Requested

    The Forest Service would like to know of any issues, concerns, and 
suggestions you may have about this proposal. Comments should be as 
fully formed as possible to assist us in the analysis. If you have any 
questions, or if something is unclear, contact Adam McClory at (907) 
754-2352 before submitting your comments. Although comments are welcome 
at any time, they will be most effective if received by June 15, 2005. 
Send comments to: Chugach National Forest, ATTN: Whistle Stop Project, 
P.O. Box 129, Girdwood, AK 99587.
    Alternately, e-mail your comments to: [email protected].

Public Meetings

    Below are the public meeting dates and locations for our scoping 
meetings:

               Chugach National Forest Open House Meetings
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       Date                Town              Place             Time
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May 23, 2005......  Anchorage........  UAA Commons Rm.    5-8 p.m.
                                        106.
May 23, 2005......  Seward...........  Edgewater Hotel    5-8 p.m.
                                        (5th and
                                        Railroad Ave.).
May 24, 2005......  Girdwood.........  Community Hall...  7-9 p.m.
May 24, 2005......  Moose Pass.......  Moose Pass School  6-8 p.m.
May 25, 2005......  Cooper Landing...  Community Hall...  5-8 p.m.
June 1, 2005......  Soldotna.........  Soldotna Sports    5-8 p.m.
                                        Center.
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    Authorization: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended 
(42 U.S.C. 4321-4346); Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508); U.S. Department of Agriculture NEPA Policies and 
Procedures (7 CFR part 1b).
    Reviewer's Obligation: 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 the 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 stage but that are 
not raised until after 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. Wisc. 1980). Because of 
these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this 
proposed action participate by the close of the comment period so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at the 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. Reviewer 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.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21).

    Dated: May 10, 2005.
Joe L. Meade,
Forest Supervisor, Chugach National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-9758 Filed 5-13-05; 8:45 am]
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