[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5804-5805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1002]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Helicopter Use in Wilderness; 
Environmental Impact Statement

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) for Forest Inventory and Analysis 
(FIA) Helicopter Use in Wilderness. The Alaska Region and Pacific 
Northwest (PNW) Research Station are proposing to inventory 913 plots 
in wilderness areas over a 10-year span, with about

[[Page 5805]]

540 plots accessed by helicopter and 373 plots accessed by day hiking. 
Inventory protocol includes completing 10 percent of the plots each 
year. This means that approximately 91 plots will be inventoried each 
year. Of these 91 plots, about 54 plots will be accessed by helicopter. 
Each inventory plot accessed by helicopter will require two landings. 
In any given year, these 54 plots will spread out across 7.8 million 
acres in 19 wilderness areas on the Tongass National Forest and one 
wilderness study area on the Chugach National Forest.

DATES: To be most useful, comments should be received within 30 days of 
this notice. A draft EIS is planned to be available for comment in 
April 2006, with a final EIS anticipated by September 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to the USDA Forest Service, 
Alaska Regional Office, Ecosystem Planning Staff, ATTN: Forest 
Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Helicopters in Wilderness EIS, P.O. Box 
21628, Juneau, AK 99802-1628. Comments may also be sent via facsimile 
to (907) 586-7852 or via E-mail to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Post, IDT Leader, Alaska Regional 
Office, Ecosystem Planning Staff, (907) 586-8796.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The proposed project encompasses 19 wilderness areas on the Tongass 
National Forest and the Nellie Juan--College Fiord wilderness study 
area (WSA) on the Chugach National Forest. The Chugach National Forest 
Plan states that the WSA is to be managed to maintain and protect the 
existing (1984) wilderness character. A Minimum Requirement Decision 
Guide (MRDG) was completed in 2005. Based on the analysis in the MRDG, 
the Regional Forester determined that helicopters were the minimum tool 
needed to accomplish the inventory on some of the plots.

Public Participation

    Public participation has been an integral component of the study 
process and will continue to be especially important at several points 
during the analysis. The Forest Service has already begun a 
consultation process with Tribal Governments and will be seeking 
information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local 
agencies, individuals and organizations who may be interested in, or 
affected by, the proposed activities. Issues identified so far for 
analysis in the EIS include: The use and noise from helicopters 
accessing plots could compromise the area's wilderness character and 
visitor experience; the noise from helicopters accessing plots could 
impact wildlife; accessing all the sites on foot would expose the 
employees to potential injury while traveling in the steep, wet terrain 
with heavy packs.
    Based on results of scoping to date, six alternatives have been 
identified that range from no helicopter access to helicopter access 
for all the inventory plots. All comments received are being considered 
in the analysis including comments received prior to this notice. No 
formal meetings are planned at this time.
    The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date 
of 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). Environmental objections that could have been raised at 
the draft environmental impact statement stage may be waived or 
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2nd 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 of 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 environmental impact 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.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the 
public record on this proposed action and will be available for public 
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Part 215. 
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the 
agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Requesters should be aware that, under FOIA, confidentiality may be 
granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade 
secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's 
decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where the 
request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the 
requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and 
address within seven days.
    Responsible Official: Dennis E. Bschor, Regional Forester, Alaska 
Region, Juneau, Alaska, is the responsible official.

    Dated: January 27, 2006.
Beth Giron Pendleton,
Acting Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 06-1002 Filed 2-2-06; 8:45 am]
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