[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 178 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56576-56577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20190]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tongass National Forest, Thorne Bay Ranger District; Alaska; Twin 
Mountain II Timber Sale

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Twin Mountain II Timber Sale, which proposes to 
offer timber for harvest in the Staney and Red Bay areas within the 
Thorne Bay Ranger District, Tongass National Forest. The Proposed 
Action would offer for harvest about 42 million board feet of timber 
from approximately 3,000 acres. In addition, transportation management 
activities such as road construction, reconstruction, maintenance and 
decommissioning are proposed.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by [October 14, 2020. The draft EIS is expected December 2020 and the 
final EIS is expected May 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Thorne Bay Ranger District, 
Attn: Twin Mountain II Timber Sale, P.O. Box 19001, Thorne Bay, Alaska, 
99919. Comments may also be sent electronically to https://cara.ecosystem management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=58626, or via 
facsimile to 907-828-3309. In all correspondence, include your name, 
address, and organization name if you are commenting as a 
representative of an organization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Maldonado, Planning Staff, Thorne 
Bay Ranger District, P.O. Box 19001, Thorne Bay, Alaska 99919 or by 
phone at 907-828-3250.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS will tier to and incorporate by 
reference the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest 
Plan) Amendment Final EIS. The project area is located on Prince of 
Wales Island, approximately 75 to 100 miles west of Ketchikan, Alaska, 
within the Staney and Red Bay areas of the Thorne Bay Ranger District, 
Tongass National.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Twin Mountain II Timber Sale is to implement the 
2016 Forest Plan direction to move the project area toward the desired 
future conditions described in the plan. More specifically, the purpose 
is to manage the timber resource for production of sawtimber and other 
wood products and to meet multiple resource objectives. There is a need 
to provide a sustainable level of forest products to contribute to the 
economic sustainability of the region. Providing old-growth timber 
would preserve a viable timber industry by providing timber volume in 
an economically efficient manner while providing jobs and opportunities 
for Southeast Alaska residents.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to make approximately 42 million board 
feet (MMBF) of old growth timber available to offer for harvest and 
construct and reconstruct roads in the Staney and Red Bay areas within 
the Thorne Bay Ranger District. Timber would be made available to offer 
for harvest up to 3,000 acres of old-growth forest in the Modified 
Landscape and Timber Production land use designation areas, using one 
or more timber sales that would be implemented over the course of 5 to 
10 years. The proposed action includes about 1,800 acres of even-aged 
management and about 1,200 acres of uneven-aged management, with 
estimated volume for even-aged management being 32.4 MMBF and 9.6 MMBF 
for uneven-aged management. The proposed action includes approximately 
3 miles of new National Forest System road construction, 11 miles of 
new temporary road construction, and the reconditioning of 
approximately 35 miles of existing roads. Existing rock quarries would 
be used as available or new quarries would be developed as necessary to 
provide materials for road construction. Existing log transfer 
facilities at El Capitan, Exchange Cove, Lab Bay, Naukati, and Winter 
Harbor could be used. Under the proposed action, no young growth timber 
is proposed to be made available for harvest and no activities would 
occur within designated roadless areas. No special timber cutting 
prescriptions around communities are included in the proposed action.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for this project is the Tongass Forest 
Supervisor, Earl Stewart.

[[Page 56577]]

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need of the project, the Forest Supervisor 
will review alternatives and consider the environmental consequences of 
those alternatives in making his decisions, including: (1) Whether to 
select the proposed action or another alternative; (2) the effects of 
road construction, reconstruction, and closure; (3) mitigation measures 
and monitoring; and (4) whether there may be a significant restriction 
to subsistence resources.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary concerns identified by the interdisciplinary team 
include: (1) Designing an economical timber sale(s) that contributes to 
meeting market demand; (2) effects of timber harvest and road 
construction on wildlife, including habitat, travel corridors, and 
subsistence use of deer; and (3) effects of timber harvest and road 
construction on watershed condition.

Permits or Licenses Required

    All necessary permits will be obtained prior to project 
implementation.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. The Forest Service is soliciting internal 
and external input on the issues, impacts, and alternatives that will 
be addressed in the EIS. Scoping packages will be distributed to 
interested parties who have subscribed through an electronic mailing 
list to receive project information. Individuals and organizations 
wishing to subscribe may do so at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFS/subscriber/new?preferences=true.
    Additionally, there will be opportunities for involvement including 
open houses and subsistence hearings held in Prince of Wales Island 
communities. Project information, meeting announcements, notices, and 
documents will be provided on the project web page at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=58626.
    Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B (78 
FR18481-18504) regarding the project-level, predecisional 
administrative review process applies to projects and activities 
implementing land management plans. The Twin Mountain II Timber Sale is 
an activity implementing the Forest Plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218.
    Only individuals or entities who submit timely and specific written 
comments concerning this project during this or other designated public 
comment periods established by the Responsible Official will be 
eligible to file an objection. It is important that reviewers provide 
their comments at such times and in such manner that they are useful to 
the agency's preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. While comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, they will not provide the submitters standing 
to participate in the predecisional review process.

Allen Rowley,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-20190 Filed 9-11-20; 8:45 am]
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