81 FR 86320 - Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis Project Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 230 (November 30, 2016)

Page Range		86320-86321
FR Document		2016-28760

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to propose a variety of projects for multiple resource benefits at a landscape level to implement over the course of 10 to 15 years. Both the Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts encompass Prince of Wales Island (POW) and surrounding islands, which serves as the project area for the Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis (POW LLA) Project. Our intention is that this project will be a highly collaborative process involving the public at all stages throughout the development of this analysis.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86320-86321]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28760]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, Tongass National Forest; 
Alaska; Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis Project Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to propose a variety of 
projects for multiple resource benefits at a landscape level to 
implement over the course of 10 to 15 years. Both the Craig and Thorne 
Bay Ranger Districts encompass Prince of Wales Island (POW) and 
surrounding islands, which serves as the project area for the Prince of 
Wales Landscape Level Analysis (POW LLA) Project. Our intention is that 
this project will be a highly collaborative process involving the 
public at all stages throughout the development of this analysis.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 30, 2016. The publication date of this NOI in the Federal 
Register is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for 
this scoping opportunity. If the comment period ends on a Saturday, 
Sunday, or Federal holiday, comments will be accepted until the end of 
the next Federal working day (11:59 p.m.). The POW LLA Project is an 
activity implementing the forest plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218, 
subparts A and B. Only individuals or entities who submit timely and 
specific written comments about this proposed project or activity 
during this or another public comment period established by the 
Responsible Official will be eligible to file an objection. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected January of 2018 and the 
final environmental impact statement is expected July of 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Thorne Bay Ranger District, at P.O. 
Box 19001, Thorne Bay, AK 99919. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=50337, or via facsimile to (907) 828-3309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Anderson, District Ranger, 
Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, at 504 9th Street, Craig, AK 
99921, by telephone at (907) 826-3271; or Delilah Brigham, Project 
Leader, at 1312 Federal Way, Thorne Bay, AK 99919, by telephone at 
(907) 828-3232.
    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:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the POW LLA Project is to improve forest ecosystem 
health on Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, help support community 
resiliency, and provide economic development through an integrated 
approach to meet multiple resource objectives.
    There is a need to provide a sustainable level of forest products 
to contribute to the economic viability of the region. There is also a 
need to provide old-growth timber to help maintain the expertise and 
infrastructure of the existing timber industry so the forest products 
industry can prepare for an increasing amount of merchantable young-
growth offerings. These businesses are fundamental to both the young-
growth and restoration components of the evolving timber program, and 
to the economic vitality of the region.
    Timber stand establishment (TSE) and timber stand improvement (TSI) 
activities that restore and enhance early seral forests are necessary. 
This translates to the need for commercial and precommercial treatments 
of young-growth forests to produce future desired resource values, 
products, services, and forest health conditions that sustain the 
diversity and productivity of forested ecosystems.

[[Page 86321]]

    Past management activities have affected watershed function and 
fish and wildlife habitat in the project area. There is a need for 
restoration activities in these watersheds to reestablish self-
sustaining habitats that promote viable fish and wildlife populations. 
These will contribute to subsistence values and the continued 
traditional and cultural uses by residents of Prince of Wales and 
surrounding islands.
    Providing sustainable recreation opportunities on POW and 
surrounding islands is critical to maintaining the existing 
opportunities for residents as well as to expand opportunities for 
growth in the recreation and tourism business sector. A sustainable 
program in terms of operations and maintenance is needed in order to 
maintain infrastructure to an acceptable level.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action will be developed through extensive public 
involvement to meet the Purpose and Needs for the project, with 
activities that will occur over the course of 10 to 15 years. Input 
from the tribes and the public will help determine the location and 
types of activities, and how extensively they will occur across the 
landscape. Management activities that traditionally meet the needs 
associated with this project include: (1) Commercial and precommercial 
young-growth treatments including timber stand improvement activities, 
timber harvests, planting/interplanting, pruning and slash removal/
manipulation; (2) old-growth timber harvests; (3) transportation 
management activities such as road construction, reconstruction, 
maintenance, and decommissioning in support of accomplishing other 
proposed management actions; (4) in-stream restoration work, riparian 
thinning, improvement of fish passages at road crossings, and improving 
water quality and both fish and wildlife habitat; and (5) developing 
and improving recreation infrastructure such as cabins and shelters, 
trails, winter recreation areas, campgrounds, interpretive sites, and 
boat launches. The proposed action is not limited to only the above 
activity types, but will be consistent with the Tongass Land and 
Resource Management Plan.

Possible Alternatives

    Scoping comments will be used to develop a full range of 
alternatives to the proposed action, in response to significant issues 
that are identified. A no-action alternative will be analyzed as well, 
which represents no change and serves as the baseline for the 
comparison among the action alternatives.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for the decision on this project is M. 
Earl Stewart, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, Federal 
Building, 648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska, 99901.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need of the project, the Forest Supervisor 
will review the no action, the proposed action, other alternatives, and 
the environmental consequences in order to make decisions including the 
following: (1) Whether to select the proposed action or another 
alternative; (2) the locations, design, and scheduling of commercial 
and precommercial timber treatments, restoration activities, habitat 
improvements, road construction and reconstruction, and improvements to 
recreation opportunities; (3) mitigation measures and monitoring 
requirements; and (4) whether there may be a significant restriction of 
subsistence uses. No Forest Plan Amendments are anticipated with this 
decision.

Permits or Licenses Required

    All necessary permits will be obtained prior to project 
implementation, and may include the following:
    (1) State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation 
(DEC), Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES):
     General permit for Log Transfer Facilities in Alaska;
     Review Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan;
     Certification of Compliance with Alaska Water Quality 
Standards (401 Certification) Chapter 20;
     Storm Water Discharge Permit/National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System review (Section 402 of the Clean Water Act);
     Solid Waste Disposal Permit;
    (2) U.S. Army Corp of Engineers:
     Approval of discharge of dredged or fill material into the 
waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act;
     Approval of the construction of structures or work in 
navigable waters of the United States under Section 10 of the Rivers 
and Harbors Act of 1899;
    (3) State of Alaska, Division of Natural Resources (DNR):
     Authorization for occupancy and use of tidelands and 
submerged lands.
    (4) State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
     Fish Habitat Permit and Concurrence (Title 16)

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest 
Service will be seeking information, comments, and assistance from 
Tribal Governments; Federal, State, and local agencies; individuals and 
organizations interested in or affected by the proposed activities. In 
addition to this Notice of Intent, legal notices will be placed in the 
Ketchikan Daily News, the official newspaper of record for this 
project. There will also be ample public involvement on Prince of Wales 
Island, including: Public meetings held in various communities, 
subsistence hearings, information posted in public places and in local 
publications such as the Island Post, and from the Prince of Wales 
Landscape Assessment Team, a collaborative group independently formed 
to provide widely based proposals to be considered by the U.S. Forest 
Service in the POW LLA Project development and analysis process. 
Project information and updates, meeting notices, and documents will be 
provided throughout the process on the project Web page at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50337. Individuals may also provide 
comments and sign up for an electronic mailing list at that site.
    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 environmental impact statement. 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. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.

    Dated: November 23, 2016.
Tawnya Brummett,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-28760 Filed 11-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

86320 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 230 / Wednesday, November 30, 2016 / Notices

information concerning board including the validity of the or entities who submit timely and
nominations and selection and methodology and assumptions used; (3) specific written comments about this
acceptance statements; certification of ways to enhance the quality, utility, and proposed project or activity during this
industry organizations; and clarity of the information to be or another public comment period
recordkeeping requirements. The forms collected; and (4) ways to minimize the established by the Responsible Official
and information covered under this burden of the collection of information will be eligible to file an objection. The
information collection require minimum on those who are to respond, including draft environmental impact statement is
information necessary to effectively the use of appropriate automated, expected January of 2018 and the final
carry out the requirements of the electronic, mechanical, or other environmental impact statement is
programs and their use is necessary to technological collection techniques or expected July of 2018.
fulfill the intent of the applicable other forms of information technology. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
authority. All responses to this document will Thorne Bay Ranger District, at P.O. Box
AMS is committed to comply with the be summarized and included in the 19001, Thorne Bay, AK 99919.
E-Government Act, which requires request for OMB approval. All Comments may also be submitted
Government agencies in general to comments will become a matter of electronically at https://cara.ecosystem-
provide the public the option of public record. management.org/Public/
submitting information or transacting Authority: 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. CommentInput?project=50337, or via
business electronically to the maximum Dated: November 23, 2016. facsimile to (907) 828–3309.
extent possible. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elanor Starmer,
For National Research, Promotion, and Administrator. Matthew Anderson, District Ranger,
Consumer Information Program—0581– [FR Doc. 2016–28816 Filed 11–29–16; 8:45 am] Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts,
0093 BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
at 504 9th Street, Craig, AK 99921, by
telephone at (907) 826–3271; or Delilah
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
Brigham, Project Leader, at 1312 Federal
burden for this collection of information
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Way, Thorne Bay, AK 99919, by
is estimated to average 0.347 hours per
telephone at (907) 828–3232.
response.
Forest Service Individuals who use
Respondents: Producers, processors,
telecommunication devices for the deaf
handlers, manufacturers, importers, and Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, (TDD) may call the Federal Information
others in the marketing chain of a Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
variety of agricultural commodities, and Prince of Wales Landscape Level between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
recordkeepers. Analysis Project Environmental Impact
Estimated Number of Respondents: Time, Monday through Friday.
Statement SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
117,942.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Purpose and Need for Action
450,673. ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
Estimated Number of Responses per environmental impact statement. The purpose of the POW LLA Project
Respondent: 3.82. is to improve forest ecosystem health on
Estimated Total Annual Burden on SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts,
Respondents: 156,460. Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare help support community resiliency, and
an Environmental Impact Statement provide economic development through
For Paper and Paper-Based Packaging (EIS) to propose a variety of projects for an integrated approach to meet multiple
Promotion, Research, and Information multiple resource benefits at a resource objectives.
(Referendum Ballot) landscape level to implement over the There is a need to provide a
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting course of 10 to 15 years. Both the Craig sustainable level of forest products to
burden for this collection of information and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts contribute to the economic viability of
is estimated to average 0.25 hours per encompass Prince of Wales Island the region. There is also a need to
response. (POW) and surrounding islands, which provide old-growth timber to help
Respondents: Manufacturers and serves as the project area for the Prince maintain the expertise and
importers. of Wales Landscape Level Analysis infrastructure of the existing timber
Estimated Number of Respondents: (POW LLA) Project. Our intention is industry so the forest products industry
70. that this project will be a highly can prepare for an increasing amount of
Estimated Number of Responses per collaborative process involving the merchantable young-growth offerings.
Respondent: 1 every 7 years (0.14). public at all stages throughout the These businesses are fundamental to
Estimated Total Annual Burden on development of this analysis. both the young-growth and restoration
Respondents: 2.45. DATES: Comments concerning the scope components of the evolving timber
This referendum ballot is being of the analysis must be received by program, and to the economic vitality of
merged into the information collection December 30, 2016. The publication the region.
0581–0093 the National Research, date of this NOI in the Federal Register Timber stand establishment (TSE) and
Promotion, and Consumer Information is the exclusive means for calculating timber stand improvement (TSI)
Programs. the comment period for this scoping activities that restore and enhance early
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether opportunity. If the comment period seral forests are necessary. This
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

the proposed collection of information ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal translates to the need for commercial
is necessary for the proper performance holiday, comments will be accepted and precommercial treatments of young-
of functions of the agency, including until the end of the next Federal growth forests to produce future desired
whether the information will have working day (11:59 p.m.). The POW resource values, products, services, and
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the LLA Project is an activity implementing forest health conditions that sustain the
agency’s estimate of burden of the the forest plan and is subject to 36 CFR diversity and productivity of forested
proposed collection of information, 218, subparts A and B. Only individuals ecosystems.

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Document Created: 2016-11-30 02:18:04
Document Modified: 2016-11-30 02:18:04

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
Dates		Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by December 30, 2016. The publication date of this NOI in the Federal Register is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this scoping opportunity. If the comment period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, comments will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day (11:59 p.m.). The POW LLA Project is an activity implementing the forest plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. Only individuals or entities who submit timely and specific written comments about this proposed project or activity during this or another public comment period established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to file an objection. The draft environmental impact statement is expected January of 2018 and the final environmental impact statement is expected July of 2018.
Contact		Matthew Anderson, District Ranger, Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, at 504 9th Street, Craig, AK 99921, by telephone at (907) 826-3271; or Delilah Brigham, Project Leader, at 1312 Federal Way, Thorne Bay, AK 99919, by telephone at (907) 828-3232.
FR Citation		81 FR 86320

81 FR 86320 - Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis Project Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 230 (November 30, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service