83_FR_39556 83 FR 39402 - Tongass National Forest, Petersburg Ranger District, Alaska; Central Tongass Project Environmental Impact Statement

83 FR 39402 - Tongass National Forest, Petersburg Ranger District, Alaska; Central Tongass Project Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 154 (August 9, 2018)

Page Range39402-39405
FR Document2018-17059

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze a variety of resource management actions to implement over the course of 15 years. The purpose of the project is to meet multiple resource goals and objectives (i.e., needs) identified in the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) using an integrated approach. Some of the project area needs include improving forest ecosystem health, supporting community resilience through economic development opportunities within Southeast Alaska communities, providing sustainable recreation opportunities to local visitors and the tourism industry, and offering a variety of wood products to regional mills and local communities. A variety of management activities (the Proposed Action) address these needs. Implementation of the management activities will often include one or more Supporting Actions, such as quarry development or sign installation. At the same time that it would approve the proposed project, the Forest Service may approve a project- specific Forest Plan amendment to ensure the project is consistent with the plan. This notices also identifies the substantive provisions of the 2012 Planning Rule that are likely to be directly related to a proposed forest plan amendment.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39402-39405]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17059]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 39402]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tongass National Forest, Petersburg Ranger District, Alaska; 
Central Tongass 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 analyze a variety of 
resource management actions to implement over the course of 15 years. 
The purpose of the project is to meet multiple resource goals and 
objectives (i.e., needs) identified in the 2016 Tongass Land and 
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) using an integrated approach. 
Some of the project area needs include improving forest ecosystem 
health, supporting community resilience through economic development 
opportunities within Southeast Alaska communities, providing 
sustainable recreation opportunities to local visitors and the tourism 
industry, and offering a variety of wood products to regional mills and 
local communities. A variety of management activities (the Proposed 
Action) address these needs. Implementation of the management 
activities will often include one or more Supporting Actions, such as 
quarry development or sign installation. At the same time that it would 
approve the proposed project, the Forest Service may approve a project-
specific Forest Plan amendment to ensure the project is consistent with 
the plan. This notices also identifies the substantive provisions of 
the 2012 Planning Rule that are likely to be directly related to a 
proposed forest plan amendment.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by September 24, 2018. The publication date of this Notice of Intent 
(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 draft EIS is expected in April of 2019, and the final EIS is 
expected in May of 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Petersburg Ranger District, c/o 
Carey Case, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, Alaska 99833, Attn: Central 
Tongass Project. Comments may also be hand-delivered to the Petersburg 
Ranger District, 12 North Nordic Drive, Petersburg, Alaska 99833; sent 
via email to [email protected]; facsimile to 
(907) 772-5995; or submitted electronically at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=53098.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Zimmerman, District Ranger, or 
Carey Case, Project Leader, at the Petersburg Ranger District, P.O. Box 
1328, Petersburg, Alaska 99833, or by telephone (907) 772-3871. 
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: The Central Tongass project area encompasses 
National Forest System (NFS) lands and lands of other ownership, as 
authorized by other land owners, within the Petersburg and Wrangell 
Ranger Districts (3.7 million acres) to facilitate integrated and 
economical projects across all lands. Other than for invasive 
treatments, Wilderness will not be considered for resource management 
actions. The project area includes, but is not limited to, Mitkof, 
Kupreanof, Kuiu, Wrangell, Zarembo and Etolin Islands and the Alaska 
mainland.

Purpose and Need for Action

    This action is needed to meet Forest Plan goals and objectives, and 
to support local and regional economies. The needs for this project 
have been identified by comparing the existing conditions within the 
project area with the desired conditions (desired long-term landscape 
attributes) defined in the Tongass Forest Plan (Chapter 2). Where 
desired conditions are not being met, a need exists. For this project, 
four categories of needs were identified: Watershed Restoration and 
Improvement, Vegetation Management, Access Management, and Sustainable 
Recreation Management.
    Watershed Restoration and Improvement: A need exists to maintain or 
restore the natural range of habitat conditions in the project area to 
support viable wildlife, fish, and plant populations for subsistence, 
traditional and cultural uses, and to sustain diversity. In some 
watersheds, this need includes riparian ecosystem function improvements 
or enhancements, water quality maintenance and protection, fish habitat 
improvements, and native plant population protection.
    Vegetation Management: A need exists for NFS lands to regularly 
provide forest products, such as saw timber, to support Southeast 
Alaska communities. By providing forest products on a regular basis, 
the Forest Service can better support local employment, increase 
revenue returns, and maintain flexibility and stability in the timber 
sale program. A need also exists for young-growth forest management to 
sustain productive timber stands for future use, and to improve habitat 
for wildlife and fish.
    Access Management: A long-term need exists to design, construct, 
maintain, and manage a cost-effective transportation system that 
supports management activities and provides Forest users access to 
subsistence, recreation and traditional use opportunities.
    Sustainable Recreation Management: Within the project area, a need 
exists to (1) maintain existing recreation sites and facilities to 
provide for the health and safety of all users, (2) construct or 
reconstruct facilities in locations where the needs for the facilities 
are supported by either known use, partnerships for long-term 
maintenance, or repeated safety concerns, or (3) remove facilities that 
are no longer needed or are not affordable (Forest Plan, p. 2-4).
    The purpose of the Central Tongass Project is to meet the 
identified needs to improve forest ecosystem health, support community 
resiliency, and provide economic development opportunities on the 
Petersburg and

[[Page 39403]]

Wrangell Ranger Districts. This project will be designed to meet Forest 
Plan goals and objectives, and land use designation goals, objectives, 
and desired conditions using an integrated land management approach. 
Forest-wide goals and objectives this project aims to address include, 
but are not limited to, Local and Regional Economies, Biodiversity, 
Timber, Wildlife, Transportation, Fish, Recreation and Tourism, and 
Young Growth Direction (Forest Plan, pp. 2-2 to 2-6, 5-2 to 5-3, 5-6, 
5-8, 5-13 and 5-14).

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes a multi-year project to implement a 
variety of activities over the next 15 years within the Central Tongass 
project area. The project area includes NFS lands and lands of other 
ownership. Wilderness areas are not included in the land base available 
for proposed activities, with the exception of invasive plant 
treatments. The Proposed Action encompasses a range of management 
activities that address the broader needs identified within the Purpose 
and Need, and seeks to balance commercial and non-commercial 
opportunities and provide and maintain high-quality experiences for all 
Forest users over the long-term, while maintaining or improving land 
and resource conditions.
    The Proposed Action was developed by comparing existing conditions 
within the project area to the Forest's desired landscape attributes, 
and considering best-available science and public input.
    A guide will be developed to ensure the implementation of site-
specific activities is consistent with the Central Tongass Project 
environmental analysis. Conditions such as stand age, use levels, and 
proximity to sensitive habitat will be evaluated before implementation 
may occur. If the effects of implementing a site-specific activity is 
expected to be outside the range of effects disclosed in the 
environmental analysis, the activity will not be implemented as part of 
the Central Tongass Project.
    Individual activity cards will define each activity and guide its 
implementation over the life of the project. Information provided on 
the cards will include objectives and methods of implementation, 
resource-specific guidelines, activity design features, conditions that 
trigger implementation, and integration opportunities to maximize 
shared resources between program areas.

Watershed Restoration and Improvement

    Watershed restoration and improvement activities on all lands 
within the project area include: Stream and floodplain restoration, 
fish habitat improvements, and invasive plant management.
    To restore proper stream and floodplain functioning conditions, the 
Forest Service proposes instream wood placement on up to 700 acres 
(approximately 13 miles of stream) using heavy equipment and/or a 
helicopter, and instream wood placement on up to 1,720 acres 
(approximately 54 miles of stream) using hand tools.
    To sustain the diversity and production of fish and other 
freshwater organisms, the Forest Service proposes fisheries 
improvements such as pool habitat creation, fish pass construction, 
natural instream barrier modifications, stocking and lake fertilization 
on up to 15 sites that collectively include no more than 25 miles of 
stream and 2 lakes.
    The Forest Service proposes to use an integrated pest management 
strategy to treat invasive plant infestations on NFS and neighboring 
lands. Treatments proposed include manual methods such as hand-pulling 
or tarping; mechanical methods such as mowing or torching; and 
herbicide application including wicking/wiping, stem injection, foliar 
spot spray, or broadcast spray. Proposed herbicides include 
aminopyralid or aquatic-approved glyphosate and imazapyr. When deciding 
whether or not to treat an invasive plant, the Forest Service will 
consider the following factors: The target species' Alaska Natural 
Heritage Program invasiveness ranking, the location of the target 
species, its pathway of spread, and the management objective for the 
infestation. If the Forest Service decides to treat, the most cost-
efficient and effective treatment method will be selected. Herbicide 
treatment areas may include terrestrial and emergent (plants rooted in 
water with foliage above the water surface) vegetation. Subsurface 
aquatic plant treatment is not proposed. To provide the flexibility to 
treat new infestations, the Proposed Action also includes a management 
strategy called early detection-rapid response.

Vegetation Management

    Vegetation management activities include: Old-growth and young-
growth commercial harvest and silvicultural intermediate treatments 
(young-growth pre-commercial thinning treatments, and wildlife habitat 
improvement treatments). Old-growth and young-growth activities will 
occur in 10 timber analysis areas (TAAs) within the project area. These 
analysis areas have developed road systems and encompass the majority 
of the suitable lands for timber harvest, as defined under the Forest 
Plan. Consequently, TAAs are a primary factor in determining where to 
plan timber harvest for this project. The TAAs are located on Mitkof, 
Kupreanof, Kuiu, Wrangell, Zarembo and Etolin islands, and at Thomas 
Bay on the Alaska mainland.
    The Forest Service proposes to commercially harvest up to 9,500 
acres (approximately 150 million board feet [MMBF]) of old-growth 
timber, and up to 4,000 acres (approximately 80 MMBF) of young-growth 
timber from stands on suitable lands within the project's 15-year 
timeframe. Timber harvest methods include even-aged and two-aged 
management prescriptions (conventional ground-based logging methods), 
and uneven-aged management prescriptions (helicopter yarding). 
Commercial harvest of old-growth and young-growth timber includes 
microsale and large, small, and salvage sale opportunities.
    The Forest Service proposes to treat up to 3,000 acres of young-
growth stands annually, or 45,000 acres total over the next 15 years 
that are approaching, have reached, or are in the stem exclusion stage 
of stand development. Young-growth treatments (activities) include pre-
commercial thinning for timber stand improvement and wildlife and 
riparian habitat improvement (such as to create or maintain wildlife 
gaps, openings, corridors and trees; girdle and prune trees; and treat 
slash).

Access Management

    Access management activities include (1) new NFS road construction, 
(2) NFS road reconstruction, (3) temporary road construction, (4) 
aquatic organism passage and fish habitat connectivity, and (5) 
construction, reconstruction, decommissioning and maintenance of marine 
access facilities, such as log transfer facilities, docks, mooring 
buoys, boat ramps and boat launches. Road storage and decommissioning 
are Supporting Actions.
    The Forest Service proposes approximately 24 miles of NFS road 
construction, 63 miles of NFS road reconstruction, and 88 miles of 
temporary road construction for timber harvest and other resource 
management activities.
    The Forest Service proposes to replace, remove, or improve up to 
150 stream crossing structures where fish

[[Page 39404]]

passage is inhibited (``red pipes'') using heavy equipment, hand tools, 
or explosives to rectify fish migration or movement barriers and 
provide effective flood resiliency.
    The Forest Service proposes up to 33 new stream crossing 
structures, such as culverts and bridges, to support proposed 
vegetation and access management activities.
    The Forest Service proposes to maintain or improve 14 existing 
marine access facilities (MAFs), and construct up to 4 MAF sites for 
log transfer and public access within the Central Tongass project area. 
Additionally, up to 69 marine access facility sites, such as docks, 
boat ramps and floats, may be maintained, constructed, or improved for 
public access. These sites are typically not associated with a road 
system, but used for access to shoreline or inland water facilities 
such as cabins, shelters, or trailheads.

Sustainable Recreation Management

    Proposed recreation activities on NFS and neighboring lands include 
maintenance, improvements, new construction, and decommissioning of 
some existing recreation facilities. Recreation facilities include 
cabins, shelters, picnic areas, campgrounds, dispersed camping sites, 
outhouses, viewing areas and platforms. Trail construction, 
reconstruction, decommissioning, and maintenance may also occur, and 
includes pedestrian trails, motorized trails, snow trails, canoe and 
kayak portages, and conversion of existing trails from boardwalk to 
gravel.
    Recreation management activities including trail building will be 
prioritized during implementation based on the following conditions (1) 
health and safety concerns for recreation users, (2) availability of 
internal or external funding sources, (3) current and projected use 
levels and degraded resource conditions from human use such as 
vegetation trampling, site hardening, soil erosion, and (4) feasibility 
due to topography.
    The Forest Service proposes constructing up to 6 new cabins, 30 day 
use/picnic areas, 6 platforms for interpretative or wildlife viewing 
use, and 10 dispersed camp sites (including tent platforms). The Forest 
Service also proposes decommissioning up to 15 cabins, constructing up 
to 10 new shelters and/or converting cabins to shelters, and 
constructing or replacing up to 75 outhouses. The Forest Service 
proposes up to 300 miles of pedestrian trail construction (this 
includes new construction and/or converting existing boardwalk trail to 
gravel trail), up to 60 miles of new motorized trails, and up to 105 
miles of winter trails.

Supporting Actions

    Supporting Actions will be implemented, as needed, in support of 
the management activities described above. They include actions such as 
road maintenance and reconditioning, road decommissioning, road 
storage, sign installation, quarry development, soil restoration, cone 
collection, and timber stand establishment (planting and 
interplanting).

Forest Plan Amendment

    A project-specific Forest Plan amendment may be proposed to allow 
the project to proceed in a manner that fulfills the project's stated 
purpose and need while being consistent with the Plan. The amendment 
would be to relax the Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) (Forest Plan, 
p. 4-54) on portions of the TAAs on Mitkof, Zarembo, and Wrangell 
Islands, and Portage Bay located on Kupreanof Island, to improve timber 
sale economics for the commercial timber sales undertaken as part of 
this project only. If this Forest Plan amendment is included in the 
Central Tongass Project, the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.13(b)(2)) 
requires the Responsible Official to identify which substantive 
requirements of the Rule are likely to be directly related to a 
proposed land management plan amendment. At this time, the Responsible 
Official believes the following requirements of the Rule are likely to 
apply: 36 CFR 219.8(b)(2); 36 CFR 219.10(a)(1); and 36 CFR 
219.10(b)(1)(i).

Possible Alternatives

    Other alternatives will be developed based on any significant 
issues identified in public comments and from internal Forest Service 
considerations. A no action alternative, which represents no change and 
serves as the baseline for the comparison among the action 
alternatives, will be analyzed as well.

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 Responsible Official 
will review the no action, the proposed action, other alternatives, and 
the environmental consequences to make decisions that include: (1) 
Whether to select the proposed action or another alternative; (2) 
mitigation measures and monitoring requirements; (3) the range of 
treatments or activities to be authorized including commercial and pre-
commercial timber treatments, restoration activities, invasive plant 
treatments, habitat improvement, road construction and reconstruction, 
and recreation development or decommissioning opportunities; (4) 
whether a project-specific Forest Plan amendment related to Scenery 
Integrity Objectives is necessary; and (5) whether there may be a 
significant restriction of subsistence uses.

Permits or Licenses Required

    All necessary permits would 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 Concurrence (Title 16).

Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. The Forest Service is seeking information, 
comments, and assistance from Tribal Governments; Federal, State, and 
local agencies; and individuals and organizations interested in or 
affected by the proposed activities. There will also be public meetings 
and subsistence hearings held in Kake, Petersburg, and Wrangell, 
Alaska. In addition to this

[[Page 39405]]

Notice of Intent, a legal notice will be placed in the Ketchikan Daily 
News, the official newspaper of record for this project. Courtesy 
notifications will be placed in the Petersburg Pilot and the Wrangell 
Sentinel, local community newspapers. Project information, updates, and 
documents will be provided throughout the process on the project web 
page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd568085. Individuals may also provide comments and sign up to 
be on the electronic mailing list at that site.
    The Central Tongass Project is an activity implementing the Forest 
Plan and is subject to the notification requirements and objection 
procedures of 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B, which states that only 
individuals or entities who submit timely and specific written comments 
about this proposed project during this or another public comment 
period established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to file 
an objection. If a Forest Plan amendment is included in the Central 
Tongass Project, it would only apply to the Central Tongass Project; 
therefore, the notification requirements of 36 CFR 219 are not 
required.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a manner to be 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. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered; however, anonymous commenters will not gain 
standing to object as defined in 36 CFR 218.2.

    Dated: July 23, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-17059 Filed 8-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

39402 Notices Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 154 Thursday, August 9, 2018 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER date of this Notice of Intent (NOI) in the term landscape attributes) defined in the contains documents other than rules or Federal Register is the exclusive means Tongass Forest Plan (Chapter 2). Where proposed rules that are applicable to the for calculating the comment period for desired conditions are not being met, a public. Notices of hearings and investigations, this scoping opportunity. If the need exists. For this project, four committee meetings, agency decisions and comment period ends on a Saturday, categories of needs were identified: rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency Sunday, or Federal holiday, comments Watershed Restoration and statements of organization and functions are will be accepted until the end of the Improvement, Vegetation Management, examples of documents appearing in this next Federal working day (11:59 p.m.). Access Management, and Sustainable section. The draft EIS is expected in April of Recreation Management. 2019, and the final EIS is expected in Watershed Restoration and May of 2020. Improvement: A need exists to maintain DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ADDRESSES: Send written comments to or restore the natural range of habitat Petersburg Ranger District, c/o Carey conditions in the project area to support Forest Service Case, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, Alaska viable wildlife, fish, and plant 99833, Attn: Central Tongass Project. populations for subsistence, traditional Tongass National Forest, Petersburg and cultural uses, and to sustain Ranger District, Alaska; Central Comments may also be hand-delivered to the Petersburg Ranger District, 12 diversity. In some watersheds, this need Tongass Project Environmental Impact includes riparian ecosystem function Statement North Nordic Drive, Petersburg, Alaska 99833; sent via email to comments- improvements or enhancements, water AGENCY:Forest Service, USDA. alaska-tongass-petersburg@fs.fed.us; quality maintenance and protection, fish ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an facsimile to (907) 772–5995; or habitat improvements, and native plant Environmental Impact Statement. submitted electronically at https:// population protection. cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ Vegetation Management: A need SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of CommentInput?project=53098. exists for NFS lands to regularly provide Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare forest products, such as saw timber, to an Environmental Impact Statement FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: support Southeast Alaska communities. (EIS) to analyze a variety of resource David Zimmerman, District Ranger, or By providing forest products on a management actions to implement over Carey Case, Project Leader, at the regular basis, the Forest Service can the course of 15 years. The purpose of Petersburg Ranger District, P.O. Box better support local employment, the project is to meet multiple resource 1328, Petersburg, Alaska 99833, or by increase revenue returns, and maintain goals and objectives (i.e., needs) telephone (907) 772–3871. Individuals flexibility and stability in the timber identified in the 2016 Tongass Land and who use telecommunication devices for sale program. A need also exists for Resource Management Plan (Forest the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal young-growth forest management to Plan) using an integrated approach. Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– sustain productive timber stands for Some of the project area needs include 800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 future use, and to improve habitat for improving forest ecosystem health, p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through wildlife and fish. supporting community resilience Friday. Access Management: A long-term through economic development SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The need exists to design, construct, opportunities within Southeast Alaska Central Tongass project area maintain, and manage a cost-effective communities, providing sustainable encompasses National Forest System transportation system that supports recreation opportunities to local visitors (NFS) lands and lands of other management activities and provides and the tourism industry, and offering a ownership, as authorized by other land Forest users access to subsistence, variety of wood products to regional owners, within the Petersburg and recreation and traditional use mills and local communities. A variety Wrangell Ranger Districts (3.7 million opportunities. of management activities (the Proposed acres) to facilitate integrated and Sustainable Recreation Management: Action) address these needs. economical projects across all lands. Within the project area, a need exists to Implementation of the management Other than for invasive treatments, (1) maintain existing recreation sites activities will often include one or more Wilderness will not be considered for and facilities to provide for the health Supporting Actions, such as quarry resource management actions. The and safety of all users, (2) construct or development or sign installation. At the project area includes, but is not limited reconstruct facilities in locations where same time that it would approve the to, Mitkof, Kupreanof, Kuiu, Wrangell, the needs for the facilities are supported proposed project, the Forest Service Zarembo and Etolin Islands and the by either known use, partnerships for may approve a project-specific Forest Alaska mainland. long-term maintenance, or repeated Plan amendment to ensure the project is safety concerns, or (3) remove facilities consistent with the plan. This notices Purpose and Need for Action that are no longer needed or are not sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES also identifies the substantive This action is needed to meet Forest affordable (Forest Plan, p. 2–4). provisions of the 2012 Planning Rule Plan goals and objectives, and to The purpose of the Central Tongass that are likely to be directly related to support local and regional economies. Project is to meet the identified needs to a proposed forest plan amendment. The needs for this project have been improve forest ecosystem health, DATES: Comments concerning the scope identified by comparing the existing support community resiliency, and of the analysis must be received by conditions within the project area with provide economic development September 24, 2018. The publication the desired conditions (desired long- opportunities on the Petersburg and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Aug 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39403 Wrangell Ranger Districts. This project Watershed Restoration and treatments). Old-growth and young- will be designed to meet Forest Plan Improvement growth activities will occur in 10 timber goals and objectives, and land use Watershed restoration and analysis areas (TAAs) within the project designation goals, objectives, and improvement activities on all lands area. These analysis areas have desired conditions using an integrated within the project area include: Stream developed road systems and encompass land management approach. Forest- and floodplain restoration, fish habitat the majority of the suitable lands for wide goals and objectives this project improvements, and invasive plant timber harvest, as defined under the aims to address include, but are not Forest Plan. Consequently, TAAs are a management. limited to, Local and Regional To restore proper stream and primary factor in determining where to Economies, Biodiversity, Timber, plan timber harvest for this project. The floodplain functioning conditions, the Wildlife, Transportation, Fish, TAAs are located on Mitkof, Kupreanof, Forest Service proposes instream wood Recreation and Tourism, and Young Kuiu, Wrangell, Zarembo and Etolin placement on up to 700 acres Growth Direction (Forest Plan, pp. 2–2 islands, and at Thomas Bay on the (approximately 13 miles of stream) to 2–6, 5–2 to 5–3, 5–6, 5–8, 5–13 and Alaska mainland. using heavy equipment and/or a The Forest Service proposes to 5–14). helicopter, and instream wood commercially harvest up to 9,500 acres Proposed Action placement on up to 1,720 acres (approximately 150 million board feet (approximately 54 miles of stream) [MMBF]) of old-growth timber, and up The Forest Service proposes a multi- using hand tools. to 4,000 acres (approximately 80 year project to implement a variety of To sustain the diversity and MMBF) of young-growth timber from activities over the next 15 years within production of fish and other freshwater stands on suitable lands within the the Central Tongass project area. The organisms, the Forest Service proposes project’s 15-year timeframe. Timber project area includes NFS lands and fisheries improvements such as pool harvest methods include even-aged and lands of other ownership. Wilderness habitat creation, fish pass construction, two-aged management prescriptions areas are not included in the land base natural instream barrier modifications, (conventional ground-based logging available for proposed activities, with stocking and lake fertilization on up to methods), and uneven-aged the exception of invasive plant 15 sites that collectively include no management prescriptions (helicopter treatments. The Proposed Action more than 25 miles of stream and 2 yarding). Commercial harvest of old- encompasses a range of management lakes. growth and young-growth timber activities that address the broader needs The Forest Service proposes to use an includes microsale and large, small, and identified within the Purpose and Need, integrated pest management strategy to salvage sale opportunities. and seeks to balance commercial and treat invasive plant infestations on NFS The Forest Service proposes to treat non-commercial opportunities and and neighboring lands. Treatments up to 3,000 acres of young-growth provide and maintain high-quality proposed include manual methods such stands annually, or 45,000 acres total experiences for all Forest users over the as hand-pulling or tarping; mechanical over the next 15 years that are long-term, while maintaining or methods such as mowing or torching; approaching, have reached, or are in the improving land and resource and herbicide application including stem exclusion stage of stand conditions. wicking/wiping, stem injection, foliar development. Young-growth treatments The Proposed Action was developed spot spray, or broadcast spray. Proposed (activities) include pre-commercial by comparing existing conditions within herbicides include aminopyralid or thinning for timber stand improvement the project area to the Forest’s desired aquatic-approved glyphosate and and wildlife and riparian habitat landscape attributes, and considering imazapyr. When deciding whether or improvement (such as to create or best-available science and public input. not to treat an invasive plant, the Forest maintain wildlife gaps, openings, Service will consider the following corridors and trees; girdle and prune A guide will be developed to ensure factors: The target species’ Alaska the implementation of site-specific trees; and treat slash). Natural Heritage Program invasiveness activities is consistent with the Central ranking, the location of the target Access Management Tongass Project environmental analysis. species, its pathway of spread, and the Access management activities include Conditions such as stand age, use levels, management objective for the (1) new NFS road construction, (2) NFS and proximity to sensitive habitat will infestation. If the Forest Service decides road reconstruction, (3) temporary road be evaluated before implementation to treat, the most cost-efficient and construction, (4) aquatic organism may occur. If the effects of effective treatment method will be passage and fish habitat connectivity, implementing a site-specific activity is selected. Herbicide treatment areas may and (5) construction, reconstruction, expected to be outside the range of include terrestrial and emergent (plants decommissioning and maintenance of effects disclosed in the environmental rooted in water with foliage above the marine access facilities, such as log analysis, the activity will not be water surface) vegetation. Subsurface transfer facilities, docks, mooring buoys, implemented as part of the Central aquatic plant treatment is not proposed. boat ramps and boat launches. Road Tongass Project. To provide the flexibility to treat new storage and decommissioning are Individual activity cards will define infestations, the Proposed Action also Supporting Actions. each activity and guide its includes a management strategy called The Forest Service proposes implementation over the life of the early detection-rapid response. approximately 24 miles of NFS road project. Information provided on the sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES construction, 63 miles of NFS road cards will include objectives and Vegetation Management reconstruction, and 88 miles of methods of implementation, resource- Vegetation management activities temporary road construction for timber specific guidelines, activity design include: Old-growth and young-growth harvest and other resource management features, conditions that trigger commercial harvest and silvicultural activities. implementation, and integration intermediate treatments (young-growth The Forest Service proposes to opportunities to maximize shared pre-commercial thinning treatments, replace, remove, or improve up to 150 resources between program areas. and wildlife habitat improvement stream crossing structures where fish VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Aug 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1

39404 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices passage is inhibited (‘‘red pipes’’) using miles of new motorized trails, and up to decisions that include: (1) Whether to heavy equipment, hand tools, or 105 miles of winter trails. select the proposed action or another explosives to rectify fish migration or alternative; (2) mitigation measures and Supporting Actions movement barriers and provide effective monitoring requirements; (3) the range flood resiliency. Supporting Actions will be of treatments or activities to be The Forest Service proposes up to 33 implemented, as needed, in support of authorized including commercial and new stream crossing structures, such as the management activities described pre-commercial timber treatments, culverts and bridges, to support above. They include actions such as restoration activities, invasive plant proposed vegetation and access road maintenance and reconditioning, treatments, habitat improvement, road management activities. road decommissioning, road storage, construction and reconstruction, and The Forest Service proposes to sign installation, quarry development, recreation development or maintain or improve 14 existing marine soil restoration, cone collection, and decommissioning opportunities; (4) access facilities (MAFs), and construct timber stand establishment (planting whether a project-specific Forest Plan up to 4 MAF sites for log transfer and and interplanting). amendment related to Scenery Integrity public access within the Central Objectives is necessary; and (5) whether Tongass project area. Additionally, up Forest Plan Amendment there may be a significant restriction of to 69 marine access facility sites, such A project-specific Forest Plan subsistence uses. as docks, boat ramps and floats, may be amendment may be proposed to allow maintained, constructed, or improved the project to proceed in a manner that Permits or Licenses Required for public access. These sites are fulfills the project’s stated purpose and All necessary permits would be typically not associated with a road need while being consistent with the obtained prior to project system, but used for access to shoreline Plan. The amendment would be to relax implementation, and may include the or inland water facilities such as cabins, the Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) following: shelters, or trailheads. (Forest Plan, p. 4–54) on portions of the (1) State of Alaska, Department of Sustainable Recreation Management TAAs on Mitkof, Zarembo, and Environmental Conservation (DEC), Wrangell Islands, and Portage Bay Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination Proposed recreation activities on NFS located on Kupreanof Island, to improve System (APDES): and neighboring lands include timber sale economics for the • General permit for Log Transfer maintenance, improvements, new commercial timber sales undertaken as Facilities in Alaska; construction, and decommissioning of part of this project only. If this Forest • Review Spill Prevention Control some existing recreation facilities. Plan amendment is included in the and Countermeasure Plan; Recreation facilities include cabins, Central Tongass Project, the 2012 • Certification of Compliance with shelters, picnic areas, campgrounds, Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.13(b)(2)) Alaska Water Quality Standards (401 dispersed camping sites, outhouses, requires the Responsible Official to Certification) Chapter 20; viewing areas and platforms. Trail identify which substantive requirements • Storm Water Discharge Permit/ construction, reconstruction, of the Rule are likely to be directly National Pollutant Discharge decommissioning, and maintenance related to a proposed land management Elimination System review (Section 402 may also occur, and includes pedestrian plan amendment. At this time, the of the Clean Water Act); trails, motorized trails, snow trails, Responsible Official believes the • Solid Waste Disposal Permit. canoe and kayak portages, and following requirements of the Rule are (2) U.S. Army Corp of Engineers: conversion of existing trails from likely to apply: 36 CFR 219.8(b)(2); 36 • Approval of discharge of dredged or boardwalk to gravel. CFR 219.10(a)(1); and 36 CFR fill material into the waters of the Recreation management activities 219.10(b)(1)(i). United States under Section 404 of the including trail building will be Clean Water Act; prioritized during implementation Possible Alternatives • Approval of the construction of based on the following conditions (1) Other alternatives will be developed structures or work in navigable waters health and safety concerns for recreation based on any significant issues of the United States under Section 10 of users, (2) availability of internal or identified in public comments and from the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. external funding sources, (3) current internal Forest Service considerations. (3) State of Alaska, Division of Natural and projected use levels and degraded A no action alternative, which Resources (DNR): resource conditions from human use represents no change and serves as the • Authorization for occupancy and such as vegetation trampling, site baseline for the comparison among the use of tidelands and submerged lands. hardening, soil erosion, and (4) action alternatives, will be analyzed as (4) State of Alaska, Department of feasibility due to topography. well. Fish and Game (ADF&G) The Forest Service proposes • Fish Habitat Concurrence (Title 16). constructing up to 6 new cabins, 30 day Responsible Official use/picnic areas, 6 platforms for Scoping Process The Responsible Official for the interpretative or wildlife viewing use, decision on this project is M. Earl This Notice of Intent initiates the and 10 dispersed camp sites (including Stewart, Forest Supervisor, Tongass scoping process, which guides the tent platforms). The Forest Service also National Forest, Federal Building, 648 development of the EIS. The Forest proposes decommissioning up to 15 Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska Service is seeking information, cabins, constructing up to 10 new comments, and assistance from Tribal sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 99901. shelters and/or converting cabins to Governments; Federal, State, and local shelters, and constructing or replacing Nature of Decision To Be Made agencies; and individuals and up to 75 outhouses. The Forest Service Given the purpose and need of the organizations interested in or affected proposes up to 300 miles of pedestrian project, the Responsible Official will by the proposed activities. There will trail construction (this includes new review the no action, the proposed also be public meetings and subsistence construction and/or converting existing action, other alternatives, and the hearings held in Kake, Petersburg, and boardwalk trail to gravel trail), up to 60 environmental consequences to make Wrangell, Alaska. In addition to this VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Aug 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39405 Notice of Intent, a legal notice will be Technical Assistance and Training Dates: Completed TAT grant placed in the Ketchikan Daily News, the Grant Program. applications must be submitted official newspaper of record for this electronically through Grants.gov no project. Courtesy notifications will be SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an later than September 10, 2018 to be placed in the Petersburg Pilot and the agency of the United State Department eligible for funding. Wrangell Sentinel, local community of Agriculture, announces an additional newspapers. Project information, application window for Fiscal Year (FY) Overview updates, and documents will be 2018 for the Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program (TAT). This This Notice announces that the Rural provided throughout the process on the Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting project web page at https:// Notice seeks applications emphasizing priorities for either a national water and applications for an additional www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/ wastewater infrastructure application application window for the Technical landmanagement/projects/ assistance and project development Assistance and Training Grant Program ?cid=fseprd568085. Individuals may program or a national apprenticeship/ (TAT). For FY 2018, RUS received a also provide comments and sign up to workforce development program. budget appropriation of $40 million for be on the electronic mailing list at that the TAT Program. In response to the site. DATES: Applications for the TAT grants The Central Tongass Project is an application filing period of October 1, will only be accepted electronically activity implementing the Forest Plan according to the following deadline: 2017, to December 31, 2017, as outlined and is subject to the notification Submit grant applications at https:// in 7 CFR 1775, Subpart B, § 1775.10 (a), requirements and objection procedures www.grants.gov (Grants.gov) and follow the Agency received 28 applications of 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B, which the instructions found on that website. that will not use up all of the states that only individuals or entities Electronic submissions of applications appropriation. This Notice will make who submit timely and specific written must be received by September 10, 2018 available the remaining funds under the comments about this proposed project to be eligible for grant funding. Late or TAT Program, for either a national water during this or another public comment incomplete applications will not be and wastewater infrastructure period established by the Responsible eligible for grant funding. Prior to application assistance and project Official will be eligible to file an official submission of applications, development program or a national objection. If a Forest Plan amendment is applicants may request technical apprenticeship/workforce development included in the Central Tongass Project, assistance or other application guidance program. it would only apply to the Central from the Agency, if such requests are On March 23, 2018, President Donald Tongass Project; therefore, the made prior to August 24, 2018. The Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending notification requirements of 36 CFR 219 Agency will not solicit or consider bill with $21.2 billion for new are not required. scoring or eligibility information that is infrastructure spending on It is important that reviewers provide submitted after the application transportation, energy and water their comments at such times and in deadline. The Agency reserves the right projects in FY 2018. The intent of this such a manner to be useful to the to contact applicants to seek notice is to advise the public of the agency’s preparation of the EIS. clarification information on materials funds available to support applications Therefore, comments should be contained in the submitted application. emphasizing either of two priorities for provided prior to the close of the ADDRESSES: All grant applications must technical assistance and training comment period and should clearly be submitted electronically at https:// activities. Applications may emphasize articulate the reviewer’s concerns and www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov), following technical assistance and training contentions. the instructions you find on that activities to: Provide application Comments received in response to website. The FY 2018 Application assistance and project development that this solicitation, including names and Guide may be obtained from the Water facilitate efforts by rural communities to addresses of those who comment, will and Waste Disposal Technical access funding for water and wastewater be part of the public record for this Assistance & Training Grants website at infrastructure projects, particularly proposed action. Comments submitted https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs- those communities in smaller, lower anonymously will be accepted and services/water-waste-disposal-technical- income, and persistent poverty areas; or considered; however, anonymous assistance-training-grants. to provide technical assistance and commenters will not gain standing to training to personnel to improve the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: object as defined in 36 CFR 218.2. management, operation, and LaVonda Pernell, Community Program Dated: July 23, 2018. Specialist, Water Program Division, maintenance of water and waste Chris French, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department facilities through a national Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest of Agriculture, by email at apprenticeship/workforce development System. lavonda.pernell@wdc.usda.gov or by program. The Agency encourages [FR Doc. 2018–17059 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am] telephone: (202) 720–9635. applications that will support BILLING CODE 3411–15–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help Overview improve life in rural America which can DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Federal Agency: Rural Utilities be found at www.usda.gov/ ruralprosperity. Applicants are sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Service (RUS). Rural Utilities Service encouraged to consider projects that Funding Opportunity Title: Technical Technical Assistance and Training Assistance and Training Grants (TAT). provide measurable results in helping Grant Program Announcement Type: Funding rural communities build robust and Announcement/Solicitation of sustainable economies through strategic AGENCY:Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Applications. investments in infrastructure, Notice of Funding ACTION: Catalog of Federal Domestic partnerships and innovation. Key Announcement (NOFA) under the Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.761. strategies include: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Aug 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1


Document Created: 2018-08-09 01:12:13
Document Modified: 2018-08-09 01:12:13
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
DatesComments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by September 24, 2018. The publication date of this Notice of Intent (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 draft EIS is expected in April of 2019, and the final EIS is expected in May of 2020.
ContactDavid Zimmerman, District Ranger, or Carey Case, Project Leader, at the Petersburg Ranger District, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, Alaska 99833, or by telephone (907) 772-3871. 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.
FR Citation83 FR 39402 
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