Tongass National Forest News Release
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FOREST SERVICE
Contact: Molly Murphy
Email: mmurphy@xxxxxxxxx
Phone: 907-747-4319
Date: March 9, 2008
Sitka Ranger District releases EA on new office proposal
Sitka, AK – The U.S. Forest Service has released an Environmental Assessment on its proposal to build new office facilities for the Sitka District Ranger. The public has 30 days to comment after publication of the legal notice in the Daily Sitka Sentinel, the newspaper of record.
The Tongass National Forest proposes to construct a new office at the Sitka Ranger District’s administrative site, 2112 – 2116 Halibut Point Road in Sitka. The purpose of the project is to develop an accessible office and related access and parking, including:
* Construction of an office building not to exceed 10,000 square feet, for 48 employees
* Parking spaces for 34 vehicles to accommodate visitors and employees, plus parking spaces for two buses and seven government vehicles
* Consolidated facilities to reduce travel to the warehouse, carpentry shop, and bunkhouse
The new office will cost about $200,000 annually—a savings of $360,000 each year compared to costs for the present Forest Service office in Sitka. The current 10-year lease on that facility expires in November 2009. Reduced rent and utility charges increases the amount of money the Forest Service can spend on its primary mission to support natural resource management.
The EA offers two alternatives in addition to the no action alternative. Alternative B is the proposed action. Details on the proposed action, including a map of the project area, are available at the Sitka Ranger District. The EA is in the "Project and Plans" section of the Tongass internet site as http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/projects/Sitka_New_Office_EA.pdf
Comments may be submitted by e-mail to comments-alaska-tongass-sitka@xxxxxxxxx; by regular mail to: Carol A. Goularte, Sitka District Ranger, USDA Forest Service, 204 Siginaka Way, Sitka AK 99835; by fax to (907) 747-4253, or hand delivered to the district during normal business hours.
After close of the 30-day comment period, the Forest Service will release a decision notice (DN). The decision may be subject to appeal. Only those who submit timely comments will have standing to appeal the project decision.
Attachment:
090309_srd_releases_ea_nr.doc
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