Tongass National Forest News Release
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FOREST SERVICE
Contact: Carol Goularte
Email: cgoularte@xxxxxxxxx
Phone: 907-747-4218
Date: June 5, 2009
Sitka District Ranger makes new office decision
Sitka, AK – The U.S. Forest Service has released its decision on a proposal to build a new office for the Sitka Ranger District.
Based on the Environmental Assessment completed for the Sitka office project and released in March, Sitka District Ranger Carol Goularte has selected Alternative B with modifications.
Plans call for construction of an accessible office building not to exceed 10,000 square feet, for 48 employees—to be located at the Sitka Ranger District’s administrative site, 2112 – 2116 Halibut Point Road in Sitka. It will include parking spaces for 34 vehicles to accommodate visitors and employees, plus parking spaces for two buses and seven government vehicles. Modifications incorporated into the Selected Alternative include many of the desirable elements from Alternative C, including an additional access point to the facility from Kramer Avenue.
The Decision Notice includes a Finding of No Significant Impact, meaning environmental effects of the Selected Alternative are minimal or non-existent. Effects will be decreased further by using Best Management Practices and adherence to the agency’s Sustainable Building Guiding Principles. Design and construction could take three to four years to complete, depending upon funding.
The new office will cost about $200,000 annually—a savings of $360,000 each year compared to present costs for the Sitka Ranger District. Reduced overhead increases the amount of money the Forest Service can spend on its primary mission to support natural resource management.
Individuals or organizations who submitted comments during the comment period may appeal this decision. The notice of appeal must be submitted in writing within 45 calendar days of Friday, May 29, the date that the legal notification of this decision was published in the Sitka Daily Sentinel, the official newspaper of record. Appeals may be sent by regular mail, fax or e-mail to the Appeal Deciding Officer:
Forrest Cole
Tongass National Forest Supervisor
Federal Building (648 Mission Street)
Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591
E-mail address: appeals-alaska-tongass@xxxxxxxxx
Fax: (907) 228-6292
Tongass National Forest
648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901
Voice 907-225-3101 FAX 907-228-6215 TTY 907-228-6222
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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