TONGASS
NATIONAL FOREST UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FOREST SERVICE
News Release
Julie Speegle
Asst. Public Affairs Officer
Work: 907-789-6246
Cell: 907-723-3304
For release: June 24, 2010
Contact: Christopher Savage
Phone: 907-772-5900
Release Date: June 24, 2010
Forest Service releases decision on Petersburg Outfitter and Guide Plan
Petersburg, AK – The U.S. Forest Service today released the decision notice and finding of no significant impact for the Petersburg Ranger District’s Outfitter and Guide Management Plan Environmental Assessment.
The decision determines how recreation visitor capacity will be allocated to outfitters and guides through issuance of special use permits, while taking into account the needs of unguided users and forest resources. The project area comprises about 1.9 million acres in central Southeast Alaska on the Petersburg Ranger District. It encompasses the communities of Petersburg, Kupreanof, and Kake.
The EA describes two action alternatives, both of which would authorize up to 39,605 recreation visitor days annually, with allocations proportioned out by season. Petersburg District Ranger Chris Savage selected alternative 2, which is similar to alternative 1, but with reduced allocations in the spring and fall in Study Area 12A (Saginaw/Security/Washington Bays) and Study Area 14 (Keku Strait/Port Camden). The reduced allocation is intended to reduce user conflicts and provide greater opportunity for solitude.
After reviewing the EA, Savage determined that the plan is not a major action, and does not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement. His decision to select alternative 2 was based on the EA completed for the project, as well as on comments received during the two 30-day public comment periods earlier this year.
The selected alternative best meets the purpose and need identified in the EA and forest plan objectives and guidelines. Implementing the selected alternative will:
* Respond to special use permit applications;
* Allocate appropriate outfitter and guide use on the district while recognizing the special values within the Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck, Tebenkof Bay and Kuiu Wilderness areas;
* Manage outfitter and guide use to minimize potential impacts to resources.
Individuals or non-federal organizations that submitted written comments or otherwise expressed interest in this particular action during the comment periods have standing to appeal this decision. Appeals, including attachments, must be filed within 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice of this decision in the Petersburg Pilot, the newspaper of record.
The notice of appeal must be in writing, and submitted to the appeal deciding officer by regular mail, fax, email, hand-delivery, or express delivery.
Forrest Cole
Forest Supervisor USDA Forest Service
Tongass National Forest
Federal Building 648 Mission Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Fax: 907-228-6125
The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered appeals are: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday- Friday, excluding holidays. Electronic appeals must be submitted to
appeals-alaska-tongass@xxxxxxxxxx
If no appeals are filed within the 45-day time period, implementation of the decision may begin on, but not before, the fifth business day following the close of the appeal filing period.
Copies of the EA, decision notice, and FONSI may be obtained from the Petersburg Ranger District office in Petersburg, Alaska. The documents are also available online at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/projects/nepa_project.shtml?project=26239
For additional information, contact District Ranger Christopher S. Savage, or Special Use Administrator Russell Beers, at 907-772-3871.
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Attachment:
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