|
Forest Service seeks Feedback on Young Growth Project* Dargon Point Project in Comment Phase of Planning Process
*This release includes modifications to the original press release sent on 12/3/12, titled “Forest Service Seeks Feedback on Commercial Thinning Project.” We are sending this revised release to clarify the set of three alternatives explored in the project, which include 1) taking no action, 2) conducting a commercial thin only, and 3) conducting a thin in part of the area and clearcut harvest in the other.
Please also note that the comment deadline has now been set; comments are due January 9, 2013, by 5:00pm.*
10 December 2012 Contact: Ben Case, Young-Growth Coordinator, 907-772-5883
Ketchikan, ALASKA – The Tongass National Forest is developing a young growth project on Prince of Wales Island and is looking for comments from the public. The project, Dargon Point, is part of a broader effort by the Tongass to transition from old growth to young growth harvest.
Located along the western shore of Prince of Wales Island, approximately three miles north of the community of Naukati, the Dargon Point project proposes to commercially thin and harvest mature (60-70 years old) young-growth spruce and hemlock. In response to earlier feedback from the public during the scoping process, the agency is also evaluating the feasibility of regeneration (clearcut) harvesting part of the project area as a commercial timber sale rather than a commercial thin. The stand under consideration was originally harvested in the 1940s and is old enough to meet legal criteria for clearcut harvest. In order to better understand public thoughts and concerns about the project, the Forest Service has released the “Dargon Point Commercial Thinning Environmental Assessment” (EA) for a 30-day review and comment period. The comment period begins December 10, 2012 and will close on January 9, 2013 at 5:00pm.
“The project will be pretty wide-ranging in its impacts, from improving forest health and wildlife habitat to providing sawlogs to mills and job opportunities for local contractors,” said Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole. “If approved, the young-growth volume will diversify the current Southeast Alaska timber industry.”
The EA evaluates three alternatives: a no-action and two action alternatives that would provide between 1.4 and 2.5 million board feet (MMBF) of young-growth timber. The Proposed Action, Alternative 2, proposes to thin and harvest about 1.4 MMBF on about 70 acres to improve wildlife habitat. Approximately one mile of road construction is planned. Alternative 3 would permit thinning on the 16 acres of beach fringe in the project area, aimed at improving wildlife habitat. The other 54 acres would be harvested under a commercial timber harvest contract as a clearcut, generating about 2.5MMBF. All alternatives and all associated activities occur outside of any inventoried roadless area.
“If approved, the project may be accomplished through stewardship contracting authority,” said Perry Edwards, Acting Thorne Bay District Ranger. “Stewardship contracting helps achieve land management goals while meeting local and rural community needs by providing a continuing source of local income and employment.”
Stewardship contracting authority allows the Tongass National Forest to reinvest payments made for the harvested timber into other local projects such as stream restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, pre-commercial thinning of young-growth stands, and other similar projects. The reinvestment of those funds spurs job creation beyond those of the timber project itself.
The comment period for the EA provides the public an opportunity to make their concerns known to the official decision maker for the project, the Thorne Bay District Ranger. Those who provide comments by the close of the comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision. The EA is available online at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=38409
In all correspondence, please include your name, address, and organization name, if a person is commenting as a representative of an organization. Written, faxed, hand-delivered and electronic comments will be accepted as follows:
Written comments can be faxed to (907) 828-3309 or mailed to:
Tongass National Forest Thorne Bay Ranger District Attn. Dargon Point Project EA P.O. Box 19001 Thorne Bay, AK 99919-0001
Hand-delivered comments should be brought to the Thorne Bay Ranger District, 1312 Federal Way, Thorne Bay, AK 99919-0001. The hours for submitting hand-delivered comments are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Electronic comments must be submitted with the following subject line, “Dargon Point Project,” and as part of the actual e-mail message, or as a .doc, .txt, .pdf, or .rtf attachment to:
comments-alaska-tongass-thorne-bay@xxxxxxxxx
For more information about the project, please contact Young-Growth Coordinator Ben Case at 907-772-5883 or bcase@xxxxxxxxx.
-end-
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
