|
Tongass National Forest Service releases Sustainable Cabin Management project documents
KETCHIKAN, Alaska–The Tongass National Forest released the Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Tongass National Forest Sustainable Cabin Management project. This project was proposed to help move the Forest towards a cabin
program with facilities that fit the interests and needs of the public for recreation that meet health and safety standards and at cost the public can afford.
“My preliminary decision is to remove ten cabins that were listed in the Environmental Assessment (EA), convert the Distin Lake Cabin back to a historic three-sided shelter, and keep the Checats Lake Cabin open as long as it is used and remains in good condition,”
said Forrest Cole, Tongass National Forest Supervisor. The Decision Notice explains the reason for this draft decision provides a finding of no significant impact and describes the public outreach for the project. The Decision Notice also summarizes the concerns
the Forest heard from the public on this project and provides a summarized response to those comments. Cole recognized that many of the comments received on this project could not be dealt with through this project, but could be valuable in the future, “We’ve
compiled the comments and suggestions we received on this project and shared them with the team working on strategic cabin planning for the Forest,” said Cole. “Some of ideas brought forward may be used to help us provide more sustainable recreation cabins
in the future while reducing the cost of the cabin program.”
The Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Tongass National Forest Sustainable Cabin Management project are available online at
http://go.usa.gov/WQEk (case sensitive).
The EA, and associated maps and appendices, are located under the “Project Documents–Analysis” heading. The Decision Notice and its maps and appendix are located under the “Project Documents–Decision” heading. To request a copy of this EA or Decision Notice
in hard copy or CD format, please contact: Michelle Putz at 907-747-4278 or at
mputz@xxxxxxxxx. This
project
is subject
to
new regulations
(Objection
Process - 36
CFR
218, subparts
A and
B). These new regulations provide for a pre-decision administrative review (objection) rather than a post-decision appeal process. More information on the new regulations and instructions for filing objections may be found at
http://go.usa.gov/WQEk (case sensitive) under
the “Project Documents–Decision” heading in the Letter Announcing DN is Available. Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of a legal notice in the
Ketchikan Daily News. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment
in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities. -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. |
