[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 203 (Friday, October 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26116]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 21, 1994]
VOL. 59, NO. 203
Friday, October 21, 1994
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Helicopter Landing Tours on the Juneau Icefields, Tongass
National Forest, Chatham Area, Juneau Ranger District, Juneau, AK
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental
impacts of authorizing helicopter landing tours on icefields adjacent
to the city of Juneau, Alaska. The proposed action is to issue five
year special use permits (1995-1999) authorizing Coastal Helicopter,
Inc., ERA Helicopters, Inc. and Temsco Helicopter, Inc. to land on the
Juneau icefields at specified locations and conduct tours. The majority
of use would occur between May and September of each year. Tours would
originate at private heliports and helicopter flightpaths would transit
a variety of private and municipal lands prior to entering the National
Forest. The proposed action would increase authorized helicopter
landings tours on the Juneau icefields from 11,000 in 1994 to a maximum
of 22,000 in 1999.
The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from
Federal, State and local agencies as well as individuals and
organizations who may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed
action.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing by October 21, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments or requests for additional information
to John Favro, Recreation Staff Officer, Juneau Ranger District, 8465
Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska 99801, (907) 586-8800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose and need for the proposed action
is to meet public demand for quality guided services which provide safe
access to remote locations on the Juneau Icefield. Meeting this demand
includes providing for visitor safety and an appropriate balance
between commercial guided recreation opportunities and non-commercial,
non-guided recreation opportunities without unacceptable impacts to
other forest users and resources.
Kenneth E. Mitchell, Juneau District Ranger, Tongass National
Forest, Chatham Area, is the deciding official. The decision to be made
is whether or not to issue special use permits for helicopter landing
tours as requested, and if permits are issued, decide the levels to be
authorized and the mitigation measures that will be required.
The no action and proposed action alternatives will be considered
in the EIS as well as other alternatives which address significant
issues and satisfy the purpose and need for the action. Alternatives
may consider limiting the number of landings, moving heliports, or
defining flight paths.
Preliminary issues that have been identified include helicopter
noise disturbance to residential areas, wildlife, and ground-based
recreation users; impacts to the local economy; and public demand for
helicopter landing tours.
In 1992, an environmental assessment analyzing the effects of these
tours was completed. A Finding of No Significant Impact was made. That
decision was reversed on appeal and remanded to the deciding official.
Comments from the 1992 EA were used to identify issues for this
EIS. Comments were also solicited between May 17 and June 27, 1994
through a news release and letters to the public. Federal, state and
local agencies, interested individuals and groups are invited to
participate in this analysis. Comments will be accepted throughout the
EIS process but, to be most useful, should be received by October 21,
1994.
Because most of the data collection and scoping was completed
during preparation of the 1992 EA and subsequent re-evaluation of the
original proposed action, the draft environmental impact statement
should be available for review by November 5, 1994. The final
environmental impact statement is scheduled to be completed by January
15, 1995.
The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes
the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after the completion of the final environmental impact statement
may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803
F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v.
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this
proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day comment period
so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and
respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist
the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns
on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact
statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and
discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council
on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.
The Final EIS and Record of Decision is expected to be released in
January 1995. The Juneau District Ranger, Chatham Area. Tongass
National Forest will, as the responsible official for the EIS, make a
decision regarding this proposal considering the comments, responses,
and environmental consequences discussed in the Final EIS, and
applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and supporting
reasons will be documented in the Record of Decision.
Dated: September 29, 1994.
Kenneth E. Mitchell,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-26116 Filed 10-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
