Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Management Plan Update, Tongass National Forest, Chatham Area, Juneau Ranger District, Juneau, AK

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental

impacts of updating the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (MGRA)

Management Plan. The MGRA is located in the City and Borough of Juneau,

Alaska. The proposed action is to update the 1975 MGRA Management Plan,

which will result in a non-significant amendment to the Tongass Land

Management Plan. No site specific projects or other activities are

proposed as part of this action. The proposed action provides an

updated management strategy for one of Juneau's most popular recreation

areas. The revised plan also would provide clarification and more

specific guidelines for Management Units within the recreation area.

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 January 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments or requests for additional information

to Joni Packard, Interpretive Specialist Planner, 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 provide a management strategy which provides more specific

management direction for the MGRA, reduces conflicts between

recreational user groups, and protects the natural resources of this

special area. There is a need to resolve public concerns related to

discharge of firearms and use of off road vehicles (ORVs) within the

MGRA, which appear to create threats to the health and safety of

recreational users and to residents living adjacent to the MGRA

property boundary. Additionally, chronic vandalism, illegal dumping of

garbage, late night partying, and excessive noise continue to be on-

going problems that need to be resolved. There is also a need to

address concerns about resource damage resulting from certain

recreational uses.

Gary Morrison, Chatham Area Forest Supervisor, Tongass National

Forest, Chatham Area, is the deciding official. The decision to be made

is whether or not to update the MGRA Plan as proposed or an alternative

to the update. A decision must also be made whether the update is a

non-significant amendment to the Tongass Land Management Plan.

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 eliminating or reducing ORV and firearm use within the

MRGA.

Preliminary issues that have been identified include:

1. Off-road vehicles (ORVs), bicycles (and other non-motorized

uses), pedestrian, and horse use often conflict in the MGRA, resulting

in deterioration of the recreational visitor experience, safety

concerns, and resource damage.

2. Firearm use in the recreation area results in safety hazards to

other recreationists and adjacent residents.

3. Users of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area do not have

adequate parking and access to portions of the recreation area. At

times this causes conflicts with local residents, such as along the

Dredge Lake Road.

4. Vandalism is resulting in property and resource damage, causing

increased maintenance costs, and public health and safety concerns.

5. Dogs not under voice control, or not on a leash, are causing

conflicts and safety concerns with other recreationists.

6. Recreational use may result in negative impacts to fish and

wildlife habitat and viewing opportunities.

7. Local people consider current MGRA management to be biased

toward tourism rather than toward local resident use. People feel that

continued development and growth of the tourism industry at the Visitor

Center and in the MGRA will adversely affect local use of the

recreation area.

8. Agency response to Special Use requests are resulting in

inconsistent decisions and permits. A letter was mailed in May, 1993 to

the public and organizations, and a series of public meetings were

hosted to solicit public comments to help determine preliminary issues.

Presentations were made to local groups interested in the recreation

area. The Juneau Empire published an article on the plan update

process, and KJNO carried a radio interview. The Juneau Ranger District

received 79 written comments and one petition plus numerous comments

during the public meetings. Comments will be accepted throughout the

EIS process but, to be most useful, should be received by January 21,

1995.

The draft environmental impact statement should be available for

review by spring, 1995. The final environmental impact statement is

scheduled to be completed by late summer, 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

late summer, 1995. The Chatham Area Forest Supervisor, 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: November 22, 1994.

Gary A. Morrison,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 94-31177 Filed 12-20-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M