Revision of the Land and Resources Management Plan for the Chugach National Forest, Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Revision of the Land and Resources Management Plan for the

Chugach National Forest, Alaska

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement

and a revised land and resource management plan for the Chugach

National Forest.

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SUMMARY: The Chugach National Forest will prepare an environmental

impact statement (EIS) for revising the Land and Resource Management

Plan (Forest Plan), and a revised Forest Plan document, pursuant to 16

U.S.C. 1604(f)(5) and 36 CFR 219.12. The revised plan will supersede

the current Forest Plan, which was approved on July 27, 1984 and which

has been amended six times.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments pertaining to the revision of the

Forest Plan to: Forest Plan Revision, Chugach National Forest, 3301 C

St., Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503-3998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gary Lehnhausen, Forest Planning Team Leader; (907) 271-2560 or FAX

(907) 271-3992.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Forest Plans are ordinarily revised on a 10-

year cycle, or at least every 15 years (U.S.C. 1604(f)(5) and 36 CFR

219.10(g)). Forest Plans guide the overall management of the National

Forests through the following six management direction elements:

(1) Forest multiple-use goals and objectives, 36 CFR 219.11(b);

(2) Forest-wide management requirements (standards and guidelines)

16 U.S.C. 1604 and 36 CFR 219.13 to 219.27;

(3) Management areas and management area direction (management area

prescriptions) 36 CFR 219.11(c);

(4) Designated suitable timber land (16 U.S.C. 1604(k) and 36 CFR

219.14) and an allowable timber sale quantity (16 U.S.C. 1611 and 36

CFR 219.16):

(5) Nonwilderness allocations or wilderness recommendations where

36 CFR 219.17 applies; and

(6) Monitoring and evaluation requirements (36 CFR 219.11(d)).

The Forest Service has determined there is a need to make some

changes to the 1984 Forest Plan, as amended. The revised Plan will be

developed to address management of the Chugach National Forest. The

following preliminary issues have been identified through monitoring

and evaluation, project planning and implementation activities, and

public comments received during the life of the existing Plan.

Preliminary Issues

Roadless Area Management and Wilderness Recommendations

There is interest in the management of existing roadless areas.

Some people feel that more of the Chugach National Forest should be

allocated to protective designations, or recommend for wilderness, in

order to conserve biological diversity, provide primitive recreational

opportunities, provide opportunities for scientific research or

baseline monitoring, protect unique features and resources, and provide

for other non-commodity values and uses. Others are concerned that

protective designations could limit or constrain recreation uses, fish

and wildlife enhancement opportunities, increased access, commodity

uses, and economic returns to local communities. Currently, about 98

percent of the 5.4 million acre Forest is roadless and potentially

eligible for wilderness designation.

Recreation and Tourism

There is a concern about changes to tourism and recreation on the

Forest. The recent decision by the State of Alaska to build a road to

Whittier is expected to greatly increase recreation and tourism use of

the Prince William

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Sound area. The amount of use of the Forest by outfitters and guides

for commercial recreation uses is also an emerging issue due to rising

use levels on some popular trails and recreation areas.

Vegetation Management

There is public interest in how the Forest's vegetation should be

managed and used. Proposed timber harvest activities within inventoried

roadless areas have raised public concerns about the potential effect

on the availability of those areas for wilderness or other protective

designations. Proposed salvage sales, related road building, and the

use of roads after harvest operations, have also been raised as issues

by the public. In the 13 years of operation under the current Forest

Plan, the Chugach has sold an average 3.38 million board feet per year

and an average 2.26 million board feet of timber per year have been

harvested. Most of this timer harvest has been concentrated on the

Kenai Peninsula portion of the Forest.

Wild and Scenic Rivers

The existing Forest Plan did not consider any rivers or streams for

designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. During the

past two years, a comprehensive review of more than 760 named and

unnamed rivers and glaciers on the Forest was conducted. Twenty rivers

and three glaciers have been tentatively identified as containing one

or more ``outstandingly remarkable'' values.

During the revision process rivers may be added or dropped from

those found eligible and public involvement will be considered in

determining potential classification of the rivers as wild, scenic or

recreational. A suitability determination for each river/glacier will

be made in the revision process. If a river is found suitable, the

Regional Forester may recommend the river for inclusion in the National

Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Subject to valid existing rights, all rivers/glaciers found

eligible will be given interim protection to preserve their potentially

``outstandingly remarkable'' characteristics and maintain the highest

level of classification until a final suitability determination and

recommendation is made in the revised Forest Plan.

Travel Management and Access

Many people value the recreation experience afforded by the lack of

road access to most of the Forest. Others point out a need for

additional public access either by road or trail for recreation use.

Some people object to roads planned into roadless areas for resource

development and are concerned with increased motorized use on new

roads. Competition between ``muscle powered'' recreationists and

motorized recreationists for areas to pursue their activities is

increasing.

Additional Issues

Public comments received on this Notice of Intent and through

further public participation activities will be used to create a list

of significant issues for the EIS and the revised Forest Plan. The EIS

and revised Forest Plan will also address other subjects in response to

existing planning direction. These will include (among others):

--Biological diversity;

--Minerals management;

--Fish and wildlife habitat management;

--Scenic resource management;

--Research Natural Areas; and

--Electronic and communication sites.

Comments on the preliminary, or potential additional issues, and

possible solutions to these issues are welcomed. Additional information

concerning the scope of the revision will be provided through future

mailings, news releases, and public meetings.

The Chugach National Forest will hold a series of open house and

focus group meetings in communities in and near the Forest and host a

revision forum in Anchorage, Alaska, to provide information about the

process of revising the Forest Plan, and to gather public input on

formulation of alternatives and the scope and nature of the decisions

to be made. Meeting dates and locations will be announced in the media.

In preparing the EIS for revising the Plan, the Forest Service will

estimate the potential impacts of various management alternatives on

the Forest's physical and biological resources, as well as the

potential economic and social impacts on local communities and the

broader regional economy.

The draft EIS and proposed revised Forest Plan are tentatively

scheduled for release and public review in September 1998. A 90-day

public comment period will be provided for these documents. The final

EIS, revised Forest Plan, and a record of decision are currently

scheduled for completion in June 1999.

The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important

to give reviewers notice of several court rulings relating to public

participation in the environmental review process. Reviewers of draft

EIS's must structure their participation in the environmental review of

the proposal so that it is meaningful and clearly informs an agency of

the reviewer's position and contentions, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power

Corp. v. NRDC U.S. 519, 533 (1978). Also environmental concerns that

could be raised at the draft EIS stage but that are not raised until

after completion of the final EIS 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 for

those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of

the 90-day comment period on the draft EIS, so that substantive

comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a

time when they can be meaningfully considered and responded to in the

final EIS.

The responsible official for the EIS and the revised Forest Plan is

the Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 21628, Juneau,

Alaska 99802-1628.

Dated: April 8, 1997.

Kimberly Bown,

Acting Regional Forester.

[FR Doc. 97-10197 Filed 4-18-97; 8:45 am]

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