SITKA–The Tongass National Forest is proposing new outfitter and guide allocations on the Tongass National Forest marine shoreline zone to be consistent with the 2008 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan. The Shoreline II Outfitter/Guide project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) proposes to allocate 80,305 service days to non-motorized outfitter/guide activities that originate from the marine shoreline zone on the Sitka, Hoonah, Juneau Ranger Districts and Admiralty Island National Monument. The DEIS proposes to incorporate an adaptive management strategy that will allow for flexibility to allocate additional service days based on monitoring efforts and an additional strategy to align cross-district consistency in issuing big game guide special use permits.
The Shoreline II Outfitter/Guide Project DEIS is projected to be released for public comment today. The 45-day public comment period will involve public meetings in Juneau, Angoon, Hoonah, and Sitka the week of February 29.
“The project seeks to balance commercial outfitter/guide use with public use within the project area,” said Monument Ranger Chad VanOrmer.
This DEIS describes four alternatives. The alternatives represent different project designs intended to address issues raised by the public, while achieving to varying degrees the purpose and need for action. The DEIS discusses the estimated effects of implementing each alternative, and compares them in terms of meeting management objectives and estimated impacts to resources. The Forest Service’s preferred alternative is Alternative 2.
After completion of the 45-day public comment period for the DEIS, the Forest Service will incorporate public input into a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision projected to be release in spring 2016.
For more information, go to the project website http://go.usa.gov/Pzi or contact Team Leader Carey Case at 907-772-5906 or ccase@fs.fed.us. Comments can be emailed to: comments-alaska-tongass-sitka@fs.fed.us, or made through the project website by clicking on “Comment on Project” to submit comments electronically and attach documents.
