The draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact and environmental assessment for the Hoonah Road-based Nature Tours Outfitter and Guide Allocation Project are available for public review on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60527. This project is a proposal to allocate 20 percent allocation of the total visitor capacity to outfitters and guides for road-based nature tours and freshwater fishing on North East Chichagof Island on the Hoonah Ranger District, Tongass National Forest. The project also includes a proposal to upgrade 11.08 miles of road from objective maintenance level 3 to 4.
This proposed decision is subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. The opportunity to object ends 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Juneau Empire. The publication date of the legal notice in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection, and those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information from any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer.
The reviewing officer will accept objections only from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a designated opportunity 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 designated comment opportunities (36 CFR 218.8(c)).
Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection are identified in 36 CFR 218.8(d).
Written objections, including attachments, must be filed with the reviewing officer: Earl Stewart, Forest Supervisor; Tongass Supervisor’s Office, 648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska 9990; fax 907-228-6292, within 45 days of the date of publication of the legal notice. Hand delivered objections can also be delivered at the address above, Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., except federal holidays. For continued public safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, hand-delivery will be accepted by appointment only; please call 907-228-6282 to schedule an appointment. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as an email message, (.pdf), plain text format (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) to objections-alaska-tongass@usda.gov.
Marlene Duvall
