The USDA Forest Service has prepared an EA, FONSI and draft Decision Notice(DN) for the Thomas Bay Young Growth Timber Sale Project located on the Petersburg Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest. A legal notice for the opportunity to object published on September 28, 2023, in the Petersburg Pilot, the newspaper of record.
The draft DN states the Responsible Official is planning to implement Alternative 3, the Preferred Alternative, which will allow harvest of approximately 561 acres of young-growth timber resulting in about 12.6 million board feet and 6.8 miles of temporary road. The terrestrial and aquatic restoration and improvement activities will be implemented in conjunction with the Selected Alternative.
This project is subject to the Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process (Objection Process) pursuant to 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. The EA and draft DN are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/tongass/?project=60639. Paper copies of these documents are also available for review at the Petersburg Ranger District.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other 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 the designated comment opportunities.
Submit objections, including attachments, online through the web form below(preferred). Hard copy objections and attachments, may be submitted by mail, fax, hand-delivery, express delivery, or messenger service (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Francis Sherman, Reviewing Officer, Tongass National Forest, Federal Building, 648 Mission Street, Suite No. 110, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, 907-228-6301 (fax). Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of a legal notice in the Petersburg Pilot. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.
At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)): The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available; a signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection); when multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request); the name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; a description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and a statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection. Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Ben Case
