The Upper Falls Creek Young Growth Project Draft Decision Notice was completed and mailed out this week to those who previously requested to be included on the project mailing list or submitted specific written comments related to the project. The Upper Falls Creek Young Growth Project proposes to harvest roughly 40 acres (1 million board feet) of young-growth timber within the Falls Creek Watershed on Mitkof Island on the Petersburg Ranger District, Tongass National Forest in one or more timber sales over the next 10 years. The Responsible Official for this project is Eric LaPrice, District Ranger. The EA and Draft Decision Notice and additional information regarding this proposed project are available online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60641 or can be obtained from: Ben Case, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, PO Box 1328, 12 North Nordic Drive, Petersburg, AK, 99833, 907-772-3871, benjamin.case@usda.gov.
This proposed project is subject to a pre-decisional administrative review (objection) pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subpart B.
Objections will be accepted only from those who previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project either 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 designated public comment opportunities.
Individual members of organizations must have submitted their own comments to be eligible to object; objections received on behalf of an organization are considered those of the organization only. If an objection is submitted on behalf of a number of individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirements (36 CFR 218.5(d)). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
Incorporation of documents by reference in an 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) and include: objector’s name and address with a telephone number if available (signature or other verification of authorship must be supplied upon request); identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed, along with verification upon request; name of project, name and title of the responsible official, national forest/ranger district of project; sufficient narrative description of those aspects of the proposed project objected to, specific issues related to the project, how environmental law, regulation, or policy would be violated, and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection; and statement demonstrating the connection between prior specific written comments on this project and the content of the objection, unless the objection issue arose after the designated opportunity for comment.
The Reviewing Officer is M. Earl Stewart, Tongass Forest Supervisor. Send objections to: M. Earl Stewart, Reviewing Officer, Tongass National Forest, Federal Building, 648 Mission Street, Suite No. 110, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, 907-228-6301(fax), or online at:
https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=60641.
Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed (online, postal mail, fax, hand-delivery, or express delivery) with the Reviewing Officer within 45 days following the publication date of this legal notice in the newspaper of record. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered objections are 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).
The publication date in the Petersburg Pilot, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection of this project. Those wishing to object to this proposed project should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Publish: May 19, 2022
Ben Case
