Opportunity to Object to False Bay New Cabin Construction Project
The Hoonah Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and draft Decision Notice (DN) for the False Bay Cabin New Construction Project on Chichagof Island, approximately 25 miles from Hoonah on National Forest System Road 8530 adjacent to False Bay on Northern Chatham Strait. The Responsible Official intends to select the Proposed Action to allow the construction of a public use cabin with access trails from the beach and road. The proposed project is subject to the pre-decisional objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.
The Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and draft Decision Notice are available online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r10/tongass/projects/64003. These documents are also available for review at the Hoonah Ranger District. Additional information regarding this project or activity can be obtained from: Valeria Cancino at valeria.cancinohernandez@usda.gov.
How to Object and Timeframes
The opportunity to object ends 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Juneau Empire (anticipated publication date is June 28, 2025). If the objection filing period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, objections will be accepted until the end of the next federal working day. The publication date of the legal notice 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. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer.
Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project or activity during a public comment period, unless based on new information arising after designated comment periods. Interested individuals or entities who have not previously commented may gain limited eligibility to object based on new information, but only for issues that arise based on new information where that information is truly new and was not available during the designated public comment opportunity.
At a minimum, the objection must include the following as identified in 36 CRF 218.8(d): Name; address; and if possible, a telephone number of the objector; signature or other verification of authorship (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed ; the name of the project being objected to; the name and title of the Responsible Official; and the name of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the project is located; a statement of the issues and/or parts of the project to which the objection applies; if applicable, a statement explaining how the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies; and supporting reasons; and a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment. Incorporation of documents by references is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b).
Written objections, including attachments, must be filed online using the webform below, or via postal mail, fax, hand-delivery, express delivery, or messenger service (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Monique Nelson, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801, 907-586-8808 (fax). Electronically filed objections may be submitted online in word (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html).
Objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on these proposed actions and will be available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
The form below can be used to submit your comments to the responsible project official.
National Forests have the option to post comments for public viewing on this web site via a public reading room. Active reading rooms allow the public to read or download your letter, including your contact information. If this project has an active reading room, a link labeled “Public Comment Reading Room” will appear on the main project page. The agency may withhold letters containing proprietary information, sensitive cultural or habitat locations, profanity, etc. All letters, including those not posted, will be considered and included as part of the project record.
Disclaimer: All contact information is optional; however, anonymous comments will not provide standing to object.
