Opportunity to Comment on the Twin Mountain II Timber Sale DEIS
The Tongass National Forest, Thorne Bay Ranger District, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Twin Mountain II Timber Sale project. The project is within the Thorne Bay Ranger District on Prince of Wales Island, about 75 to 100 miles west of Ketchikan, Alaska. The project proposes to make about 1,655 acres of old-growth timber (approximately 26.8 million board feet [MMBF]) available for harvest, and construct and maintain roads in the Staney and Red Bay areas on the Thorne Bay Ranger District. Timber would be offered in one or more timber sales. The Forest Service analyzed two action alternatives and a no-action alternative. The Responsible Official has not chosen a preferred alternative at this time. Monique Nelson, Tongass Forest Supervisor, 907-401-3312 or monique.nelson@usda.gov, is the Responsible Official for this project.
The DEIS is available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r10/tongass/projects/58626. The DEIS and supporting documentation are also available for review at the Thorne Bay and Craig Ranger Districts. Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from Val Cancino, Project Lead, at 907-228-6338 or valeria.cancinohernandez@usda.gov.
Specific written comments on the proposed project will be accepted for 45 days following the date of publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The expected date of publication is April 24, 2026. The publication date of the NOA in the Federal Register is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for a proposed action documented in a DEIS. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. If the comment period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, comments will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day (11:59 pm).
The Twin Mountain II Timber Sale project is an activity implementing a land management plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Only individuals or entities who submit timely and specific written comments about this proposed project during this or another public comment period established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to file an objection. Other requirements to be eligible to submit an objection are listed at 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3). Individual members of an entity must submit their own comments in order to have eligibility to object as an individual. It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure timely receipt of any comments submitted. Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Specific written comments for the Responsible Official may be submitted electronically via the webform (https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=58626), by fax (907-828-3309), or by mail or hand-delivery to: USDA Forest Service, Thorne Bay Ranger District, ATTN: Twin Mountain II Timber Sale, P.O. Box 19001, 1312 Federal Way, Thorne Bay, AK 99919. Business hours for hand delivered comments are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Comments must be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider.
Note: This project initiated public comment after the proposed amendment to the regulations at 36 CFR 218 was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2026 (91 FR 5387) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/06/2026-02392/project-level-predecisional-administrative-review-process. This project and the associated ROD may be subject to the revised objection process if the final 36 CFR 218 rule is published before the project’s objection period is initiated. Otherwise, this project will follow the administrative review process established prior to the proposed rule.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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.
