Low turnout but lots of information at Central Tongass Project meeting

The Forest Service held a public meeting regarding the Central Tongass Project last week, Sept. 3. The purpose of the meeting was to share information on the project and its recently published draft environmental impact statement, and also to receive input from the public. The public did not show much interest that night, however, as the meeting only saw a few people stop by. Despite the low turnout, the meeting provided a lot of information on the Central Tongass Project to those who did show.

Troy Heithecker, acting forest supervisor, said that there will be many opportunities for public input down the road, as well. Public comments are still open for the project and the environmental impact statement, he said, and the comments they do receive will be used to decide what projects to pursue and how best to do them. Afterwards, he added that the implementation process of these projects will also be open to public input.

"We really value and encourage public feedback and public input," he said.

The Central Tongass Project is looking at a series of projects within the Wrangell and Petersburg ranger districts. It does not stray very far from other projects managed by the Forest Service, but it is being done in a unique way. Instead of going project by project, the Central Tongass Project is looking at a wide variety of jobs over a 15-year timeline. These projects fit into a variety of categories, Heithecker said, such as watershed restoration, recreation management, vegetation management, and access management. It is not really the projects themselves that are unique, but the way they are being planned.

"In general the process is what's unique on this one," he said. "It's clearing project work for up to 15 years. So it allows our folks to spend their time now on the implementation side, get out in the field, and get more projects done with less time on the planning side of things. Not to say we're not doing our due diligence, we're completing all the necessary work we need to do for this."

An abstract of the draft EIS reads that the jobs within the Central Tongass Project are designed to boost the regional economy by providing jobs and encouraging tourism, supporting and improving subsistence resources, and providing safe access to the forest. The EIS also describes three alternatives for the variety of planned projects: No action, the project itself, and an alternative way to accomplish the project. The EIS is not exactly light reading, said Wrangell District Ranger Clint Kolarich, but that people reading through it should pay attention to the effects analysis. When the Forest Service does work on the ground, he said, that work will have an impact on the surrounding area. These impacts can be both positive and negative, he said. The EIS looks at some of those impacts as well as mitigations the Forest Service could put into place to offset any negative effects.

"When we go into implementation, that's the part that will be in phases over the next 10 to 15 years," Kolarich said. "There will be even more opportunity for public engagement during that process. That's when we'll get a little more site-specific about where we want to do the right work in the right place. That's why it's awesome when the public gets involved and helps us with that process. There'll be more to come when we get to implementation."

The 45-day comment period for the draft EIS closes on Sept. 16. More information can be found on the Forest Service website, and comments can also be submitted at http://www.fs.usda.gov. The Central Tongass Project can be found under the "Land & Resources Management" tab, followed by the "Projects" tab. Comments can also be sent via fax to (907) 772-5995. They can also be mailed to Carey Case, Project Leader, Petersburg Ranger District, PO Box 1328, Petersburg, Alaska, 99833.