Notice2022-24328
Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements Project
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The Tongass National Forest, Alaska, intends to prepare a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) for the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements Project. The notice of availability for the draft EIS was published on March 4, 2022 and amended on April 15, 2022. Public comments on the draft EIS requested analysis of additional alternatives, primarily related to the siting of a proposed Welcome Center and parking areas at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (MGRA) in Juneau, Alaska. The SDEIS will include three new action alternatives. Although not required, this notice of intent provides for public awareness of the forthcoming SDEIS.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 215 (Tuesday, November 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67436-67437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24328]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Mendenhall Glacier Visitor
Facility Improvements Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental draft environmental
impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Tongass National Forest, Alaska, intends to prepare a
supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) for the
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements Project. The notice of
availability for the draft EIS was published on March 4, 2022 and
amended on April 15, 2022. Public comments on the draft EIS requested
analysis of additional alternatives, primarily related to the siting of
a proposed Welcome Center and parking areas at the Mendenhall Glacier
Recreation Area (MGRA) in Juneau, Alaska. The SDEIS will include three
new action alternatives. Although not required, this notice of intent
provides for public awareness of the forthcoming SDEIS.
DATES: The Forest Service is not inviting comments at this time. The
SDEIS is expected to be available for public review and comment in the
first quarter of 2023, and the final EIS is expected to be issued in
the second quarter of 2023. The comment period for the SDEIS will be
for 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes
the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Tongass National Forest, 648 Mission Street, Suite No. 110,
Ketchikan, AK 99901.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monique Nelson, project manager, by
phone at 1-907-209-4090 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d5b8babbbca4a0b0fbbbb0b9a6babb95a0a6b1b4fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5d8dadbdcc4c0d09bdbd0d9c6dadbf5c0c6d1d49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a
day, every day of the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the project is to update infrastructure and create
recreation opportunities at the MGRA that can accommodate projected
future visitor use while protecting the unique characteristics and
outstanding beauty of the area. The project is needed to continue to
provide quality opportunities for all visitors to enjoy the Recreation
Area, to provide new recreation and interpretation experiences that
emphasize the area's outstanding scenery and wildlife resources even as
the glacier recedes out of view of the existing Visitor Center, to meet
the demand of the visitor industry and support the economy of Southeast
Alaska, and to protect the area from environmental impacts associated
with increased visitation.
Proposed Action
The proposed action was described in the December 16, 2020 notice
of intent and as alternative 2 in the draft EIS. The proposed action
includes expansion of the two main parking areas nearest the existing
Visitor Center, requiring fill of Zigzag pond; reconfiguration and
paving of the commercial bus parking lot and addition of a maintenance
building; replacement of a covered outdoor pavilion and parking area
shelter with a new 14,000 square-foot Welcome Center, outdoor plaza
with amphitheater, interpretive and wayfinding signs, and waiting
shelters; renovations to the historic Visitor Center; improvements to
the existing Steep Creek, Nugget Falls, and Photo
[[Page 67437]]
Point Trails; installation of three new paved trailheads along the
Glacier Spur Road; creation of a new 2.2 mile paved Lakeshore Trail
along the south shore of Mendenhall Lake from the Welcome Center
Complex to the Mendenhall Campground, with a bridge across the
Mendenhall River; creation of a new day use area at the Mendenhall
Campground; construction of up to five new public use rental cabins at
the Mendenhall Campground; realignment and restoration of about 1,500
feet of Steep Creek and replacement of perched culverts with a bridge
at the Glacier Spur Road; addition of multi-use trails in the Dredge
Lakes and West Glacier areas; construction of three boat docks and
support facilities and addition of ferry service with 49-passenger
motorized boats from the Welcome Center area to the proposed Remote
Glacier Visitor Area; creation of a Remote Glacier Visitor Area with
seasonal structures, restroom facilities, and trails; increases to
visitor capacity and commercial use management allocations to
accommodate 30-year use projections; and changes to recreation area
unit boundries and recreation opportunity spectrum designations.
Preliminary Alternatives
The draft EIS analyzed the no action alternative, proposed action,
and two additional action alternatives. Alternative 1 is the no action
alternative, and alternative 2 is the proposed action. Alternative 3
differs from the proposed action in that the expanded parking areas do
not require filling Zigzag pond; Welcome Center outdoor plazas are
smaller; Lakeshore Trail is routed inland before crossing Mendenhall
River to the campground; configurations for the Steep Creek Trail and
the crossing at Glacier Spur Road are different; configurations for
docks at the Welcome Center and West Glacier areas are different and
the Remote Glacier Visitor Area requires only a landing beach; 35-
passenger electric motorized boats with drop-bow would be used for
ferry service; and changes to visitor capacity and commercial use
management allocations would accommodate 20-year projections.
Alternative 4 differs from the proposed action in that the expanded
parking areas do not require filling Zigzag pond; Welcome Center
outdoor plaza area is smaller, with no lower plaza or amphitheater;
Lakeshore Trail is 1-mile long and does not include a bridge to
Mendenhall Campground; configurations for the Steep Creek Trail and the
crossing at Glacier Spur Road are different; there are no boat docks,
ferry service, or Remote Glacier Visitor Area; and changes to visitor
capacity and commercial use management allocations would accommodate
15-year projections. All three action alterntives included the same
proposed design and location for the proposed Welcome Center.
The SDEIS will include three additional action alternatives.
Alternative 5 includes a revised design and slightly modified location
for the Welcome Center, still near the location of the existing
pavilion near the lakeshore. Alternative 5 also refines many of the
other proposals included in the proposed Action, including refined
parking lot configurations; refined Lakeshore Trail alignment; a new
proposal for parking expansion at the Skater's Cabin area rather than
within the Mendenhall Campground; refinement of the proposal for the
Glacier Spur Road crossing of Steep Creek using a bottomless arch for
wildlife crossing only; and allowance of 49-passenger electric
motorized boats for ferry service to a modified Remote Glacier Visitor
Area.
Alternative 6 includes a Welcome Center set in the rocks near the
historic Visitor Center and away from the Lakeshore; remote bus drop
off with electric shuttle service to the Welcome Center; an alternative
proposal for the Glacier Spur Road crossing of Steep Creek using a
bottomless arch for wildlife crossing and a separate human underpass;
no boat docks, ferry service, or Remote Glacier Visitor Area; and other
refinements the same as Alternative 5.
Alternative 7 includes a Welcome Center and expanded bus parking
located away from Mendenhall Lake at the commercial bus lot with
electric shuttle service to the Visitor Center, and other refinements
the same as Alternative 5.
Expected Impacts
The draft EIS disclosed that impacts were expected to be
negligible, minor, or moderate for most resources. The analysis
disclosed major effects to scenic resources from Alternatives 2 and 3,
and permanent, adverse effects to essential fish habitat for all action
alternatives. The SDEIS will add to the analysis of these issues for
the additional action alternatives.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency. The National Oceanic and
Atomospheric Association, National Marine Fisheries Service is a
cooperating agency.
Responsible Official
Tongass National Forest Supervisor.
Scoping Process
A notice of intent published on December 16, 2020 initated the
scoping process for the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility
Improvements Project. In accordance with 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4), no
further scoping will be conducted for this SDEIS. The SDEIS will be
available for public comment as required by 40 CFR 1503.1. The SDEIS
will be announced for public review and comment in the Federal Register
and in the Ketchikan Daily News.
Permits, Licenses or Other Authorizations Required
Prior to implementation of the project, the Forest Service will
obtain all necessary permits or authorizations from other Federal and
State agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National
Marine Fisheries Service, State of Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, State of Alaska
Office of History and Archaeology, and Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will review the no action alternative, the
proposed action, other action alternatives, and the environmental
consequences of each alternative to make decisions that include: (1)
whether to construct new or improve existing facilities at the MGRA;
(2) whether to increase visitor capacity and commercial use of the MGRA
or specific management units; (3) whether to approve additional forest
orders associated with management of the MGRA; and (4) whether any
mitigation measures or monitoring will be required as part of
implementation.
Dated: November 3, 2022.
Sandra Watts,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2022-24328 Filed 11-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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