Chapter 1 

Purpose and Need 
Chapter 1 

Table of Contents 

Introduction........................................................................................... 1 

Purpose and Need ................................................................................. 2 

The Decision Making Process .............................................................. 3 

Decisions to be Made............................................................................ 3 

Proposed Action (Alternative 2) ........................................................... 3 

Description of the Project Area............................................................. 4 

Public Involvement ............................................................................. 13 

Consultation with Federally Recognized Tribal Governments and 

Tribal Corporations............................................................................. 14 

Significant Issues ................................................................................ 15 

Other Issues and Concerns.................................................................. 17 

Federal and State Permits, Licenses and Certifications...................... 19 

Applicable Laws and Executive Orders.............................................. 20 
Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 1 

 

Chapter 1 

Purpose and Need 

Introduction 

The Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest project area is located 

centrally on the western portion of Kupreanof Island, on the 

Petersburg Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest, Alaska 

Region (Region 10) of the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (see Vicinity Map, Figure 1-1). 

This chapter discusses the background of the Central Kupreanof 

Timber Harvest project and tiers to the 2008 Tongass Land and 

Resource Management Plan FEIS (referred to as the Forest Plan in this 

document). It includes the steps taken to identify environmental issues 

and public concerns related to implementation of the project. 

Document Structure 

The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. 

This Environmental Impact Statement discloses the direct, indirect, 

and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the 

proposed action and alternatives. The document is organized into four 

chapters: 

Chapter 1. Purpose and Need: The chapter includes information on 

the history of the project proposal, the purpose of and need for the 

project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. 

This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of 

the proposal and how the public responded. 

Chapter 2. Alternatives: This chapter provides a more detailed 

description of the agency’s proposed action as well as alternative 

methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were 

developed based on significant issues raised by the public and other 

agencies. This discussion also includes mitigation measures. Finally, 

this chapter provides a summary table of the environmental 

consequences associated with each alternative. 
1 Purpose and Need 

2  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Effects: This 

chapter describes the environmental effects of implementing the 

proposed action and other alternatives. 

Chapter 4. References and Lists: This chapter provides a glossary, 

references, a list of preparers consulted during the development of the 

environmental impact statement, a list of DEIS recipients and an index 

that provides page numbers by document topic. 

Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to 

support the analyses presented in the environmental impact statement. 

Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of 

project-area resources, may be found in the project record located at 

the Petersburg Ranger District. 

Purpose and Need 

The purpose and need for the proposed action responds to the goals 

and objectives identified by the Tongass Land and Resource 

Management Plan, and helps move the area toward the desired 

conditions as described in the Forest Plan. The Forest Supervisor is 

the Responsible Official for this action and will decide whether or not 

to harvest timber from the Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest area, 

and if so, how this timber will be harvested. The decision will be 

based on the information that is disclosed in the environmental impact 

statement. The Responsible Official will consider comments, 

responses, the disclosure of environmental consequences, and 

applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making the decision and 

will state that rationale in the Record of Decision. 

The purpose of the Central Kupreanof Timber 

Harvest project is to: 

 Manage the timber resource for production of sawtimber 

and other wood products from suitable lands made 

available for timber harvest on an even-flow, long-term 

sustained yield basis, and in an economically efficient 

manner. 

 Seek to provide a timber supply sufficient to meet the 

annual market demand for Tongass National Forest timber 

and the market demand for the planning cycle. 

 Provide for a diversity of opportunities for resource uses 

that contribute to the local and regional economies of 

Southeast Alaska. 

Appendix A of this document provides information on how this project 

relates to the overall Tongass National Forest timber sale program, and 

why the project is being scheduled at this time. 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 3 

The Decision Making Process 

National Forest planning takes place at several levels. Decisionmaking begins with long-range planning at the national level, 

continuing down through the regional and forest levels to the project 

level. The Central Kupreanof project is part of this hierarchical 

planning process. This EIS is a project-level analysis; its scope is 

confined to issues associated with the Central Kupreanof project area. 

This EIS does not attempt to address decisions made at higher levels. 

It does, however, implement direction provided at those higher levels. 

Decisions to be Made 

Based on the environmental analysis in this EIS, the Forest Supervisor 

will decide whether and how to implement activities within the Central 

Kupreanof Project Area in accordance with Forest Plan goals, 

objectives, and desired conditions. The decision may include the 

following: 

 The location, amount, and method of timber harvest, road 

construction, marine access facilities, and silvicultural 

practices. 

 Road management objectives for constructed, reconstructed 

and existing roads associated with the timber sale. 

 Any necessary project-specific mitigation design, mitigation 

measures and monitoring requirements. 

 Whether to implement the Project Opportunities common to all 

action alternatives. 

 A determination of whether there may be a possibility of a 

significant change in subsistence uses and access. 

 A Microsale program along existing NFS Roads 6030, 6040, 

6314, 6314S, 6326, 6328, 6334, 6336, 6339, and 6367. 

Proposed Action (Alternative 2) 

The proposed action, as published in the Federal Register, provides for 

multiple timber sale opportunities and would result in the production of 

approximately 40 million board feet (MMBF) of timber from 

approximately 2,025 acres of forested land. Up to 11.1 miles of National 

Forest System (NFS) roads and 7.0 miles of temporary roads may be 

necessary for timber harvest. Through two field seasons and the 

interdisciplinary process, the proposed action has been adjusted to respond 

to on the ground conditions and resource concerns while remaining within 

the scope of the original proposed action. The Proposed Action for this 

project still provides for multiple timber sale opportunities and will result 
1 Purpose and Need 

4  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

in the production of approximately 46.8 MMBF (about 39.4 MMBF of 

sawlog and 7.4 MMBF of utility) from 2,506 acres of forested land. Up to 

7.3 miles of new NFS and up to 3.9 miles of temporary road would be 

constructed for timber harvest. A range of alternatives, responsive to 

significant issues, has been developed and includes a no action alternative. 

The interdisciplinary team has identified several projects within the 

project area that could serve as stewardship opportunities along side the 

timber harvest proposal. These projects consist mainly of trail 

maintenance, pre-commercial thinning opportunities (both for silvicultural 

and wildlife purposes) fisheries and hydrology opportunities, and road 

maintenance activities. These projects will be analyzed as common to all 

action alternatives. (See Chapter 2, pages 8 and 9.) 

Description of the Project Area 

Central Kupreanof is located on the Petersburg Ranger District of the 

Tongass National Forest. The project area is on Kupreanof Island, 

approximately 30 air miles northwest of Petersburg. The northern end 

of the project area begins about 9 miles southeast of the Community of 

Kake and will utilize the Kake road system. It includes approximately 

152,517 acres, and its boundaries follow the boundary of value 

comparison units (VCUs) 429, 438, 426, 436, and 427.1. 

The project area contains portions of the Castle, Rocky Pass, North 

Kupreanof, and South Kupreanof Inventoried Roadless Areas. 

Approximately 123,297 acres of inventoried roadless area are included 

within the project area boundary. 

Recent, Current and Future Management 

Activities in the Central Kupreanof Area 

Listed below are the past, current and future management activities 

within, or adjacent to, the Central Kupreanof project area. For a 

complete listing of all projects up to the summer of 2008 see Appendix 

C in this document. 

Past Management Activities 

Timber harvest has previously occurred on about 4,615 acres within 

the project area. Harvest in the area began in 1967. The most recent 

timber harvest took place in 2002. 

There are approximately 79 miles of existing road in the project area. 

Currently 64 miles of road are open to motorized vehicles. Road 

maintenance and use of existing rock sources are ongoing. 

The Upper Keku fishpass is within the project area. This structure was 

completed in 1985 to provide fish passage for Steelhead trout and 

Managed Stands 

Road 

Management 

Fishpasses 
Legend

Project Area Boundary

Non-National Forest

Salt Water

Central Kupreanof

Figure 1-1

Vicinity Map

0 4 8 2 12 16

Miles ±

c:/workspace/ckupre/plots/deis/fig1_1_vicinity.mxd 09-20-08 EP

Kake

Kupreanof Island

Kuiu Island

Mitkof

Island

Petersburg

Prince of Wales

Island

Zarembo

Island

F R E D E R I C K S O U N D

S U M N E R S T R A I T

Hamilton LTF
1 Purpose and Need 

6  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

 Coho salmon. The Keku fishpass is upstream from the Irish Creek 

fish pass. 

Recent Management Activities 

The Kupreanof Island Analysis (September 2000) looked at current 

conditions on Kupreanof Island, effects of management activities 

island-wide, future desired conditions and possible future projects. 

On the Lindenburg Peninsula of Kupreanof Island, timber harvest 

activities have been taking place since 1997. The remaining units in 

the South Lindenburg Timber Sale were harvested beginning in the 

summer of 2006, and continued through the summer of 2008. The 

road system for this area does not connect to the proposed project area. 

In October of 2006, the Scott Peak Project Area Record of Decision 

approved the harvest of approximately 8.3 million board feet 

(MMBF). Located in the northeast corner of Kupreanof Island, on the 

opposite side of Duncan Canal, the road system for this area does not 

connect to the proposed project area. 

In the foreseeable future, there may be harvest of remaining timber 

units from the Bohemia and Todahl Backline sales. These units are 

also located in the northeast corner of Kupreanof Island, west of 

Portage Bay. 

Future Management Activities 

The Forest Plan identified two potential power transmission corridors 

that would link the city of Kake to the Tyee transmission line that 

currently serves Petersburg and Wrangell. The Kake – Petersburg 

Intertie Study (KPTL) Final Report, which was prepared for the 

Southeast Conference, was completed in July 2005. 

There are two to three small timber sales associated with the 6367 

Small Timber Sale CE, consisting of approximately 60 total acres of 

partial harvest on Forest System lands, just north of the project area. 

This will likely occur in 2008 through 2010. Microsales may occur in 

the project area or adjacent to the project area on Forest System lands. 

Other than the proposed project, there are no ongoing or planned large 

scale timber sales within the Central Kupreanof project area at this 

time. Road maintenance within the project area is ongoing. 

The Federal Highway Kake to Seal Point Access Project is ongoing 

with field investigation to support bridge replacements and road 

construction. There was an Environmental Assessment completed for 

this project in August of 2002. 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 7 

Relationship to the Forest Plan 

Chapter 2 of the Forest Plan discusses the Forest-wide multiple use 

goals and objectives for the Tongass National Forest. The concept of 

multiple use is applied at the Forest level. Not every acre or every 

management prescription will achieve all goals for all resources. The 

goals are reached at the Forest level by providing a mosaic of land and 

resource conditions based on the 19 Land Use Designations described 

in Chapter 3 of the Forest Plan. Chapter 4 of the Forest Plan contains 

the standards and guidelines that guide the protection or management 

of each resource. Standards and guidelines were designed so that all 

activities are integrated to meet land allocation objectives. 

Many of the standards and guidelines applicable to the activities 

proposed in the Central Kupreanof Project Area are listed under 

“Design Criteria” in Chapter 2 of this EIS, and on the Unit and Road 

Cards in Appendix B. 

Forest Plan Land Use Designations (LUDs) 

The Forest Plan uses management prescriptions and land use 

designations that focus on the management of the National Forest 

System lands within different areas of the Tongass National Forest. 

Each land use designation (LUD) provides for a combination of goals 

and objectives, activities, practices, and uses. Chapter 3 of the Forest 

Plan contains a detailed description of each land use designation. 

The Central Kupreanof Project Area includes seven of these land use 

designations - Timber Production, Old-growth Habitat, Semi-remote 

Recreation, Modified Landscape, Special Interest Area, Remote 

Recreation and Wilderness. Goals, objectives and desired conditions 

of each are summarized below. The locations of each land use 

designation on Kupreanof Island, including the Central Kupreanof 

Project Area, are shown on Figure 1-2. 

The Timber Production LUD makes up approximately 72% of the 

National Forest System lands in the project area. See pages 3-116 

through 3-121 of the Forest Plan for an expanded description of this 

LUD. 

Approximately 12% of the National Forest System lands in the project 

area are allocated to the Old-growth Habitat LUD (Table 1-1) in the 

Forest Plan. See pages 3-57 through 3-62 of the Forest Plan for an 

expanded description of this LUD. 

Approximately 10% of the National Forest System lands in the project 

area are allocated to the Semi-remote-Recreation (Table 1-1) in the 

Forest Plan. See pages 3-63 through 3-68 in the Forest Plan for an 

expanded description of this LUD. 

Timber 

Production LUD 

Old-growth 

Habitat LUD 

Semi-remote 

Recreation LUD 
1 Purpose and Need 

8  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

Approximately 5% of the National Forest System lands in the project 

area are allocated to the Modified Landscape LUD (Table 1-1) in the 

Forest Plan. See pages 3-109 through 3-115 in the Forest Plan for an 

expanded description of this LUD. 

Less than 1% of the National Forest System lands in the project area 

are allocated to the Remote Recreation LUD. See pages 3-45 through 

3-50 in the Forest Plan for an expanded description of this LUD. 

Less than 1 % of the National Forest System lands in the project area 

are allocated to the Special Interest Area LUD. The Hamilton River 

Red Cedar Special Use area is the only special use area in this project. 

See pages 3-40 through 3-44 in the Forest Plan for an expanded 

description of this LUD. 

Less than 1 % of the National Forest System lands in the project area 

are allocated to the Wilderness LUD. See pages 3-7 through 3-25 in 

the Forest Plan for an expanded description of this LUD. 

Modified 

Landscape LUD 

Remote 

Recreation LUD 

Special Interest 

Area 

Wilderness 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 9 

Table 1-1. 

Forest Plan Land Use Designations within the Central 

Kupreanof Project Area2 

Land Use Designation Kupreanof 

Island 

Central 

Kupreanof 

Project Area 

Non-development LUDs1 

Special Interest Area (Hamilton 

River Red Cedar Area) 

84 acres 84 acres 

Remote Recreation 18,943 acres 24 acres 

Old-growth Habitat 102,341 acres 18,990 acres 

Semi-remote Recreation 84,430 acres 16,116 acres 

Wilderness 44,000 12 acres 

Total acres 249,798 acres 35,226 acres 

Development LUDs 

Modified Landscape 48,880 acres 7,666 acres 

Timber Production 307,648 acres 109,601 acres

Total acres 356,528 acres 117,267, acres

Non-National Forest System Land58,470 acres 0 acres 

1 Non development LUDs generally do not permit timber harvest or road 

construction. Development LUDs allow these activities under certain conditions. 

2

Total LUD acres vary from total project area acres due to slivers. 

Timber sale Program Adaptive Management 

Strategy 

In an effort to balance competing demands for timber production and 

preservation of undeveloped areas, the Timber Sale Program Adaptive 

Management Strategy was approved. Under this strategy, the 

operation of the timber sale program will be implemented in three 

phases, as determined by actual timber harvest levels. 

Phase 1 includes most of the roaded portion of the suitable land base, 

along with most of the lower value inventoried roadless areas. The 

moderate and higher value roadless areas are excluded. The Phase 1 

Phase 1 
1 Purpose and Need 

10  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

portion of the land base could sustain a level of timber harvest of about 

150 MMBF. The scheduled timber sale program will generally be 

confined to this land base until such time as the level of timber harvest 

reaches at least 100 MMBF for two consecutive years. Personal use of 

timber, Microsales, salvage sales, small commercial timber sales 

generally less than one MMBF, young-growth management projects, 

and the roads associated with these activities, would be allowed in 

development LUDs outside of the Phase 1 portion of the suitable land 

base. 

Phase 2 includes Phase 1 lands as explained above and most of the 

moderate value roadless areas. The Phase 2 portion of the suitable 

land base could sustain a level of timber harvest of about 200 MMBF. 

The scheduled timber sale program will generally be confined to this 

land base until such time as the level of timber harvest reaches at least 

150 MMBF for two consecutive years. Personal use of timber, micro 

sales, salvage sales, small commercial timber sales generally less than 

one MMBF, young-growth management projects, and the roads 

associated with these activities, would be allowed in development 

LUDs outside of the Phase 2 portion of the suitable land base. 

Phase 3 includes the remaining suitable land base including all of the 

Phase 1 and 2 lands and the higher value Inventoried Roadless Areas 

within development LUDs. 

The Central Kupreanof project area is contained within suitable lands 

identified as Phase 1. 

2008 Forest Plan 

The 2008 Forest Plan improves the network of small old-growth 

reserves through work completed by an interagency team. Biologists 

from the State of Alaska, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and 

the Forest Service reviewed nearly 300 small old-growth reserves 

identified in the 1997 Forest Plan and recommended reconfiguration 

for many of them. The amended Forest Plan finalized the location of 

the majority of the small OGRs; therefore, project level reviews are 

not necessary, except as outlined in the Forest Plan, Appendix K. No 

review is necessary for the small old-growth reserves within the 

Central Kupreanof project area. 

The 2008 Forest Plan approved expansion of Geologic Special Interest 

Areas to protect nearly 47,000 acres of newly identified karst lands 

that are most vulnerable to disturbance from development. No 

Geological Special Interest Areas were identified in the Central 

Kupreanof project area. 

Phase 2 

Phase 3 
4360

4350

4380

4280

4290

4271 4400

4411

4410

4260

4420

4430

4240

±

Duncan 

Canal

Rocky Pass

Legend

Modified Landscape

Old-growth Reserve

Remote Recreation

Special Interest Area

Semi-Remote Recreation

Timber

Wilderness

Salt Water

Project Area Boundary

VCU

c:/workspace/ckupre/plots/deis/fig1_2_lud.mxd 09-20-08 EP

±Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest

Figure 1-2

Land Use Designations
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 13 

Public Involvement 

Public involvement is a key component of the planning process. The 

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) defines scoping as “an early 

and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed 

and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action” 

(40 CFR 1501.7). Among other things, the scoping process is used to 

invite public participation, to help identify public issues, and to obtain 

public comment at various stages of the environmental analysis 

process. Scoping begins early and is a process that continues until a 

decision is made. Comments received at other levels of the planning 

process, such as for the Forest Plan and the landscape level analysis, 

were also considered. The following paragraphs describe the public 

involvement activities that have occurred for the Project Area analysis. 

Public scoping began in October 2006, and was repeated in January of 

2008. Each time a newsletter identifying the Project Area and 

requesting information on site-specific concerns was mailed to 

approximately 260 people and agencies who: requested to be on the 

project mailing list, previously expressed interest in timber sale 

proposals, and either own property or conduct business near the 

Project Area, and local, state and federal agencies and federally 

recognized tribal governments. 

The project mailing list is frequently updated to accommodate requests 

for additions, deletions, and address changes. 

The Forest Service received 35 comments in response to these 

mailings. While some comments supported the proposed timber sale, 

most expressed concerns about additional road construction, 

uneconomic timber harvest, disturbance to wildlife, access to 

subsistence activities, clearcutting as a harvest method, and the 

cumulative effects of additional harvest on previously harvested 

watersheds. 

Open houses that included information about the Central Kupreanof 

Timber Harvest project were held on May 5th, 2008 in Petersburg and 

July 7th in Kake. The open house, in Petersburg was advertised in the 

Petersburg Pilot, the local weekly newspaper in Petersburg, and on 

KFSK Public Radio in Petersburg. Flyers were posted on bulletin 

boards throughout Petersburg. The open house in Kake was also 

advertised by flyers posted in Kake as well as announcements 

broadcasted across the local CB channel. 

A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was 

published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2006. 

Public Mailing 

Open Houses 

Notice of Intent 
1 Purpose and Need 

14  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

The Forest Service is committed to working closely with other 

agencies at all stages of planning. The agency is responsible for 

coordinating reviews of the project by several other agencies. In some 

cases, the reviews are required because another agency has authority to 

issue permits for certain proposed activities. In other cases, the 

reviews allow interaction with other agencies with responsibilities for 

certain environmental conditions, like clean water or healthy wildlife 

populations. This interagency cooperation helps identify the means to 

avoid or mitigate possible harmful environmental effects. In many 

cases, an ongoing professional dialogue is maintained with these 

agencies throughout the planning process. 

The following are agencies that have been consulted about this project: 

 Alaska Department of Fish and Game 

 Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation 

 Alaska Office of History and Archaeology 

 Alaska Department of Natural Resources 

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

 National Marine Fisheries Service 

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Consultation with Federally Recognized 

Tribal Governments and Tribal Corporations 

Consultation with federally recognized tribal governments included 

government-to-government and staff level communications. 

Throughout the span of the Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest the 

District Ranger and archaeologists communicated with the Organized 

Village of Kake, Petersburg Indian Association, Wrangell Cooperative 

Association, Sealaska Corporation, Tlingit/Haida Central Council, and 

Kake Tribal Corporation. Archaeologists on the Petersburg Ranger 

District work regularly with the Organized Village of Kake (OVK) on 

a number of issues and provide frequent updates detailing Forest 

Service projects. Archaeologists met with representatives from OVK 

to discuss archaeological work in the Central Kupreanof area and 

present information regarding the proposed timber harvest in the 

project area. The District Ranger has also discussed, with OVK 

potential project opportunities associated with this project. In a 

meeting in May of 2008 OVK indicated they were interested in 

discussing further stewardship contract opportunities, particularly 

Consultation 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 15 

roadwork opportunities and invasive plant treatments. 

Regular consultation will continue throughout the planning of this 

project and beyond. 

Significant Issues 

Significant issues are used to formulate and design alternatives, 

prescribe mitigation measures, and analyze significant effects. 

Significant issues for the Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest have been 

identified through public and internal scoping. Similar issues are 

combined where appropriate. Issues can arise from a variety of 

sources, including: 

 Issues, concerns, and opportunities identified in the Forest 

Plan, 

 Issues identified for similar projects (past actions) 

 Current internal issues, 

 Changes in public uses, attitudes, values, or perceptions, 

 Issues raised by the public during scoping, and 

 Comments from other government agencies. 

Measures of the significance of an issue are based on the extent of the 

geographic distribution, the duration of the related effects, or the 

intensity of interest or resource conflict surrounding the issue. For an 

issue to be considered significant at the project level, it must be 

relevant to the specific project so that it can be appropriately addressed 

at the project level. Some issues have already been resolved through 

national level direction or analyzed at the Forest Plan level. 

Once a significant issue is identified, measures are developed to 

analyze how each alternative responds to the issue. Measures are 

chosen that are quantitative (where possible), predictable, responsive 

to the issue, and linked to cause and effect relationships. These 

measures describe how the alternative affects the resource(s) at the 

heart of the issue. Monitoring and mitigation of the anticipated 

environmental effects of the project are also designed to be responsive 

to significant issues. 

These issues are addressed through the proposed action and the 

alternatives. 

Issue statement: Optimizing volume and net return on timber harvest 

will provide for flexibility, in both the long and short term, for offering 

economically viable timber sales. 

This issue relates to the viability of the local economies, both on 

Issue 1 – Timber 

Supply and Sale 

Economics 
1 Purpose and Need 

16  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

Kupreanof Island and within Southeast Alaska. It concerns proposed 

timber sales, the potential employment and revenues generated by the 

project, and the ability of smaller companies to compete for timber 

sales in the project area. It also relates to the availability of a timber 

supply and overall ability to respond to ever-changing future markets. 

This issue addresses both maximizing timber harvest and “best” 

economics. While looking at financial efficiency analysis is one tool to 

gauge economics, a greater number of units/larger volume available 

allows for greater diversity and flexibility in responding to future 

market demands and to appropriately packaging potential sales. Also, 

with the 2008 Forest Plan decision and implementation of the adaptive 

management strategy, timber economics must consider maximizing 

opportunities in the Phase 1 land base. 

Units of Measure 

The unit of measure to compare alternatives will include timber 

volume measured in million board feet (MMBF), logging costs per 

thousand board feet (MBF), indicated bid in dollars per MBF, 

employment in number of direct job years, direct income based on 

projected employment, and logging systems by harvest method (acres). 

The unit of measure will also include a qualitative discussion of an 

alternative’s ability to provide for greater diversity and flexibility in 

responding to future market demands and packaging a variety of 

potential sales. 

Issue statement: Timber harvest and building roads in inventoried 

roadless areas will reduce roadless acres within the project area and 

affect roadless values as identified in the 2003 Tongass Land 

Management Plan Revision Final Supplemental Environmental Impact 

Statement – Roadless Area Evaluation for Wilderness 

Recommendations ( 2003 Forest Plan SEIS). 

This issue relates to timber harvest and the related construction of new 

roads to facilitate timber harvest in inventoried roadless areas. 

Additional roads and harvest would result in reducing acres of roadless 

area in the project area, and could affect roadless values as identified 

in the 2003 Forest Plan SEIS. Nationally, inventoried roadless areas 

are considered to have valuable qualities. Several comments were 

received from the public concerning management of roadless in the 

project area. Three of the four inventoried roadless areas within the 

project area may be directly affected by proposed activities. 

Unit of Measure 

Comparison of alternatives will include acres of inventoried roadless 

areas affected, percent of inventoried roadless areas affected, and the 

effects to the roadless values of each inventoried roadless area as 

identified in the 2003 Forest Plan SEIS. 

Issue 2- 

Inventoried 

Roadless Areas 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 17 

Issue statement: Road building, reconstruction and closures 

associated with the timber sale may change access within the project 

area. 

The construction and use of forest roads is the focus of much concern 

on both a national and local scale. Comments ranged from requesting 

no more new roads and closure of most existing roads to requests to 

increase access by new roads and opening more existing roads. 

Decisions made from the analysis in this EIS will include proposed 

road construction in each alternative (new construction and 

reconstruction), use of existing NFS roads, and the status of these 

roads after timber harvest. 

Roads influence wildlife populations, water quality, subsistence use, 

the type of recreational opportunities available. Concerns were also 

expressed over the ability to maintain open roads. The District will 

look at road management objectives across the district, including the 

entire Kake Road System during the District Road Analysis Process 

(RAP). Recommendations for roads not associated with the proposed 

activities will be carried forward and analyzed through the District’s 

NEPA Access Travel Management (ATM) process by 2009. 

Unit of Measure 

Comparison of alternatives will include miles of road (NFS and 

temporary) constructed, miles of reconstructed road, miles of road to 

be left open, miles of road to be closed associated with timber harvest 

activities, miles of new NFS and temporary road to be constructed in 

inventoried roadless areas, cost of maintenance for open roads, 

reconstruction, and new (NFS and temporary) road construction. 

Other Issues and Concerns 

Each comment received during scoping was considered a potential 

issue. Some concerns and suggestions brought up by the public were 

considered but determined not to be alternative-driving issues. Some 

of these issues are already addressed through other processes or in the 

Forest Plan, through protection via Forest Plan Standards and 

Guidelines or through LUD designations (see Design Criteria 

Common to All Action Alternatives in Chapter 2 and unit cards in 

Appendix B), or their resolution is beyond the scope of this project. 

Where possible, suggestions about the Central Kupreanof Timber 

Harvest project were incorporated into the design of the Proposed 

Action and alternatives (see Chapter 2 of this DEIS). Additionally, 

some concerns and suggestions for the analysis of the timber sales 

were considered but eliminated from detailed analysis for the reasons 

discussed in Chapter 2 of this DEIS (Alternatives Considered but 

Eliminated from Detailed Analysis). 

The following issues were considered but determined not to be 

Issue 3- Road 

Management/ 

Access 
1 Purpose and Need 

18  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

alternative driving issues. The rationale for why these issues were 

determined to be non-significant is included below. As needed, 

resource effects related to these concerns are discussed in Chapter 3. 

Comments expressed concerns about the impacts of harvest and road 

building in the headwaters of the Castle River watershed; and of 

timber harvest and road building on fisheries and hydrological 

functions in general. Ultimately, proposed harvest units and road 

building would affect less than one percent (0.3%) of the headwaters 

of this watershed. 

Particular concerns were expressed about cumulative effects of such 

proposed activities in project area watersheds. Currently, there are no 

watersheds that require a watershed analysis as described in Appendix 

C of the Forest Plan. In fact, very little harvest has taken place in any 

watershed within the project area (Hamilton has had the most past 

harvest with 5.1% affected). Also, the project unit pool is fairly spread 

out across the project area and doesn’t propose any real concentration 

of harvest in any one watershed. 

Impacts to recreation opportunities are expected to be minimal with 

the proposed action and therefore recreation is not a significant issue. 

Local residents have expressed concern for the possible effects timber 

harvest may have on wildlife and, in particular, on deer habitat. An 

alternative was looked at that responded to deer habitat concerns but 

eliminated from further study because estimated effects on deer habitat 

within the project area were minimal. 

Design elements of the deer habitat alternative were brought forward 

into the proposed action. Specifically, units in acres of concentrated 

past and proposed harvest were dropped or prescribed with 50 percent 

retention to facilitate potential travel corridors. Also, units were 

dropped to promote additional connectivity between small old growth 

reserves. In response to the reduction of volume, additional units with 

no deer habitat or wildlife issues were added to the proposed action. 

This issue is outside of the scope of this project and is addressed in the 

Forest Plan and through the No Action Alternative. The majority of 

the Project Area is allocated to the Timber Production LUD, where 

timber harvest is permitted. 

Fisheries 

/Hydrology/Water

sheds 

Recreation 

Wildlife 

No Timber 

Harvest 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 19 

Current levels of timber harvest on the Tongass are not expected to 

have an adverse affect on the quantity or composition of cedar (or any 

species) in the future. In many cases where single tree selection or 

two-aged management is applied, the amount of residual cedar left is 

proportional to the amount prior to harvest. Since both cedars are 

shade intolerant, overstory removal of hemlock could release cedar if 

advanced regeneration is present. Silvicultural treatments in young 

growth stands, such as precommercial thinning, pruning, and 

commercial thinning, typically emphasize release of cedars to maintain 

species composition and because they are valuable crop trees for future 

harvest. 

Initial field surveys show plants are not a significant issue. Rare and 

sensitive species will be considered and applicable Forest Plan 

direction applied to their protection. 

Socioeconomics is addressed through the Forest Plan and therefore is 

not a significant issue. Further, there are no permitted outfitter/guides 

within the project area and there hasn’t been for several years. 

Recreation, scenery, and subsistence concerns are routinely analyzed 

for projects. 

Subsistence was considered as an issue for this project. Upon further 

review of the field data and public comments, the concern with 

subsistence pointed more to hunter access and both increased and 

decreased access associated with the proposed road building and 

closures. Access has been identified as a Significant Issue. The use of 

the Districts’ NEPA Access Travel Management (ATM) process will 

address access for the larger Kake road system by 2009. 

Federal and State Permits, Licenses and 

Certifications 

Prior to implementation of the proposed timber sale, various permits 

need to be obtained from other Federal and State agencies. Some 

permits are already in place for the Central Kupreanof project; others 

would have to be obtained. 

No wetlands permits are necessary from the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers because roads built in wetlands are for silvicultural purposes 

and will follow the 33CFR 323 guidelines to avoid and minimize 

impacts to wetlands. 

Storm water discharge permit - the timber sale contractor would 

acquire this permit. A permit for National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System review (Section 402 of the Clean Water Act) is 

held by the US Forest Service. 

Cedar 

Composition 

Plants 

Socioeconomics 

Subsistence 
1 Purpose and Need 

20  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

Permits will be needed from the Corps of Engineers and the State of 

Alaska if large amounts of fuel were stored in the project area for 

helicopter yarding- the timber sale contractor would acquire these 

permits. 

Applicable Laws and Executive Orders 

Shown below is a partial list of Federal laws and executive orders 

pertaining to project-specific planning and environmental analysis on 

Federal lands. While most pertain to all Federal lands, some of the 

laws are specific to Alaska. Disclosures and findings required by these 

laws and orders are contained in Chapter 3 of this DEIS. 

 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971 

 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) 

of 1980 

 American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 

 Archeological Resource Protection Act of 1980 

 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (as amended) 

 Cave Resource Protection Act of 1988 

 Clean Air Act of 1970 (as amended) 

 Clean Water Act of 1977 (as amended) 

 Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (as amended) 

 Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (as amended) 

 Executive Order 11593 (cultural resources) 

 Executive Order 11988 (floodplains) 

 Executive Order 11990 (wetlands) 

 Executive Order 12898 (environmental justice) 

 Executive Order 12962 (aquatic systems and recreational 

fisheries) 

 Executive Order 13007 (Indian sacred sites) 

 Executive Order 13112 (Invasive plant species) 

 Executive Order 13175 (government-to-government 

consultation) 

 Executive Order 13443 (hunting heritage and wildlife 

conservation) 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 21 

 Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act 

(RPA) of 1974 (as amended) 

 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act of 1996 

 Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 

 Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (amended 1936 and 1972) 

 Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 

 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 

(NAGPRA) of 1990 

 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as 

amended) 

 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976 (as 

amended) 

 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended) 

 National Transportation Policy (2001) 

 Organic Act of 1897 

 Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 

 Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA) of 1990 

 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, amended 1986 

Under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), coastal states may 

develop coastal management plans, subject to approval by the 

Secretary of Commerce. Upon approval, Federal agency activities that 

affect any land or water use or any natural resource of the state's 

coastal zone must be consistent, to the maximum extent practicable, 

with the enforceable policies of the state's coastal management plan. 

The Alaska Coastal Management Plan (ACMP) has been approved by 

the Secretary of Commerce. If a Federal agency determines that an 

activity in Alaska has coastal effects, it must evaluate the activity for 

consistency with the applicable enforceable policies of the ACMP, and 

submit a consistency determination to the State for review. To make 

the process more efficient, categories of activities may be evaluated 

and reviewed together under what is called a "general consistency 

determination" (GCD). Upon approval of a GCD, activities within that 

category do not require an individual consistency determination or 

review. The Forest Service has developed a GCD for timber harvest 

activities conducted on the Tongass National Forest, and the State of 

Alaska has agreed that Tongass timber harvest activities are consistent 

to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the 

State of Alaska 
1 Purpose and Need 

22  Chapter 1 Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS 

ACMP. The timber harvest activities, including associated use and 

construction of roads and use of the Little Hamilton permitted LTF, 

proposed in the Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest EIS fall with in the 

scope of the GCD. 

Due to limits on the types of activities that qualify for a GCD, and 

provisions of the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act (FRPA), 

certain activities are outside the scope of the GCD and will continue to 

require individual ACMP consistency review. The GCD does not 

apply to any activity that requires a State or Federal authorization 

under any authority other than FRPA. Nor does it apply to any activity 

related to the planning, construction modification, or removal of any 

structure or facility intended for use by the general public. 

Specifically, it does not apply to logging camps or construction of log 

transfer facilities that require State or Federal permits, or to 

construction or reconstruction of roads that require such non FRPA 

permits. Any Tongass timber sale that involves activities not covered 

by the scope of the GCD continues to require an individual 

consistency determination if those activities have reasonably 

foreseeable effects on coastal uses or resources, but the scope of that 

determination and consistency review will be limited to those portions 

of the project not covered by the GCD. 

The Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest EIS also contains Project 

Opportunities analyzed as common to all action alternatives that are 

outside the scope of the GCD for Tongass timber sales. Consequently, 

only those portions of the analysis related to the proposed Project 

Opportunities will require individual ACMP consistency determination 

or review. The Forest Service has made the required consistency 

determination which is included in this EIS in the Disclosures section 

for Chapter 3. A review will be coordinated through the Alaska 

Department of Natural Resources, Division of Coastal and Ocean 

Management to determine if the State agencies agree with the Forest 

Service’s determination of consistency with the Alaska Coastal 

management Program (ACMP). The State’s response will be reported 

in the Final EIS for this project. 

Availability of the Project Record 

An important consideration in preparation of this DEIS has been 

reduction of paperwork as specified in 40 CFR 1500.4. In general, the 

objective of the EIS is to furnish enough site-specific information to 

demonstrate a reasoned consideration of the environmental impacts of 

the alternatives and how these impacts can be mitigated. The project 

record contains supporting material that documents the NEPA process 

and analysis from the beginning of the project to the publication of the 

Final EIS. The project record is located at the Petersburg Ranger 

District office in Petersburg, Alaska. Reference documents, such as the 
 Purpose and Need 1

Central Kupreanof Timber Harvest DEIS Chapter 1 23 

Forest Plan and the Tongass Timber Reform Act, are available for 

review at public libraries and Forest Service offices throughout 

Southeast Alaska, including the Petersburg Ranger District. The Forest 

Plan is available on CD-ROM and on the Internet 

(http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/).