This public involvement plan has been prepared to present a basic approach for informing and involving potentially affected/interested parties in the Tongass Land Management Plan Revision Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). This plan briefly describes the project background, identifies public involvement objectives, defines potentially affected/interested parties, assigns responsibilities for contacting and involving key parties, describes key public involvement tools and processes, and provides a preliminary implementation schedule. Where appropriate, implementation responsibilities are also identified.
A recent court decision has affected the implementation of the Tongass Land Management Plan Revision. This court decision affects the Record of Decision (ROD) that is in effect and identifies the need for an SEIS.
In Sierra Club, et al. v. Lyons, J00-0009 CV (JKS), on March 30, 2001, the Court found that the Forest Service violated NFMA and NEPA in the Forest Plan Revision by failing to consider any alternatives with new wilderness recommendations. The Forest Service was directed to prepare an SEIS that evaluates and considers roadless areas within the Tongass for recommendations as potential wilderness areas. The Forest Service was also directed to provide the relative contribution to the National Wilderness Preservation System in its analysis of the management situation.
In parallel to this legal process regarding the consideration of potential wilderness areas on the Tongass National Forest, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule of January 12, 2001 is the subject of a number of lawsuits and it appears that this rule may be embroiled in legal uncertainty for a long time. As a result, on June 7, 2001 the Chief of the Forest Service, Dale Bosworth, issued the following direction: 1) he reserved the decision authority for timber harvest and road construction in inventoried roadless areas to himself; 2) all national forests were directed to complete efforts to identify and properly map existing classified roads; and 3) he instructed all national forests to ensure that forest plan amendments and revisions consider the long-term protection and management of unroaded portions of inventoried roadless areas.
The Forest Service aims to develop two-way communication with affected/interested parties regarding issues of concern throughout the life of the project. Specifically, the public involvement program objectives for the SEIS are to:
The SEIS will involve a wide range of potentially affected/interested parties, including: Forest Service staff; agencies and governments; federally recognized native groups; elected officials and local government; media; interest groups; and the general public, defined on a local, regional, and national basis. The following subsections briefly describe each potentially affected/interested party, identify potential concerns of each group, and identify any communication and public involvement tools that might be particularly effective with the specific group.
It is critical that Forest Service employees be kept informed of the SEIS so their input can be solicited at critical points in the project, so Forest Service decisionmakers have up-to-date information, and so a consistent message is conveyed by those employees with direct public contact. All Regional Office, Forest, and District personnel will be kept informed on the SEIS and will be notified on the availability of the notification letter, Draft SEIS, Final SEIS, and project updates through messages with weblinks to the "all employees" mailing list. The notification letter, Draft SEIS, Final SEIS, and other relevant information will be placed on the Tongass National Forest website. Input from employees will be actively solicited along with public comments. If requested, presentations, group meetings, and other interactions with Forest Service employees can be held with members of the SEIS Shadow ID Team.
In addition, representatives from each ranger district, the Forest, the Regional Office, and any identified staff from other national forests will be included on the project mailing list so they receive all public mailings.
One individual, will also be responsible for maintaining timely communications with the Shadow ID Team and the Leadership Team.
Former Tongass Forest Service staff, and other Forest Service employees with an interest in the Tongass, that currently serve on other forests, may also be useful for helping to disseminate consistent, accurate, and timely information. Therefore, the potential for communicating with these personnel and soliciting their assistance with disseminating important information will be evaluated.
To foster interagency understanding of the project, staff in federal and state resource/regulatory agencies will receive basic information on the project, how the project affects or interacts with other jurisdictions, and who to contact at the Forest Service for more information. In addition, a variety of legal requirements and national policies will guide coordination between the Forest Service and other federal and state agencies. Representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and Alaska Department of Transportation will be directly contacted during the process to invite their input. In addition, these key agencies will be invited to a meeting to describe the SEIS and solicit their input.
Federally recognized tribal governments will be addressed through direct government-to-government consultation, as well as through other aspects of public involvement. The District Rangers will be the primary contacts with the tribal governments. They will be provided with news releases, talking points, question and answer sheets, and specific briefing materials, for use in meetings or presentations.
In addition, a variety of legal requirements and national policies will guide coordination between the Forest Service and tribal governments. The Forest Service will initiate formal government-to-government consultation with tribal government leadership in advance of the public notification letter, if possible.
This category includes the Alaska delegation to the U.S. Congress, the state governor and legislature, and local city and borough officials including mayors, commissioners, and council members. The Forest Service will ensure that these elected officials are informed about the project and are notified of every opportunity for public participation in the SEIS process.
Working with the media will be a public involvement priority because the media are essential for broadly disseminating information to the public. Use of the media in terms of advertisements, press releases, public service announcements, and briefings is a cost-effective way to inform and stimulate involvement by the general public. Because of the importance of disseminating consistent, accurate, and timely information, all two-way media contact will be coordinated by the Forest Service Public Affairs contact or a designated representative. It will be very important for all Forest Service staff and contractors to understand this and refer any inquiries from the media to the public involvement contact. Having one point of contact will also allow the Forest Service to improve and expand media relations throughout the life of the project.
A wide variety of organized groups will be interested in the SEIS. Potentially affected/interested groups include environmental and industry organizations, recreation users, business owners, and local residents.
Stakeholders not only need to be informed about the SEIS process, objectives, proposed action, and potential effects, but they need an opportunity to feel that their perspective will be considered. The Forest Service will notify as many groups as possible of every opportunity for public participation in the SEIS process. In return, participation by these groups should contribute to a well-rounded vision for the Forest Service of the impact of each alternative and foster relationships that are as cooperative and respectful as possible. Group briefings and/or specialized roundtable meetings may be some effective tools for reaching this category of potentially affected/interested parties. The media, the mailing list, the websites, public information materials, and public meetings will also be effective tools for reaching members of these interest groups.
The general public is used in this context to describe individuals who do not fall into the other categories represented by interest groups, but who have a general interest in regional issues. They include local residents or regular users of the Tongass (not identified above), as well as other regional residents (e.g., residents in other parts of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest), and national residents. Some of the general public may be interested in Tongass-related issues because they value wilderness and recreation areas even if they are not regular users. Others may be concerned about any issues that could have socioeconomic implications for the state or region. This audience is more dispersed, necessitating that advertisements and public meetings be planned for the broader area outside of the Tongass. Many members of the general public feel a deep sense of ownership for the Tongass and will want to be kept informed of project progress and any opportunities for public involvement. The media, the mailing list, the websites, public information materials, and public meetings will all be effective tools for reaching this audience. Options for using a national communications firm to assist with communications with the general public, especially on a national scale, will be investigated.
It is highly important that both internal and external communications regarding the SEIS be consistent, accurate, timely, and target all appropriate audiences. The primary means of communication will be through postings on the Tongass National Forest website, news releases (and associated information sheets), and through the internal communication methods described in the previous section. In addition, a number of public involvement tools, described in the next section, will also serve as important communication tools.
The Tongass National Forest website will be one of the primary mediums for disseminating information for public involvement. This website will include a separate page for the SEIS, which will provide general information about the SEIS and will be updated regularly with the results of analyses and documents and maps produced during the process.
For example, the SEIS page will be linked to a map (or series of maps) which will portray the updated roadless areas. Each roadless area will be linked to the roadless area descriptions of Appendix C, which will be updated in groups as the updates are completed. Key documents in the planning record could also be linked on the website, along with an updated version of the planning record index. The documents and the index would be updated approximately monthly. Other products will be posted on the website as they become available. The webpage and all documents tied to the webpage will meet Section 508 guidelines for accessibility.
The effectiveness of the webpage for communication depends on how frequently it is visited by interested parties. Therefore, the potential for web mailings will be investigated and implemented (unless it is determined to not be cost-effective). This would be accomplished by adding a button to the webpage which visitors would click if they want to receive emails to notify them that changes have been made to the webpage.
News releases will be developed, in conjunction with Forest and Regional Public Affairs staff, for all major events and milestones described in the study plan. Accompanying each news release, will be information sheets that provide "talking points" (for internal use) and "questions and answers" (for public distribution) regarding each release. Each set of questions and answers will also be posted on the website.
The Tongass National Forest and particularly the issue of wilderness in the Tongass, is of high interest on a national level. Therefore, in addition to the use of the Tongass website and news releases, it is important that communications are adequate for national audiences to ensure that consistent, accurate, and timely information is reaching those that are interested. To achieve these goals, the need for assistance from a national communications firm will be evaluated and may be utilized.
The special communication methods to be followed for internal communications with Forest Service staff are covered in the section on Potentially Affected/Interested Parties.
All public involvement activities should convey consistent messages tied into the public involvement objectives outlined in Section 1.2. The following subsections describe potential public involvement activities, indicate how they might be implemented, indicate a probable timeframe for implementation, and identify which user groups are most likely to be reached through the specific activity. Program presentation, scoping, key contact responsibilities, mailing list, media contact, project reports and documents, specific public involvement tools, and public comment on the Draft SEIS are all discussed in this section.
To promote instant public recognition of SEIS-related public information materials and to minimize confusion, it is important to develop and implement a consistent public involvement program presentation in addition to conveying a consistent message. A logo will be developed that will be used on all printed materials. This logo will be used in the chapter headings of the SEIS and other reports/documents, as well as on public involvement materials such as brochures, project update newsletters, etc. In addition, the format and style of printed materials will be consistent, including cover features, fonts, and graphics. Preferred style conventions (acronyms, word usage, etc.) should also be identified and used consistently in all printed materials. The approach for this public involvement activity is consistent for all levels of effort/investment. The logo and basic print format/style should be identified as soon as possible and refined as needed throughout the project.
The notice of intent to prepare a SEIS will be prepared and submitted for publication in the Federal Register. The notice will briefly describe the proposed action and possible alternatives, briefly describe the public input that has been received to date and the additional planned public involvement, and will identify Larry Lunde (and give his address) as the person who can answer questions about the proposed action and the SEIS.
Prior to sending out the letter to the Forest Plan mailing list describing the project, general descriptive briefing materials will be prepared and provided to the District Rangers. Using this information, the District Rangers will consult with the federally recognized tribal governments to obtain early input. This contact will initiate government-to-government consultation. Additional communications will take place as appropriate.
A letter will be sent out to the Forest Plan mailing list, notifying them of the SEIS and why it is being prepared, describing the public input that the Forest has received to date relative to wilderness and roadless areas, telling them about the updating we are doing, and letting them know about the websites the information will be included on. The letter will identify the many sources of public input that is being considered for alternative development and will indicate that additional comments/input can be submitted and will be considered. The letter will clarify the limited scope of the SEIS.
A report summarizing the contents of any comments received prior to finalization of the alternatives, will be prepared. The report would be based on all comments and would summarize the issues identified in scoping that should be carried forward for consideration in the SEIS, as well as any suggestions for alternatives that should be considered prior to alternative finalization. An electronic copy would be provided for website placement.
Key contacts will be identified using the Alaska Region Key Contact List (R10-MR-17, September 2000) and other sources. The list will include representatives of specific potentially affected/interested parties discussed in Section 2. In addition, the person responsible for making contact will be identified. Initial contacts should be made prior to finalization of the alternatives for the Draft SEIS to inform and determine if they have any new key issues or ideas about the alternatives. The frequency and timing of additional contact will be coordinated with project milestones and level of interest as appropriate. A written record of each contact will be maintained, circulated to the SEIS team, and placed in the planning record. Contact records should include the date of contact; people involved; associated organizations; subject discussed; and any conclusions, decisions, or action items that resulted.
An electronic copy of the project mailing list will be maintained. It will need to be updated to include key contacts and other individuals interested in receiving information about the SEIS process. The project mailing list will be formatted so that it can be used to generate labels for the scoping package. Foster Wheeler Environmental will update the mailing list with new addresses obtained during the scoping period and throughout the project. The updated list will be used to generate labels for project update newsletters, document mailings, and other necessary mailings.
Because of the importance of disseminating consistent, accurate, and timely information, all two-way media contact (questions/answers, press conferences, tours/briefings, requests for interviews and/or additional information) will be coordinated by the Forest Service public involvement contact. It will be very important for all Forest Service staff and contractors to understand this and refer any inquiries from the media to the public involvement contact. Having one point of contact will also allow the Forest Service to improve and expand media relations throughout the life of the project. The Forest Service public involvement coordinator will be listed on all media materials as the information contact. At a minimum, news releases would be sent at the following points in the process:
The following public involvement tools will enhance the Forest Service public involvement program for the SEIS and provide concrete techniques for achieving public involvement objectives.
Group contacts would be aimed at education, interaction, and/or problem solving with representatives from agencies and governments, federally recognized tribal governments, elected officials, and interest groups. Presentations/briefings would be developed at critical points throughout the process that could be tailored and given at the request of the specific groups of potentially affected/interested parties listed above.
Three project update newsletters would be prepared. These would be four-page newsletter style and would be sent to the updated mailing list. The first would be sent after the alternatives to be analyzed in the Draft SEIS are identified. This newsletter would update recipients on the issues brought up through scoping that are going to be carried forward for consideration in the SEIS and would describe the alternatives to be evaluated. It would also describe the remaining steps in the SEIS/public involvement process and provide contact information. The newsletter would be black-and-white with appealing graphics presentation and would use the established project logo and program style. The second would be after the end of the Draft SEIS comment period and it would summarize comments, describe any changes to the alternatives for the Final SEIS, describe the remaining steps in the process, and provide contact information. The third would be at the end of the process to describe the decision and its rationale.
The Tongass National Forest website, together with the national website, will be primary mediums for public involvement. These websites will include a separate page for the SEIS, which will provide the information included in the letter to the mailing list. This page will also be linked to a map (or series of maps) which will portray the updated roadless areas. Each roadless area will be linked to the roadless area descriptions of Appendix C, which would be updated as the updates are completed (10 or 20 at a time). The website will be kept as current as possible, and notifications of meeting dates, etc., should be easily accessible.
Extra copies of the notification letter, project update newsletters, and other materials will be made available at all ranger district and other Forest Service offices. In addition, large-scale alternative maps will be produced for display at these offices.
Another option that could be included could be a valuable tool, is an interactive CD. This would be used in a hands-on, interactive fashion at meetings and briefings to very effectively demonstrate the alternatives and their effects.
A set of public meetings will occur after release of the Draft SEIS during the 90-day NEPA comment period. Public meetings will be held during the middle of the comment period in communities throughout Southeast Alaska. At a minimum, meetings will be held in Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Wrangell, Craig/Klawock, Thorne Bay, and all other communities containing ranger stations. Consideration will be given to holding meetings outside of Southeast Alaska (e.g., Anchorage, Seattle, Washington, D.C., etc.). These meetings will include an open-house portion, at which large maps displaying the alternatives and other information will be displayed. The public will be given comment forms and be encouraged to write specific comments. After the open house, an oral comment session will be held and comments will be tape-recorded.
Open house materials would include a sign-in sheet, comment form, and color mounted GIS-based maps showing the current conditions and wilderness areas to be added in each alternative. In addition, color mounted display boards or equivalent materials could be placed at resource stations. Display boards could be fitted with table-top stands, attached with Velcro to cloth boards or walls, or placed on easels. These display materials could also be re-used at ranger stations or other locations. Fact sheets for each resource area could also be prepared and placed at the stations. These could also be used subsequently at ranger stations and other information areas.
Table 1 provides an estimated schedule for public involvement implementation that coincides with currently known dates for major SEIS milestones.
Table 1. Preliminary (partial) Public Involvement Schedule
| PI Activity | Target Date |
|---|---|
| Update/Clean Up Mailing List | 9/11/01 |
| Program Presentation-Develop logo, standard format/style, and conventions | 9/11/01 |
| Publish Notice of Intent | 9/17/01 |
| Initial Gov't-to-Gov't Consultation | 9/6/01-9/26/01 |
| Develop SEIS Web Page | 9/17/01 |
| Send Notification Letter | 9/28/01 |
| Initial Public Briefings and Contacts | 9/27/01-10/26/01 |
| Supplemental Scoping Report | 10/17/01 |
| Project Update Newsletter #1 | 11/8/01 |
| Update Mailing List | Ongoing until Draft SEIS Release |
| DRAFT SEIS RELEASED | 2/18/02 |
| Confirm Public Meeting Locations | 1/16/02 |
| Public Meetings | 3/31-4/14/02 |
| End of Public Comment Period | 5/20/02 |
| Project Update Newsletter #2 | 6/21/02 |
| FINAL SEIS AND ROD RELEASED | 9/23/02 |
| Project Update Newsletter #3 | 9/13/02 |
A record of each public involvement activity, the date, the location, the participants, the purpose, and the success/outcome of the event, will be maintained. This record will be used to complete applicable portions of the SEIS and will become part of the planning record.