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Craig Ranger District Warehouse Demolition and New Warehouse Construction

Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact

Craig Ranger District

This Decision Notice contains a brief summary of the environmental analysis completed for the Craig Warehouse project, located in the city of Craig on Prince of Wales Island, as well as my decision regarding which alternative to implement and the rationale for my decision. It also contains certain Findings required by various laws, and information concerning the right to Administrative Review of this decision. The Environmental Assessment completed for this project is incorporated by reference in this decision document.

Background

The current Forest Service warehouse is an older structure, built in 1960, that is too small for current and projected Craig Ranger District needs. The existing structure cannot meet the demands of the District from an operational and storage standpoint. Overflow warehouse-related activities occur outdoors, at leased storage units and at inadequate satellite buildings. This is further complicated by inadequate storage space for operational equipment, supplies and dry storage needs. Because of the lack of appropriate space, much of the District’s equipment is stored in a variety of outbuildings and sheds, some of which are in disrepair, and additional equipment must be stored at the Thorne Bay Warehouse, located approximately 1-1/2 hour drive away. Routine maintenance of vehicles, boats, motors and other equipment occurs daily; these required maintenance activities are hampered by insufficient working space.

Through the 2005 Facility Master Plan Update, the District identified the need for a new warehouse facility on the Craig Ranger District. The District identified a space on National Forest System lands in the Forest Service compound area that could be used to place the proposed new warehouse (see the EA Figure 3, in Chapter 2). The project area is located in the city of Craig within the confines of the existing administrative site adjacent to the existing warehouse facility.

Decision

Based on the Environmental Assesment (EA) completed for the Craig Ranger District Warehouse Demolition and New Warehouse Construction project, it is my decision to select the Proposed Action (Alternative 2) including all project design elements and monitoring described in Chapter 2 of the EA, for implementation for implementation.

The Proposed Action (see EA - Figure 3) is to construct a new Forest Service warehouse and associated parking/storage area, demolish the old Forest Service warehouse and fire cache, and convert the old warehouse site into an office parking area at Craig Ranger District administrative site.

The existing 1,800 ft² warehouse structure and small fire cache will be removed and a larger warehouse structure, not exceeding 7,050 ft², will be constructed. Excavation will be necessary to construct a foundation for the building as well as for connecting the utilities infrastructure. General site work/grading will be required to facilitate construction of additional parking capability, as well as proper drainage away from the structure. Access to the building site and the eventual structure will use existing roads.

The existing structures could be sold to the general public and/or demolished and disposed of, depending on available funding limits, and timing associated with construction of the new structure. Excavation of the foundation will occur with subsequent grading and blacktop installation to create approximately 6 parking spaces in the vicinity of the Craig Ranger District Office. The fire cache area will be open space. Approximately 14 additional parking spaces and an area for boat, vehicle, and material storage will be created in the vicinity of the new structure by grading and blacktop or gravel installation. A privacy fence will be built around the warehouse, parking, and storage to reduce noise and discourage vandalism.

Four old trailers will be sold and moved off the compound or demolished and disposed of in a landfill to clear the area where the warehouse is proposed.

Maps in the EA show approximate locations of structures, parking, utilities, and walkways. The EA provides additional information about the proposed action.

Activities will require 2-3 years to complete, but may be split into several phases over several years depending on funding, timing, and contracting. If funding is made available, we expect to begin the design in 2007, and construction will likely begin in 2008 or 2009 under a 2-year contract.

Project design elements and monitoring described in Chapter 2 of the EA will be incorporated into project implementation.

Rationale for the Decision

The 1997 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) states that administrative facilities are needed to support the management, protection, and utilization of the National Forest including buildings, utility systems, dams, and other constructed features. Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 7309.11.33 (Buildings, and Related Facilities) authorizes the Forest Service to plan, design, and construct facilities as necessary to accomplish the agency's mission. The Forest Plan requires that buildings be designed to provide safe, functional, aesthetically pleasing, energy efficient and cost effective buildings. The Forest Plan provides direction that buildings must be maintained to meet codes applicable at the time of construction. To conform to local laws, we will design and build to code. The Craig Ranger District will also obtain the permits required by the City of Craig (a building permit and possibly a conditional use permit) and follow the development standards for the “Public” zone.

The current Forest Service warehouse is an older structure that is too small for current and projected Craig Ranger District needs. The existing structure cannot meet the demands of the District from an operational and storage standpoint. The Craig Ranger District has identified the need for 7,050 square feet of warehouse space in the Craig vicinity; only 1,800 square feet of warehouse space is available at the Craig Ranger District currently. The Craig administrative site lacks adequate public parking and parking adjacent to the warehouse; overflow parking directs traffic to the residential parking areas dedicated for tenants.

The purpose of the Craig Ranger District Warehouse Demolition and New Warehouse Construction project is to develop a warehouse and dry storage facility and related access and parking to provide adequate and safe operational and dry storage space within the Craig Ranger District administrative site to meet the current and future needs of the Craig Ranger District.

Alternatives Considered

No issues were identified through internal or external scoping related to the Craig Warehouse project. Therefore, only one action alternative (the Proposed Action) was considered.

Under Alternative 1 (No Action), the existing inadequate storage capacity, both heated and outside would not be addressed. Only 1,800 square feet of indoor warehouse space would be available on the Craig Ranger District administrative site (compared to the 7,050 square feet needed). Under Alternative 1, the existing lack of adequate space for maintenance and operational day-to-day activities would not be addressed and the existing dysfunctional facility and storage capability would not be improved. Due to lack of warehouse space, overflow storage and maintenance would continue to occur outdoors. Under Alternative 1, parking issues would continue.

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action, see description above under “Decision”): Through implementation of the Proposed Action (Alternative 2) for the Craig Ranger District Warehouse Demolition and New Warehouse Construction, boat, vehicle and general storage would be increased, thus meeting the existing identified needs of the District. It would also remedy the existing lack of adequate space for maintenance and operational day-to-day activities. Also, additional parking would be available through Alternative 2, reducing the need for parking outside the administrative site or adversely impacting tenants parking to the housing units. Under Alternative 2, more adequate parking for operational maintenance, employees and the public would be provided (see EA, Chapters 2 and 3).

Alternative 2 supports the Forest Plan by meeting identified warehouse/storage/parking needs for operation of the Craig Ranger District. Environmental effects of Alternative 2 are minimal or non-existent. Effects will be decreased further by the implementation of the Project Design elements found in Chapter 2 of the EA. Based on my review of the Environmental Analysis prepared for this proposal, I have determined that this proposal will not have a significant effect on the human environment.

Public Involvement

The Craig Ranger District Warehouse Demolition and New Warehouse Construction project Environmental Assessment (EA) has been listed on the Tongass National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions since January 1, 2006. On June 12, 2006, a letter providing information and seeking public comment was mailed to 27 individuals and groups that had previously shown interest in Forest Service projects in and around Craig. This included federal and state agencies, Alaska Native groups, municipal offices, businesses, interest groups, and individuals. No responses to the Craig Warehouse EA mailing were received.

The Craig Ranger District also sent a letter to all Prince of Wales Island Tribal governments and ANCSA corporations (Craig Community Association, Klawock Cooperative Association, Hydaburg Cooperative Association, Organized Village of Kasaan, Shaan Seet Inc., Klawock-Heenya Corporation, Haida Corp., and Kavilco) on April 26, 2006 describing the proposed project and requesting consultation. Letters were followed by phone calls to tribal offices. The District Ranger and/or the Zone Archaeologist attended Tribal Council meetings in Craig and Klawock and highlighted the project requesting feedback on concerns or related issues. A representative of Klawock-Heenya Corporation visited the Craig District Office to express concern about the known archaeological site on a portion of the compound. If the site was found to extend beneath the construction area for the new warehouse, the representative requested that the planning process pause while further tribal consultation takes place. No other concerns have been raised by Tribes or ANCSA corporations.

The Legal Notice for the 30-day comment period was printed in the Ketchikan Daily News, the Craig Ranger District’s newspaper of record on August 17, 2006. No comments expressing interest were received.

Issues

The Forest Service identified no significant issues from public or internal scoping for the project. No comments were received during the 30 notice and comment period required by Forest Service appeal regulations at 36 CFR 215. Heritage resources was initially a concern in the project area, but archaeological surveys and analysis revealed that archaeological resources are not known to be present in areas being affected by this project (see EA - Heritage in Chapter 3). Suggestions received through internal scoping about the Craig Warehouse project were incorporated into the design of the Proposed Action.

Alternatives Considered

Two alternatives were considered: a no action alternative (Alternative 1), and the Proposed Action (Alternative 2).

Alternative 1 (No Action)

In Alternative 1, no demolition of buildings or construction of a new warehouse, parking areas, or storage areas would occur (see Figure 2 in the EA). The Craig District would continue to use existing storage facilities. Yearly maintenance of existing facilities would continue and no new facilities would be built.

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action)

See Description above under “Decision”

Biological Evaluations were completed for sensitive plants and animals. No sensitive species will experience impacts that would cause or contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species.

Findings Required by Other Laws

1997 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan)
While the Forest Plan does not provide land use designations for this project area or this administrative site, it does prescribe Best Management Practices for administrative site planning and management, and it requires that buildings be designed to provide safe, functional, aesthetically pleasing, energy efficient and cost effective buildings. The Forest Plan provides direction that buildings must be maintained to meet codes applicable at the time of construction. The Craig Ranger District will use Best Management Practices for administrative site planning and management and will design and build the warehouse to code. This action is therefore consistent with Forest Plan standards and guidelines related to this type of project.

ANILCA Section 810, Subsistence Evaluation and Finding
An ANILCA Section 810 subsistence evaluation was conducted. No significant restrictions on the abundance and distribution of, access to, or competition for subsistence resources in the project area are anticipated.

Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as Amended
Under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), Federal agency activities within the coastal zone must be consistent with the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). This is a Federal agency activity as defined in 15 CFR 930.51(a). The MOU between the Forest Service and State of Alaska lists activities normally requiring a consistency determination (Section 202.B.1.). This project is included on that list and a consistency determination has been provided to the state. I have determined that this activity is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the ACMP. A letter from the State Office of Project Management and Permitting on September 15, 2006 determined that the project is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the ACMP and that the project did not warrant a formal review for consistency with the ACMP.

Endangered Species Act of 1973
None of the alternatives is anticipated to have a direct, indirect, or cumulative effect on any threatened or endangered species in or outside the project area. A complete Biological Evaluation (BE) is included in the planning record and was sent to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service in July 2006. The project received verbal concurrence from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
Heritage resource survey and testing of the area of potential effects have been conducted in the Craig Warehouse project area, following inventory protocols agreed upon in the programmatic agreement. Tribal governments and Alaska Native Corporations have been contacted and public comment encouraged. Because there are no historic properties in the area of potential effects the Section 106 process is completed under the terms of the programmatic agreement. No effects on historic properties are anticipated.

Floodplain Management (E.O. 11988), Protection of Wetlands (E.O. 11990)
This activity will not impact the functional value of any floodplain as defined by Executive Order 11988 and will not have negative impacts on wetlands as defined by Executive Order 11990.

Recreational Fisheries (E.O. 12962)
With the limited scope of the project and the application of Forest Plan standards and guidelines, no significant adverse effects to freshwater or marine resources are expected. Recreational fishing would not be impacted.

Environmental Justice (E.O. 12898)
I have determined that in accordance with Executive Order 12898 this project does not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority populations and low-income populations. Expected effects are similar for all populations, regardless of nationality, gender, race, or income.

Magnuson-Stevens Act
I have reviewed this project in terms of potential effects to essential fish habitat (EFH). There is no freshwater or marine EFH in the Craig Warehouse project area because there are no streams or habitat located in the project area. Because no essential fish habitat exists within the project area there will be no adverse effects to that resource.

Finding of No Significant Impact

I have reviewed the Environmental Assessment for this project using criteria identified in implementing regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1508.27). Based on the Environmental Assessment and the findings displayed above, I have determined that this is not a major action that will have a significant effect on the human environment and therefore does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.

Right to Appeal or Administrative Review

The 30-day comment period ended on September 18, 2006 and no comments expressing interest were received. Pursuant to Forest Service appeal regulations at 36 CFR 215 this decision is therefore not subject to appeal.

Implementation Date

Since this decision is not subject to administrative appeal, implementation of this action may occur immediately upon publication of legal notice of this decision in the Ketchikan Daily News newspaper, published in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Contact Person

Dale Fife Engineering Staff Officer P.O. Box 19001 Thorne Bay, AK 99919 907-828-3255

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USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: September 26, 2006