Abstract: The Forest Service is proposing new regulations to protect inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System. This final environmental impact statement (FEIS) responds to strong public sentiment for protecting roadless areas and the clean water, biological diversity, dispersed recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, forest health, and other public benefits provided by these areas. This action also responds to budgetary concerns and the need to balance management objectives with funding priorities. Public comments on the DEIS were considered in development of this FEIS in order to refine the scope of the decision to be made, verify significant issues, modify alternatives, identify possible mitigation measures, and direct the analysis of effects. The preferred alternative would prohibit road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest except for stewardship purposes in all inventoried roadless areas. Implementation of the preferred alternative on the Tongass National Forest would begin in April 2004 to provide those communities in Southeast Alaska most impacted by the decision a transition period in which to adjust to possible economic changes that may result. Eight alternatives were fully developed and considered, including 4 sets of prohibited activities (including no action), and 4 alternative methods for applying the prohibitions to the Tongass. The procedural alternatives described in the DEIS are not included in this FEIS, since the decision was made to include procedures for roadless area conservation in the final rule for the Land and Resource Management Planning Regulations at 36 CFR 219. |