Plan Revision Wilderness Recommendation Process

Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan Revision Hub

The Tongass National Forest is currently in the process of revising our land management plan (forest plan). Land management plans guide how our national forests and grasslands are managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Forest Service planning regulations require the land management plan revision include a process that identifies and evaluates lands that may be suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). A determination whether to recommend any such lands to Congress for wilderness designation must also be included.

Light and dark blue, black graph and lettering

The Forest Service Land Management Planning Handbook 1909.12, Chapter 70, details four steps that comprise the plan revision wilderness process. Each step is completed with public input. The four steps are Inventory, Evaluation, Analysis, and Recommendation (see diagram to right). The identification and evaluation of areas for wilderness recommendation are included as an appendix in the draft and final environmental impact statements (EIS), which are prepared in support of forest plan revisions. The decision document for the revised plan will describe recommendations for wilderness designations, if any. Only Congress can designate wilderness areas.

We are currently working on the first step of this process for the Tongass National Forest: the inventory. For a quick overview of our progress, please check back here periodically. For more detailed information, please visit the sections below.

Have a question for us regarding the wilderness recommendation process or how to comment on it? Send a message to our plan revision inbox at T ongassPlanRevision@usda.gov and a team member will get back to you.

Step 1: The inventory step identifies all lands in the plan area that may be suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. This step is intended to be reasonably broad and inclusive based on inventory criteria found in FSH 1909.12 Section 71.

Draft Wilderness Inventory for Review
Feedback Period: July 10, 2024 - 11:59 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time, Sept. 14, 2024

The Draft Wilderness Inventory is available for you to explore using the Storymap link below. The Draft Wilderness Inventory shows those parcels of land within the boundaries of the Tongass National Forest that are managed by the Forest Service and do not have: an existing wilderness designation, regularly maintained roads, power lines, or substantially noticeable improvements such as developed campgrounds and parking lots. Lands in the Draft Wilderness Inventory have no new or special management direction; they will simply advance to the Evaluation step for further study as to whether they may be suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. There is no requirement or expectation in the Wilderness Recommendation Process (also known as the Wilderness Suitability Process) for new areas to be recommended for wilderness designation.

Using the interactive map, please submit feedback to ensure we do not include in the Draft Wilderness Inventory lands managed by anyone other than the Forest Service, existing Wilderness areas, regularly maintained roads, powerlines, or substantially noticeable improvements. More navigation instructions can be found on the map below. To comment on a specific area on the map (also known as parcels), click on a parcel in the Draft Wilderness Inventory layer (shown in yellow) to view a pop-up that includes the identification number. We encourage you to use the identification number(s) when submitting feedback for a specific area.

A 45-day feedback period will begin on July 10, 2024. You can submit feedback until 11:59 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on Sept. 14, 2024 using the plan revision email: TongassPlanRevision@usda.gov

Wilderness Recommendation Process Storymap (includes the Draft Wilderness Inventory)

Step 2: This step evaluates the wilderness characteristics of the lands included in the inventory. Wilderness evaluation narratives describe each area, the degree of wilderness characteristics present, and factors affecting manageability.

More information will be shared as we seek input from the public.

Step 3: Based on the wilderness evaluation narratives and public feedback, the Responsible Official (Forest Supervisor) determines if areas or portions of areas may be included for analysis as potential recommended wilderness in the draft EIS. Not all lands included in the inventory and subsequent evaluations are required to be analyzed for recommendation.

More information will be shared as we seek input from the public.

Step 4: The Responsible Official (Forest Supervisor) decides which areas, if any, to recommend for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The decision is based upon input from Tribal, State, local governments, and the public, as well as the environmental analysis and considerations of various management options for the National Forest System lands on the Tongass National Forest.

More information will be shared as we seek input from the public.