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Management of the Tongass National Forest follows the guidance of the Tongass Land Management Plan, first completed in 1979 and most recently modified in 2016. The plan incorporates an adaptive management strategy and that has been reviewed and amended a number of times over the years. Forest Plan updates reflect changing conditions, information and requirements, to provide for long-term resource sustainability as well as the economic and social needs of the public.
Projects are planned, with help from stakeholders, to foster the continued health of the forest and to provide commodities and experiences to people who visit the largest national forest - from those who depend on and are surrounded by the Tongass to those who live throughout the nation.
Proposed projects are listed on the schedule of proposed actions (SOPA). The environmental reviews for these project proposals will begin soon or are currently underway. Information provided in the table includes a brief project description and an estimated timeline. Each proposal also has a link to the project's webpage, and a project contact with their phone number and email address, if you'd like to ask questions or provide comments. You can sign up to receive NEPA Project Updates by email (see the “Sign Up for Project Updates button below”). Thank you for staying connected.
Once decisions have been made, they are posted electronically and can be accessed through the SOPA or through each project listing below. Decisions on objections are also posted online.
Due to the fact that some of these files are so large, you may find it useful to right click and download or save the document(s) off to your own computer.
Note: Not all projects may appear on map. See list below for complete list of projects with more information or documentation.
NEPA Project Updates
Sign up to receive email updates about NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) projects being planned in
Tongass National Forest
SOPA Reports
The Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) contains a list of proposed
actions for Tongass National Forest that will soon begin or are currently undergoing environmental
analysis and documentation. It provides information so that you can become
aware of and indicate your interest in specific proposals. We encourage your
early and ongoing involvement in any proposals of interest to you.
Improve Amalga Trail from mile 1.45 to mile 5.56, known as sections 3 to 6. Other improvements include expanding the parking lot, improving signage, and establishing several rest areas along the trail.
Initially allocate 17 percent of the summer season visitor capacity, equivalent to 840 service days, to outfitters and guides in the project area. Adaptive management in future years could increase allocation to 50% of summer capacity.
Proposed salvage timber sale within in a blow down area adjacent to NFS road 8530. The harvest area would include 3 units and provide approximately 88 thousand board feet of timber from about 25 acres.
Proposal to continue authorizing exploration activities by Zarembo Minerals Co. on Zarembo Island until July 2023. Activities to continue include surface exploration and drilling, use of a closed spur road, and onsite storage of drilling equipment.
Construct a new recreation cabin at False Bay, on Chichagof Island, approximately 25 miles from Hoonah Alaska on FS Road 8530. Proposed features include: cabin, vault toilet, woodshed, picnic table/fire ring, parking area, access trails and buoy.
Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company proposes to extend the existing dry-stack tailings disposal facility and incorporate waste rock co-disposal techniques in a northward direction for additional tailings and waste rock storage capacity.
Construct a new recreation cabin accessible to the public by helicopter or by foot via a 4.4-mile hike on the Herbert Glacier Trail. Other infrastructure includes a vault-style outhouse, a gathering area, a helicopter landing site and access trails.
The activity for the Apex-El Nido Exploration project entails conducting hard rock exploration through diamond core drilling. It is anticipated a maximum of 15 holes will be drilled in the 2022 season.
Approximately 5 miles of FS Road 6265 (Nemo-Skip Loop Road) & associated culverts will be repaired. Current wood waste road base will be replaced with more stable gravel surface, as well as other activities associated with road stabilization.
Manage outhouse contents at the Sarkar Lake, Red Bay Lake, Kegan Creek, Kegan Cove, and Control Lake public use cabins by pumping waste into new pits at least 100 feet from a water source. Pits would be reused in the future, if needed.
The Forest Service is proposing a multi-year project involving a variety of timber harvest, road construction, watershed restoration and recreation activities.
This project would improve wildlife habitat, provide commercial young-growth harvest opportunities, implement riparian and road restoration activities in the project areas, as well as to provide support for employment and economic growth.
