[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64836-64837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26041]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS), Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, Notice of ANILCA Title XI
evaluation, and Notice of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public
Information Meeting and Public Hearing for the DEIS for Proposed Runway
Safety Area Improvements at the Kodiak Airport, Kodiak, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). U.S. Coast Guard (USCG),
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and National Marine Fisheries
Services (NMFS) are cooperating agencies, by virtue of their
jurisdictional authority and/or resource management responsibilities.
ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of comment period, notice of
public information meeting and public hearing.
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[[Page 64837]]
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on Environmental
Quality regulations (40 CFR Part 1500-1508) the Federal Aviation
Administration is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for proposed Runway Safety Area
improvements at the Kodiak Airport (ADQ) has been prepared and is
available for public review and comment. Included in the DEIS is a
draft evaluation pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966 (recodified at 49 U.S.C. Sec. 303(c)).
Written requests for the DEIS and written comments on the DEIS can be
submitted to the individual listed in the section, FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. A public hearing will be held on December 6, 2012.
The public comment period will commence on October 19, 2012 and will
close on December 18, 2012.
Public Comment and Information Meetings/Public Hearings: The start
of the public comment period on the DEIS will be October 19, 2012 and
will end on December 18, 2012. One combined public information meeting
and public hearing will be held on December 6, 2012. The public
information meeting on Thursday, December 6, 2012 will begin at 5:00
p.m. (ADT) and will last until 6:00 p.m. (ADT). The public hearing on
that date will begin after the public information meeting, at 6:00 p.m.
(ADT) and will last until 8:00 p.m. (ADT). The location for the Public
Information Meeting/Public Hearing is the Kodiak Harbor Convention
Center, 211 East Rezanof Drive, Kodiak AK 99615.
DEIS Availability and Review
Copies of the DEIS may be viewed during regular business hours at
the following locations:
1. Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, 222 W. 7th
Avenue 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7504. (907) 271-5453.
2. Holmes Johnson Memorial Library, 319 Lower Mill Bay Road,
Kodiak, AK 99615. (907) 486-8680.
3. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, 4111
Aviation Avenue, Anchorage AK 99502.
4. Online at www.kodiakairporteis.com.
The Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division has a
limited number of CDs of the entire DEIS and the Executive Summary
available for public distribution. Please contact the Federal Aviation
Administration at (907) 271-5438 for a copy.
Comments from interested parties on the DEIS are encouraged and may
be presented orally at the public hearing. Written comments may be
submitted to the FAA during the public information meeting and hearing
and through December 18, 2012 at the address listed in the section
titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. On-line comments may be
submitted through the end of the comment period using the form provided
at the project Web site www.kodiakairporteis.com by following the links
to the PUBLIC COMMENT FORM. Additionally, comments can be emailed to
[email protected].
The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments
concerning the scope and content of the DEIS. Comments should be as
specific as possible and may address such topics as the adequacy of the
DEIS (e.g., the analysis of alternatives and potential environmental
impacts), the merits of the alternatives, and the mitigation being
considered. Reviewers should organize their participation so that it is
meaningful and makes the agency aware of the reviewer's interests and
concerns by using quotations and other specific references to the text
of the DEIS and related documents. Matters that could have been raised
with specificity during the comment period on the DEIS may not be
considered if they are raised later in the decision process. This
commenting procedure is intended to ensure that substantive comments
and concerns are made available to the FAA in a timely manner so that
the FAA has an opportunity to address them.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on FAA safety standards, the Kodiak
Airport Master Plan identified a Runway Safety Area deficiency for two
of Kodiak Airport's three runways. The DEIS discusses proposed
improvements to the Runway Safety Areas for Runway 07/25 and Runway 18/
36, which have the potential to result in significant adverse
environmental impacts. The purpose and need for the project is to
improve the Runway Safety Areas for Runway 07/25 and Runway 18/36 to
the extent practicable; the purpose and need is discussed in detail in
the DEIS. The DEIS also discusses various alternatives, including the
no-action alternative.
The FAA and the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) propose the following actions to meet the
needs for improved Runway Safety Areas:
Improvements to the Runway Safety Area for Runway 07/25.
Improvements to the Runway Safety Area for Runway 18/36.
The proposed Airport improvements would be completed during the
2014-2015 time period. Potential environmental effects include
temporary and long-term impacts to the marine environment and wildlife
(including species protected under the Endangered Species Act); water
quality; wetlands; historical and cultural resources; terrestrial
wildlife and vegetation; socioeconomic conditions; subsistence
activities; environmental justice; and resources protected under
Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966
(recodified at 49 U.S.C. 303(c)), which include the Alaska National
Maritime Wildlife Refuge and the Buskin State Recreation Site.
The improvements to the Runway Safety Areas would occur within
waters that are part of the Alaska National Maritime Wildlife Refuge
and would affect lands established by the Alaska National Interests
Land Conservation Act (ANILCA). As such, ADOT&PF, the project sponsor,
has prepared an application under ANILCA for the use of lands through
the ANILCA Title XI process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Grey, Environmental Specialist,
Federal Aviation Administration, Alaskan Region, Airports Division, 222
W. 7th Avenue 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7504. Ms. Grey may be
contacted during business hours at (907) 271-5453 (phone) and (907)
271-2851 (facsimile).
The comment period will close on December 18, 2012.
Issued in Anchorage, Alaska on October 5, 2012.
Byron K. Huffman,
Manager, Airports Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-26041 Filed 10-22-12; 8:45 am]
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