[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15238]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary
[DES 94-34]

 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed 
Institute of Marine Science Infrastructure Improvement Project Located 
in Seward, AK

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior (DOI).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Institute of Marine Science Infrastructure 
Improvement Project.

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SUMMARY: The DOI, on behalf of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) 
Trustee Council, announces the availability of the Draft EIS for the 
Proposed Institute of Marine Science (IMS) Infrastructure Improvement 
Project. This notice announces the locations and dates of public 
hearings to solicit comments on the Draft EIS, a contact to whom 
written comments may be sent and information may be obtained, and a 
contact to obtain a copy of the Draft EIS or Draft EIS summary. The 
responsible official for the preparation of the Draft EIS is George T. 
Frampton, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

DATES: Comments concerning the Draft EIS should be received within 45 
days of the publication of the Notice of Availability by the 
Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments regarding the Draft EIS to Nancy K. 
Swanton, DOI EIS Project Manager, 949 East 36th Avenue,Room 603, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4302. Telephone Numbers: (907) 271-6622 (voice) 
or (907) 271-6506 (fax). For a copy of the Draft EIS or of the Draft 
EIS summary, contact the EVOS Restoration Office, Oil Spill Public 
Information Office, 645 G Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Telephone 
Numbers: (907) 278-8008, (800) 478-7745 (within Alaska), or (800) 283-
7745 (outside Alaska). Copies of the Draft EIS have been sent to public 
libraries in Seward, Homer, Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova, Kenai, Anchorage, 
Fairbanks, Juneau, among others, as well as the DOI Library in 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the EIS can be 
obtained from Nancy K. Swanton, DOI Project Manager, at the address and 
phone numbers shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOI, on behalf of the EVOS Trustee 
Council, has prepared a Draft EIS on a proposal to construct 
infrastructure improvements to the IMS in Seward, Alaska. The EVOS 
Trustee Council is considering providing funding for a portion of this 
project. The Council is comprised of the designees of the Administrator 
for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary 
of the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of the DOI, and the 
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the 
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, 
and the Alaska Attorney General. All decisions about restoration and 
uses of restoration funds are determined by these six Trustees. The 
EVOS Trustee Council is responsible for decisions relating to the 
assessment of injuries, uses of the joint restoration funds, and all 
restoration activities relating to the proposed project.
    On March 9, 1994, the DOI, on behalf of the EVOS Trustee Council, 
published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on the Proposed IMS 
Infrastructure Improvement Project (59 FR 11082-11083). Scoping 
commenced on that date. Scoping meetings were held in Seward and 
Anchorage, Alaska, on March 22 and 24, 1994, respectively. Public 
notices announcing these meetings and requesting comments were 
published in EVOS-area newspapers; and a scoping newsletter was 
distributed widely throughout the EVOS area and beyond. In addition to 
comments and suggestions received at the scoping meetings, over 300 
written responses were received. These comments were evaluated by the 
DOI and form the basis for the topics, issues, and alternatives 
addressed in the Draft EIS.
    The EVOS Trustee Council is proposing to improve the existing 
infrastructure at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks IMS in Seward, 
Alaska, to enhance the EVOS Trustee Council's capabilities to study 
marine mammals, marine birds, and the ecosystem injured by the Exxon 
Valdez oil spill. The improvements are intended to help focus and carry 
out a long-term research and monitoring program for the EVOS area as 
part of an overall restoration plan. The project would be constructed 
adjacent to the existing campus of the IMS Seward Marine Center, and 
would have two components: (1) a research and wildlife rehabilitation 
component and (2) a public education and visitation component.
    The research and wildlife rehabilitation component would consist of 
approximately 22,000 square feet of interior space comprised of wet and 
dry laboratories, staff offices, and a library for studies and 
rehabilitation of marine mammals, marine birds, and other wildlife. 
Approximately, 32,000 square feet of interior space would be shared 
with the public education and visitation component. There also would be 
approximately 41,000 square feet of exterior space containing outdoor 
research habitat, tanks, and pools for pinnipeds, sea otters, Steller 
sea lions, and marine birds. A 50-space parking lot for staff vehicles 
would be constructed next to the existing IMS Rae Building parking lot.
    The public education and visitation component would include 
approximately 20,000 square feet of interior space to promote public 
awareness of the marine environment. It would function in concert with, 
and in support of, the research and wildlife rehabilitation component. 
This component would include exhibits, interpretive displays, and 
public areas. A 150- to 160-space visitor parking lot would be built 
adjacent to the education and visitor component. No joint EVOS 
restoration funds would be involved in the construction or maintenance 
of the public education and visitation component.
    Funding for the proposed project would come, in large part, from 
EVOS funds. Overall, the total project capital budget would be 
approximately $47.5 million, of which approximately $37.5 million would 
come from EVOS funds. Twelve and one-half million dollars of State EVOS 
restitution funds were appropriated by the Alaska Legislature in 1993 
to the City of Seward for the planning, design, and construction of the 
proposed project. In addition, approximately $25 million of EVOS monies 
have been requested to fund the research and wildlife rehabilitation 
component of the proposed project. Lastly, approximately $10 million 
would be raised from private donors to fund the public education and 
visitation component of the proposed project. Revenue from public 
education and visitation would be used to help offset the operational 
costs of all of the proposed improvements.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
the Draft EIS presents analyses of the environmental, including social 
and economic, effects that would be anticipated if the proposed 
improvements to the IMS in Seward were to occur as presently 
envisioned. In addition, the EIS assesses the effects of an alternative 
to the proposal that would eliminate the public education and 
visitation component--a research and wildlife rehabilitation-only 
alternative. Lastly, a no action alternative is assessed to determine 
the effects on the environment should the proposed improvements not be 
made.

Public Hearings: During the comment period for the Draft EIS, public 
hearings will be held on the dates and at the locations below:

July 26, 1994--IMS, K.M. Rae Building, 125 Third Avenue, Seward, AK
July 28, 1994--EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill, Trustee Council Restoration 
Office, 645 G. Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK

    The hearings are scheduled for 8 p.m., preceded by a 1-hour 
information meeting.

Comments: The comment period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability 
appears in the Federal Register. It is very important that those 
interested in this proposed action participate at this time. To be most 
helpful, comments on the Draft EIS should be as specific as possible, 
and may address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of the 
alternatives discussed. (See the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3.)
    In addition, Federal court decisions have established that 
reviewers of Draft EIS's must structure their participation in the 
environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and 
alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and concerns. Vermont 
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC. 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). 
Environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage 
may be waived if not raised until after completion of the Final EIS. 
Wisconsin Heritage, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 
1980). The reason for this is to ensure that substantive comments and 
objections are made available to the Department of the Interior at a 
time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the 
Final EIS.

    Dated: June 17, 1994.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the 
Interior.
[FR Doc. 94-15238 Filed 6-22-94; 8:45 am]
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