[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48924-48925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20822]



[[Page 48924]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard


Gravina Access Project, Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan Gateway 
Borough, AK

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration. U.S. Coast Guard.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing; Request for comments. Notice of 
availability of draft environmental impact statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), together with U.S. 
Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public 
Facilities, has issued a Gravina Access Project Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) on August 6, 2003. The agencies will jointly 
hold two public hearings to receive information concerning the 
environmental impacts on the project, including marine navigation 
impacts.
    The project would construct a bridge or new ferry across Tongass 
Narrows in southern Southeast Alaska. The cities of Ketchikan and 
Saxman, along with surrounding developed areas within the Ketchikan 
Gateway Borough on Revillagigedo Island, are separated by Tongass 
Narrows from Ketchikan International Airport and developable land 
within the borough on Gravina Island. Ferry service currently connects 
Ketchikan to the airport terminal, but there is no connection to other 
lands on Gravina Island. The project proposes to improve transportation 
across Tongass Narrows by enhanced ferry or by bridge. Nine 
alternatives, plus No Action Alternative, are under consideration. All 
share in common a spine road around the airport to provide access to 
the airport and to other developable lands around the airport. Other 
developable lands include airport reserve lands, State of Alaska Mental 
Health Trust lands, University of Alaska lands, and private lands. The 
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is within Tongass National Forest.

DATES: The public hearings will start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 
17, and Thursday, September 18, 2003. On Tuesday September 16, from 3 
p.m. to 8 p.m., a public information open house will be held to enable 
interested parties to learn more about the project and ask questions. 
Display materials will be available during the open house and beginning 
at 5 p.m., September 17 and 18, prior to the public hearings. Comments 
must be received by October 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings and associated open house will be held 
at the West Coast Cape Fox Lodge, 800 Venetia Way, Ketchikan, AK 99901. 
Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement should be sent to 
Mr. Reuben Yost, Special Projects Manager, Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities--Southeast Region, 6860 Glacier 
Highway, Juneau, AK 99801-7999. Please submit all comments in an 
unbound format no larger than 8\1/2\ x 11 inches and suitable for 
copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim A. Haugh, Environment and 
Right-of-Way Programs Manager, Alaska Division FHWA, P.O. Box 21648, 
Juneau, Alaska 99802, Telephone (907) 586-7418; Mr. James Helfinstine, 
Chief, Bridge Administration Program, Commander (OAN), Seventeenth 
Coast Guard District, P.O. Box 25517, Juneau, AK 99802-5517, Telephone 
(907) 463-2268; Mr. Reuben Yost, P.E., Special Projects Manager, DOT&PF 
Southeast Region, 6860 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801-7999, 
Telephone (907) 465-1828

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Gravina Access Project is one of 17 high-priority 
infrastructure projects in the State of Alaska to be funded under the 
Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), 
enacted in 1998. The Draft EIS examines a range of alternatives: Four 
bridge alternatives that cross Tongass Narrows near the airport, two 
bridge alternatives that cross Pennock Island southeast of the airport, 
and three ferry alternatives that would supplement the existing airport 
ferry service with a second ferry at different locations. All nine 
build alternatives tie into Tongass Avenue, which parallels the coast 
of Revillagigedo Island. All nine include a spine road around the 
western side and southern end of the airport, providing access to the 
airport terminal and other developable lands.
    The road associated with each alternative would consist of two 
lanes. The length of the road varies from 16,670 fee to 42,100 feet, 
depending on alternative. The ferry alternatives each include docks, 
terminal buildings, parking areas, and a ferry vessel. The location of 
the terminals and crossings vary. The bridge alternatives are either 
120 feet high (to pass Alaska Marine Highway vessels) or 200 feet high 
(to pass the largest cruise ships sailing in Southeast Alaska). Two 
bridge alternatives cross Pennock Island, which divides Tongass 
Narrows.
    These alternatives require bridges over both the east and west 
channels. Alternative F1, a Pennock Island option that has a West 
Channel bridge 120 feet high and an East Channel bridge 200 feet high, 
is the agency-preferred alternative.
    The FHWA is the lead Federal agency for the environmental 
documentation. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public 
Facilities has written the environmental documentation on behalf of 
FHWA. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, Ketchikan 
Gateway Borough, City of Ketchikan, and City of Saxman are cooperating 
agencies for the project.
    The public hearings will provide a public forum that affords a full 
opportunity for presenting views on the social, economic, and 
environmental effects of the alternatives including impacts on 
navigation and marine transportation. Comments are invited from all 
interested parties and should be directed by October 6, 2003 to Mr. 
Reuben Yost at the address provided above. Information on the project 
and the Draft EIS are available electronically at http://www.gravina-access.com.

Procedural

    Individuals and representatives of organizations that wish to speak 
at the public hearings may sign in as they arrive at the WestCoast Cape 
Fox Lodge. Individuals will have 3 minutes to speak and organizations 5 
minutes. Each person or organization will be afforded one opportunity 
to speak only. Speakers will be called in the order they signed in. 
Those who wish to be placed on the project mailing list may submit a 
request to Mr. Reuben Yost, listed above under addresses.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    Appropriate aids and services for qualified individuals with 
disabilities or non-English-speaking persons will be provided upon 
request. Please make requests for these services in writing; by 
telephone or via e-mail to Mr. Reuben Yost at the contacts listed under 
addresses above, or via teletype 1-907-465-4647; or via e-mail at 
Reuben [email protected]. Any requests for an oral or sign 
language interpreter must be received by September 9, 2003.


[[Page 48925]]


    Dated: July 31, 2003.
J. A. Schott,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 17th Coast Guard District, 
Acting.
David C. Miller,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-20822 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M; 4910-15-M