[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64360-64361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24588]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: City and Borough of Sitka, AK

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for improved access to 
Sitka, Alaska. The project is located on Baranof Island within the 
Northern Panhandle Region of Southeast Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edrie Vinson, Environmental Project 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Alaska Division, P.O. Box 
21648, Juneau, Alaska 99802-1648, (907) 586-7418, fax: (907) 586-7420, 
e-mail: [email protected] or Andy Hughes, Regional Planning 
Chief, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities 
(ADOT&PF), 6860 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801; (907) 465.1776, 
fax (907) 465.2016, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with ADOT&PF, will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
improve transportation access to the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska. 
Sitka is on the west side of Baranof Island, and has unsheltered 
exposure to the Pacific Ocean. Currently, access to Sitka is limited to 
air service and service by Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferries 
and commercial freight. Strong tidal currents through Sergins Narrows 
in Peril Strait constrain AMHS ferry service and commercial marine 
freight service schedules. These scheduling issues affect Sitka and 
other Northern Panhandle communities that rely on marine transportation 
and freight services.
    The Sitka Access EIS will evaluate alternatives to improve access 
to Sitka. The alternatives considered may allow for more convenient and 
frequent surface transportation at lower cost to the user and AMHS. The 
EIS will consider a range of alternatives

[[Page 64361]]

including: (a) No Action; (b) new road links between Sitka and new 
ferry/marine terminals on the east side of Baranof Island with ferry 
service links to other communities, and; (c) all marine alternatives 
linking directly to Sitka or to a transfer facility and then Sitka. 
Below is a brief description of several possible alternatives that may 
meet the goals of the proposed project.
    (1) Constructing a new road from Sitka north and east to Rodman Bay 
and constructing and operating a new ferry/marine terminal with ferry 
service links to other communities. This would allow marine 
transportation and freight services to avoid the restrictive Sergins 
Narrows.
    (2) Constructing a road due east of Sitka to Warm Springs Bay and 
constructing and operating a new ferry/marine terminal with ferry 
service links to other communities. Included in this road would be an 
approximately two-mile-long tunnel through mountainous terrain. This 
alternative would allow marine transportation and freight services to 
completely avoid the Peril Straits.
    (3) Constructing an AMHS transfer facility on Chatham Strait where 
passengers and freight would disembark and re-board a vessel that is 
not restricted by the tidal currents in Sergins Narrows such as a fast 
shuttle ferry. These fast shuttle ferries would then connect to the 
existing Sitka Terminal.
    (4) Fast Vehicle Ferry service linking Sitka to Juneau, Petersburg 
or other surrounding communities.
    During the scoping process, the FHWA and the ADOT&PF will solicit 
input from the public and interested agencies on the alternatives to be 
considered and the nature and extent of issues and impacts to be 
addressed in the EIS and the methods by which they will be evaluated.
    Questionnaires, public notices and newsletters describing the 
proposed action alternatives and soliciting comments will be sent to 
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes, private 
organizations, and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal.
    Public scoping meetings will be held between December 2004 and 
January 2005 at each of the following communities: Angoon, Baranof Warm 
Springs, Elfin Cove, Gustavus, Hoonah, Kake, Pelican, Port Alexander, 
Sitka, Tenakee Springs, Juneau and Petersburg. As the meeting dates 
approach, a public notice announcing the exact date, time and location 
of the meetings will be published in the Juneau Empire, Sitka Sentinel, 
Petersburg Pilot, and the Capital City Weekly. The comment period will 
be provided.
    Contact information for people with special needs will be included 
in the public notice announcements.
    Two agency scoping meetings, one in Juneau and one in Sitka, will 
be held in December 2004. Agency staff will be given an opportunity to 
express their concerns, ask questions, and provide written comment. The 
ADOT&PF will contact the agencies by mail with the exact date, time, 
and location of the meetings. The agency comment period will be 
provided.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA or the ADOT&PF at the addresses provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: October 25, 2004.
Karen A. Schmidt,
Assistant Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 04-24588 Filed 11-3-04; 8:45 am]
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