[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38022-38023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14965]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Ketchikan, Ketchikan 
Gateway Borough, Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.7, the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and 
Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) will be 
prepared for the Gravina Access Project in the Ketchikan Gateway 
Borough, Ketchikan, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Vanderhoof, Environmental 
Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, P.O. Box 21648, Juneau, 
Alaska 99802, (907) 586-7464, e-mail ([email protected]), fax 
(907) 586-7420; or Reuben Yost, Project Environmental Coordinator, 
DOT&PF, P.O. Box 2506, Juneau, AK 99811-2506, e-mail 
([email protected]), fax (907-465-2030).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the DOT&PF, 
will prepare a SEIS to examine ways to link Revillagigedo Island, home 
of Ketchikan and Saxman, to Gravina Island, the location of the 
Ketchikan International Airport, and adjoining lands that offer 
recreational and development potential. Currently, a ferry across 
Tongass Narrows provides the only regular access to Gravina Island. The 
need for improving access is threefold: to provide the Ketchikan 
Gateway Borough and its residents more reliable, efficient, convenient, 
and cost-effective access for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians to 
Borough lands and other developable or recreation lands on Gravina 
Island in support of the Borough's adopted land use plans; to improve 
the convenience and reliability of access to Ketchikan International 
Airport for passengers, airport tenants, emergency personnel and 
equipment, and shipment of freight; and to promote environmentally 
sound, planned long-term economic development on Gravina Island.
    In August 2004, the FHWA issued a Final EIS for the Gravina Access 
Project (FHWA-AK-EIS-03-01-F) that identified Alternative F1: Bridges 
(200-foot high East and 120-foot high West) Between South Tongass 
Avenue and the Airport, via Pennock Island, as FHWA's and DOT&PF's 
Preferred Alternative. FHWA issued a Record of Decision on September 
15, 2004, and identified Alternative F1 as the Selected Alternative. 
More information can be found at the project Web site: http://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/projectinfo/ser/Gravina/documents.shtml.
    The DOT&PF moved forward in 2006 with the first phase of 
implementing Alternative F1: construction of the Gravina Island Highway 
segment, which extends from the Ketchikan International Airport south 
approximately 3 miles to the proposed bridge spanning the west channel 
of Tongass Narrows, and is expected to be completed in 2008. On 
September 21, 2007, due to rapidly escalating costs, Alaska Governor 
Sarah Palin directed the DOT&PF to look for a lower cost alternative 
for access to Gravina Island instead of proceeding further with 
Alternative F1. Therefore, the DOT&PF intends to re-examine 
alternatives and identify and select a new preferred alternative. FHWA 
informed the DOT&PF that if the Gravina Island Highway segment was not 
incorporated into any new preferred alternative that segment may be 
determined ineligible for federal aid. Most of the reasonable 
alternatives evaluated in the FEIS did not include the Gravina Island 
Highway. A SEIS is being prepared to consider the impacts of the 
Gravina Island Highway in the analysis of reasonable alternatives, to 
address the reduced funding levels available, and to identify a new 
preferred alternative.
    The Gravina Access Project SEIS will build on the studies completed 
and previously approved by FHWA to identify a lower cost alternative 
for access to Gravina Island. The SEIS will examine several 
alternatives including: three ferry alternatives--one located north of 
the airport, one located near the existing ferry, and one located south 
of the airport; two 200-foot high bridge crossings located near the 
airport; two 120-foot high bridge crossings located near the airport; a 
bridge alternative that crosses Pennock Island with a 200-foot high 
bridge from Revilla Island to Pennock Island and a 120-foot high bridge 
from Pennock Island to Gravina Island; and a bridge alternative that 
crosses Pennock Island with a 60-foot high bridge from Revilla Island 
to

[[Page 38023]]

Pennock Island and a 200-foot high bridge from Pennock Island to 
Gravina Island. The alternatives to be studied in detail in the SEIS 
will be determined by a screening process after scoping is complete and 
any new alternatives are identified. The No Action Alternative will 
remain under consideration throughout the SEIS process.
    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 
should be submitted to FHWA or DOT&PF at the addresses provided above. 
The deadline for submitting comments to be included in the official 
Scoping Summary Report is August 19, 2008. Public scoping meetings will 
be held in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Avenue 
on July 22, 2008, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
    Comments received through the scoping process will be addressed in 
the Draft SEIS. Public notice will be given regarding the availability 
of the Draft SEIS for public and agency review and comment. During the 
comment period on the Draft SEIS, FHWA and DOT&PF will hold a Public 
Hearing to receive testimony concerning the Draft SEIS.

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

    Issued on: June 24, 2008.
David C. Miller,
FHWA Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska.
 [FR Doc. E8-14965 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am]
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