[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 97 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23929-23930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11764]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (Final EIS) and the ANILCA Section 810 Analysis of Impacts to 
Subsistence Resources for Proposed Improvement Activities at the Sitka 
Rocky Gutierrez Airport, Sitka, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 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.

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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 the 
Final ElS for Proposed Improvement Activities at the Sitka Rocky 
Gutierrez Airport (SIT) has been prepared and is available for public 
review. Written requests for copies of the Final EIS can be submitted 
to the individual listed in the section, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

Final EIS Availability and Review

    Copies of the Final EIS 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) 271-5454 or (907) 
271-5438.
    2. Kettleson Memorial Library, 320 Harbor Drive, Sitka, AK 99835. 
(907) 747-8708.
    3. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, 6860 
Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99811.
    4. Downtown Juneau Public Library, 292 Marine Way, Juneau, AK 
99801. (907) 586-5249.
    The Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division has a 
limited number of CDs of the entire Final EIS and the Executive Summary 
available for public

[[Page 23930]]

distribution. Please contact the Federal Aviation Administration at 
(907) 271-5438 for a copy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport Master 
Plan outlined development goals and projects that are anticipated to be 
necessary over the next 20 or more years at the Airport. This Final EIS 
discusses the proposed improvements recommended at the Airport over the 
next five years, which have the potential to result in significant 
adverse environmental impacts. The FAA and the State of Alaska 
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT & PF) propose 
the following projects recommended over the next five years at the 
Airport to meet the identified needs. The major actions assessed in 
this Final EIS include:
    [ballot] Improvements to the Runway Safety Area.
    [ballot] Extension of the Parallel Taxiway.
    [ballot] Relocation of the Airport Seaplane Pullout.
    [ballot] Installation of an Approach Lighting System.
    [ballot] Repairs and Improvements to the Airport Seawall.
    [ballot] Acquisition of Sufficient Property Rights to Lands Needed 
for Existing and Future Aviation and Airport Uses.
    The proposed Airport improvements would be completed during the 
2010-2015 time period and, depending on the alternatives implemented, 
may result in temporary or long-term impacts to the coastal resources, 
marine environment and wildlife (including species protected under the 
Endangered Species Act), water quality, wetlands, historical, 
architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources, terrestrial 
wildlife and vegetation, and subsistence.
    Section 810 of the Alaska National Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) 
requires an evaluation on the effects of alternatives presented in this 
Final EIS on subsistence activities occurring on public lands in the 
planning area. The evaluation in the Final EIS indicates that none of 
the alternatives significantly restrict subsistence activities.
    If the transfer of title option is selected for the acquisition of 
property rights, the lands would change from Federal to State 
ownership. This would result in the loss of Federal subsistence 
regulations applying on those lands and the irreversible loss of 
opportunities for a subsistence priority for rural residents from loss 
of Federal public lands. A long-term lease or easement would preserve 
opportunities for a subsistence priority for rural residents by 
retaining Federal ownership of public lands.
    The FAA conducted a public hearing on the Draft EIS October 2, 2008 
and received comments on the Draft EIS through October 14, 2008. The 
FAA has reviewed and responded to the comments received during the 
Draft EIS comment period and made revisions to the EIS as appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Sullivan. Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaskan Region, Airports 
Division, 222 W. 7th Avenue 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7504. Ms. 
Sullivan may be contacted during business hours at (907) 271-5454 
(phone) and (907) 271-2851 (facsimile).

    Issued in Anchorage, Alaska on May 14, 2009.
Byron K. Huffman,
Mananger, Airports Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. E9-11764 Filed 5-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M