[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 55890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25834]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement and the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act Section 810 Analysis of Impacts to Subsistence 
Resources for Proposed Improvement Activities at the Sitka Rocky 
Gutierrez Airport, Sitka, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is publishing this 
notice to advise the public that the FAA has issued a Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) 
and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Section 
810 Evaluation for Proposed Improvement Activities at the Sitka Rocky 
Gutierrez Airport (SIT) on September 28, 2009. The ROD provides final 
agency determinations and approvals for the proposed airport 
improvement activities.
    Record of Decision Availability: Copies of the ROD may be viewed 
during regular business hours at the following locations:
    1. Kettleson Memorial Library, 320 Harbor Drive, Sitka, AK 99835. 
(907) 747-8708.
    2. Downtown Juneau Public Library, 292 Marine Way, Juneau, AK 
99801. (907) 586-5249.
    The ROD is posted to the following Web site: http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/records_decision/. Additionally, the FAA, 
Airports Division has a limited number of copies of the ROD available 
for public distribution. Please contact the FAA at (907) 271-5438 for a 
copy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ROD provides final determinations and 
approvals by the FAA for federal actions needed to enhance aviation 
safety and protect current and future aviation uses at Sitka Rocky 
Gutierrez Airport, Sitka, Alaska. Included within the ROD are 
descriptions of the six projects proposed by the Airport Sponsor (the 
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities) and the 
documented need for each project, alternatives to the proposed actions, 
environmental impacts associated with the actions and alternatives, and 
mitigation measures required to avoid or minimize environmental harm. 
The ROD also discloses the federal, state, and local actions needed 
prior to the implementation of each of the projects and provides 
findings, certifications, and determinations concerning resources of 
special concern. Conditions of approval that must be met by the Alaska 
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities prior to 
construction are also listed. The ROD identifies the FAA's preferred 
and environmentally preferred alternatives, as well as those 
alternatives selected by the FAA for implementation. Additionally, the 
ROD explains the authorization that must be granted by the Department 
of Interior's Bureau of Land Management to convey federal lands to the 
state of Alaska for aviation and airport uses.
    The FAA's selected alternatives identified in the ROD are:
     Runway Safety Area Alternative 5: Declared Distances with 
280-Foot Landmass Expansion on Runway End 29 and Additional Runway 
Pavement
     Parallel Taxiway Alternative 3: Partial Extension of the 
Parallel Taxiway to Charcoal Island
     Seaplane Pullout Alternative 2: Construction of Fixed Ramp 
Seaplane Pullout on Charcoal Island
     Approach Lighting System Alternative 1: No Action
     Seawall Alternative 1: No Action
     Land Transfer Alternative 2: Transfer of Property Rights 
within Airport Boundary to Alaska from the United States using a 
Combination of Title Conveyance and Long-Term Lease or Easement
    The ROD also provides the final determination on the ANILCA Section 
810 Evaluation for the actions included in the Final EIS. Section 810 
of ANILCA requires an evaluation of the effects of alternatives 
presented in this Final EIS on subsistence activities occurring on 
public lands located in the planning area. The evaluation in the Final 
EIS indicates that none of the alternatives significantly restrict 
subsistence activities.
    The notice of availability for the Final EIS was published by the 
Environmental Protection Agency on May 22, 2009. The FAA issued its ROD 
on the Final EIS on September 28, 2009.

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 October 19, 2009.
Patricia A. Sullivan,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. E9-25834 Filed 10-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M