[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64836-64837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26041]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS), Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, Notice of ANILCA Title XI 
evaluation, and Notice of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public 
Information Meeting and Public Hearing for the DEIS for Proposed Runway 
Safety Area Improvements at the Kodiak Airport, Kodiak, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), 
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, notice of comment period, notice of 
public information meeting and public hearing.

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[[Page 64837]]

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 a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for proposed Runway Safety Area 
improvements at the Kodiak Airport (ADQ) has been prepared and is 
available for public review and comment. Included in the DEIS is a 
draft evaluation pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Department of 
Transportation Act of 1966 (recodified at 49 U.S.C. Sec.  303(c)). 
Written requests for the DEIS and written comments on the DEIS can be 
submitted to the individual listed in the section, FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. A public hearing will be held on December 6, 2012. 
The public comment period will commence on October 19, 2012 and will 
close on December 18, 2012.
    Public Comment and Information Meetings/Public Hearings: The start 
of the public comment period on the DEIS will be October 19, 2012 and 
will end on December 18, 2012. One combined public information meeting 
and public hearing will be held on December 6, 2012. The public 
information meeting on Thursday, December 6, 2012 will begin at 5:00 
p.m. (ADT) and will last until 6:00 p.m. (ADT). The public hearing on 
that date will begin after the public information meeting, at 6:00 p.m. 
(ADT) and will last until 8:00 p.m. (ADT). The location for the Public 
Information Meeting/Public Hearing is the Kodiak Harbor Convention 
Center, 211 East Rezanof Drive, Kodiak AK 99615.

DEIS Availability and Review

    Copies of the DEIS 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) 271-5453.
    2. Holmes Johnson Memorial Library, 319 Lower Mill Bay Road, 
Kodiak, AK 99615. (907) 486-8680.
    3. Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, 4111 
Aviation Avenue, Anchorage AK 99502.
    4. Online at www.kodiakairporteis.com.
    The Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division has a 
limited number of CDs of the entire DEIS and the Executive Summary 
available for public distribution. Please contact the Federal Aviation 
Administration at (907) 271-5438 for a copy.
    Comments from interested parties on the DEIS are encouraged and may 
be presented orally at the public hearing. Written comments may be 
submitted to the FAA during the public information meeting and hearing 
and through December 18, 2012 at the address listed in the section 
titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. On-line comments may be 
submitted through the end of the comment period using the form provided 
at the project Web site www.kodiakairporteis.com by following the links 
to the PUBLIC COMMENT FORM. Additionally, comments can be emailed to 
[email protected].
    The FAA encourages all interested parties to provide comments 
concerning the scope and content of the DEIS. Comments should be as 
specific as possible and may address such topics as the adequacy of the 
DEIS (e.g., the analysis of alternatives and potential environmental 
impacts), the merits of the alternatives, and the mitigation being 
considered. Reviewers should organize their participation so that it is 
meaningful and makes the agency aware of the reviewer's interests and 
concerns by using quotations and other specific references to the text 
of the DEIS and related documents. Matters that could have been raised 
with specificity during the comment period on the DEIS may not be 
considered if they are raised later in the decision process. This 
commenting procedure is intended to ensure that substantive comments 
and concerns are made available to the FAA in a timely manner so that 
the FAA has an opportunity to address them.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on FAA safety standards, the Kodiak 
Airport Master Plan identified a Runway Safety Area deficiency for two 
of Kodiak Airport's three runways. The DEIS discusses proposed 
improvements to the Runway Safety Areas for Runway 07/25 and Runway 18/
36, which have the potential to result in significant adverse 
environmental impacts. The purpose and need for the project is to 
improve the Runway Safety Areas for Runway 07/25 and Runway 18/36 to 
the extent practicable; the purpose and need is discussed in detail in 
the DEIS. The DEIS also discusses various alternatives, including the 
no-action alternative.
    The FAA and the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and 
Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) propose the following actions to meet the 
needs for improved Runway Safety Areas:
     Improvements to the Runway Safety Area for Runway 07/25.
     Improvements to the Runway Safety Area for Runway 18/36.
    The proposed Airport improvements would be completed during the 
2014-2015 time period. Potential environmental effects include 
temporary and long-term impacts to the marine environment and wildlife 
(including species protected under the Endangered Species Act); water 
quality; wetlands; historical and cultural resources; terrestrial 
wildlife and vegetation; socioeconomic conditions; subsistence 
activities; environmental justice; and resources protected under 
Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 
(recodified at 49 U.S.C. 303(c)), which include the Alaska National 
Maritime Wildlife Refuge and the Buskin State Recreation Site.
    The improvements to the Runway Safety Areas would occur within 
waters that are part of the Alaska National Maritime Wildlife Refuge 
and would affect lands established by the Alaska National Interests 
Land Conservation Act (ANILCA). As such, ADOT&PF, the project sponsor, 
has prepared an application under ANILCA for the use of lands through 
the ANILCA Title XI process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Grey, Environmental Specialist, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Alaskan Region, Airports Division, 222 
W. 7th Avenue 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7504. Ms. Grey may be 
contacted during business hours at (907) 271-5453 (phone) and (907) 
271-2851 (facsimile).
    The comment period will close on December 18, 2012.

    Issued in Anchorage, Alaska on October 5, 2012.
Byron K. Huffman,
Manager, Airports Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-26041 Filed 10-22-12; 8:45 am]
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