[Federal Register: August 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 158)]
[Notices]
[Page 48924-48925]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15au03-69]
[[Page 48924]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
Gravina Access Project, Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan Gateway
Borough, AK
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration. U.S. Coast Guard.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing; Request for comments. Notice of
availability of draft environmental impact statement (EIS).
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SUMMARY: the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), together with U.S.
Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities, has issued a Gravina Access Project Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) on August 6, 2003. The agencies will jointly
hold two public hearings to receive information concerning the
environmental impacts on the project, including marine navigation
impacts.
The project would construct a bridge or new ferry across Tongass
Narrows in southern Southeast Alaska. The cities of Ketchikan and
Saxman, along with surrounding developed areas within the Ketchikan
Gateway Borough on Revillagigedo Island, are separated by Tongass
Narrows from Ketchikan International Airport and developable land
within the borough on Gravina Island. Ferry service currently connects
Ketchikan to the airport terminal, but there is no connection to other
lands on Gravina Island. The project proposes to improve transportation
across Tongass Narrows by enhanced ferry or by bridge. Nine
alternatives, plus No Action Alternative, are under consideration. All
share in common a spine road around the airport to provide access to
the airport and to other developable lands around the airport. Other
developable lands include airport reserve lands, State of Alaska Mental
Health Trust lands, University of Alaska lands, and private lands. The
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is within Tongass National Forest.
DATES: The public hearings will start at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September
17, and Thursday, September 18, 2003. On Tuesday September 16, from 3
p.m. to 8 p.m., a public information open house will be held to enable
interested parties to learn more about the project and ask questions.
Display materials will be available during the open house and beginning
at 5 p.m., September 17 and 18, prior to the public hearings. Comments
must be received by October 6, 2003.
ADDRESSES: The public hearings and associated open house will be held
at the West Coast Cape Fox Lodge, 800 Venetia Way, Ketchikan, AK 99901.
Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement should be sent to
Mr. Reuben Yost, Special Projects Manager, Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities--Southeast Region, 6860 Glacier
Highway, Juneau, AK 99801-7999. Please submit all comments in an
unbound format no larger than 8\1/2\ x 11 inches and suitable for
copying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim A. Haugh, Environment and
Right-of-Way Programs Manager, Alaska Division FHWA, P.O. Box 21648,
Juneau, Alaska 99802, Telephone (907) 586-7418; Mr. James Helfinstine,
Chief, Bridge Administration Program, Commander (OAN), Seventeenth
Coast Guard District, P.O. Box 25517, Juneau, AK 99802-5517, Telephone
(907) 463-2268; Mr. Reuben Yost, P.E., Special Projects Manager, DOT&PF
Southeast Region, 6860 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801-7999,
Telephone (907) 465-1828
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Gravina Access Project is one of 17 high-priority
infrastructure projects in the State of Alaska to be funded under the
Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21),
enacted in 1998. The Draft EIS examines a range of alternatives: Four
bridge alternatives that cross Tongass Narrows near the airport, two
bridge alternatives that cross Pennock Island southeast of the airport,
and three ferry alternatives that would supplement the existing airport
ferry service with a second ferry at different locations. All nine
build alternatives tie into Tongass Avenue, which parallels the coast
of Revillagigedo Island. All nine include a spine road around the
western side and southern end of the airport, providing access to the
airport terminal and other developable lands.
The road associated with each alternative would consist of two
lanes. The length of the road varies from 16,670 fee to 42,100 feet,
depending on alternative. The ferry alternatives each include docks,
terminal buildings, parking areas, and a ferry vessel. The location of
the terminals and crossings vary. The bridge alternatives are either
120 feet high (to pass Alaska Marine Highway vessels) or 200 feet high
(to pass the largest cruise ships sailing in Southeast Alaska). Two
bridge alternatives cross Pennock Island, which divides Tongass
Narrows.
These alternatives require bridges over both the east and west
channels. Alternative F1, a Pennock Island option that has a West
Channel bridge 120 feet high and an East Channel bridge 200 feet high,
is the agency-preferred alternative.
The FHWA is the lead Federal agency for the environmental
documentation. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities has written the environmental documentation on behalf of
FHWA. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, Ketchikan
Gateway Borough, City of Ketchikan, and City of Saxman are cooperating
agencies for the project.
The public hearings will provide a public forum that affords a full
opportunity for presenting views on the social, economic, and
environmental effects of the alternatives including impacts on
navigation and marine transportation. Comments are invited from all
interested parties and should be directed by October 6, 2003 to Mr.
Reuben Yost at the address provided above. Information on the project
and the Draft EIS are available electronically at http://www.gravina-access.com
.
Procedural
Individuals and representatives of organizations that wish to speak
at the public hearings may sign in as they arrive at the WestCoast Cape
Fox Lodge. Individuals will have 3 minutes to speak and organizations 5
minutes. Each person or organization will be afforded one opportunity
to speak only. Speakers will be called in the order they signed in.
Those who wish to be placed on the project mailing list may submit a
request to Mr. Reuben Yost, listed above under addresses.
Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities
Appropriate aids and services for qualified individuals with
disabilities or non-English-speaking persons will be provided upon
request. Please make requests for these services in writing; by
telephone or via e-mail to Mr. Reuben Yost at the contacts listed under
addresses above, or via teletype 1-907-465-4647; or via e-mail at
Reuben _Yost@dot.state.ak.us. Any requests for an oral or sign
language interpreter must be received by September 9, 2003.
[[Page 48925]]
Dated: July 31, 2003.
J. A. Schott,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 17th Coast Guard District,
Acting.
David C. Miller,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-20822 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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