Rules and Regulations. Notice of availability (NOA), notice of comment period, notice of public hearing

Agency: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Action: Notice of availability (NOA), notice of comment period, notice of public hearing
Citation: FR Doc. 2015-00023

Summary

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the FAA issues this notice to advise the public that a Draft EIS for the proposed airport in Angoon has been prepared and is available for public review and comment. Included in the Draft EIS are a subsistence evaluation consistent with Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and a draft evaluation pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (recodified as 49 U.S.C. 303(c)).

Dates

Comments must be received on or before March 11, 2015. The public comment period will commence on January 9, 2015 and will close on March 11, 2015. The FAA intends to host public information meetings and hearings on the Draft EIS/810 Evaluation/4(f) Evaluation on the following dates: 1. March 3, 2015 in Juneau, Alaska, at the Centennial Hall, 101 Egan Dr., Juneau, AK from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 2. March 5, 2015 in Angoon, Alaska, at the Angoon Community Association Building, 315 Heendae Rd., Angoon, AK from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 3. March 10, 2015 at the Holiday Inn, 550 C St. SW., Washington, DC, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Supplementary Information

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has requested funding and approval from the FAA for a new land-based airport and an access road to improve the availability and reliability of transportation services to and from Angoon. The DOT&PF's proposed action is located in the Admiralty Island National Monument and Kootznoowoo Wilderness Area (Monument-Wilderness Area). The FAA has proposed additional alternatives to the proposed action, including the no action alternative. The purpose and need is discussed in detail in the Draft EIS. The proposed project would be comparable to other rural airports in Southeast Alaska, such as those at Kake or Hoonah. It would consist of a paved, 3,300-foot-long and 75-foot-wide runway, with future expansion to 4,000 feet long. Construction of the proposed airport would be completed in two to three construction seasons. The impact categories considered in the Draft EIS include numerous categories as required by FAA Orders 1050.1E and 5050.4B. In addition, subsistence activities and wilderness character are evaluated. Because the DOT&PF's proposed action is located in the Monument-Wilderness Area, the DOT&PF has indicated that it intends to submit an application under ANILCA Title XI to use the lands, using the Draft EIS as supporting documentation. Additional details regarding the project can be found on the project Web site at www.angoonairporteis.com. Issued in Anchorage, Alaska, on December 31, 2014. Byron K. Huffman, Manager, Airports Division, AAL-600. [FR Doc. 2015-00023 Filed 1-8-15; 8:45 am]