Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, 38022-38023 [E8-14965]

Download as PDF 38022 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES 81 for the following project: FHWA Alaska Division Project Number STP– 000S(131) titled the Juneau Access Improvements Project, involving construction of approximately 51 miles of two lane highway from the end of Glacier Highway at Echo Cove in the City and Borough of Juneau to a point two miles north of the Katzehin River in the Haines Borough. A ferry terminal will be constructed at the north end of the highway, and new shuttle ferries will be constructed to run from Haines and Skagway. Three major rivers will be bridged as well as several streams. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project was approved on January 18, 2006; the FHWA Record of Decision (ROD) was issued on April 3, 2006. Notice is hereby given that, subsequent to the earlier FHWA notice, the USACE has taken final agency actions within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(I)(1) by issuing a permit and approvals for the highway project. The actions by the USACE, related final actions by other Federal agencies, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the USACE decision and its administrative record for the project, referenced as POA– 2006–597–2, Lynn Canal. The permit and decision document is available by contacting DOT&PF at the address above. The FEIS, ROD, and other documents in the FHWA administrative record file are available by contacting the FHWA or the DOT&PF at the addresses provided above. The FHWA FEIS and ROD can be viewed and downloaded from the project Web site at https:// dot.alaska.gov/juneauaccess or viewed at public libraries in the project area. The USACE decision can be viewed and downloaded at the same project Web site. This notice applies to all USACE and other Federal agency decisions taken after the issuance date of the FHWA Federal Notice described above. The laws under which actions were taken, include but are not limited to: 1. Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251– 1377 (Section 404, Section 401, Section 319). 2. Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 33 U.S.C. 401–406. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:51 Jul 01, 2008 Jkt 214001 Issued on: June 25, 2008. David C. Miller, Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska. [FR Doc. E8–14962 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF). ACTION: Notice of Intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.7, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is issuing this notice to advise the public that a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) will be prepared for the Gravina Access Project in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Ketchikan, Alaska. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Vanderhoof, Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, P.O. Box 21648, Juneau, Alaska 99802, (907) 586–7464, e-mail (Michael.vanderhoof@dot.gov), fax (907) 586–7420; or Reuben Yost, Project Environmental Coordinator, DOT&PF, P.O. Box 2506, Juneau, AK 99811–2506, e-mail (Reuben.Yost@alaska.gov), fax (907–465–2030). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the DOT&PF, will prepare a SEIS to examine ways to link Revillagigedo Island, home of Ketchikan and Saxman, to Gravina Island, the location of the Ketchikan International Airport, and adjoining lands that offer recreational and development potential. Currently, a ferry across Tongass Narrows provides the only regular access to Gravina Island. The need for improving access is threefold: to provide the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and its residents more reliable, efficient, convenient, and costeffective access for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians to Borough lands and other developable or recreation lands on Gravina Island in support of the Borough’s adopted land use plans; to improve the convenience and reliability of access to Ketchikan International Airport for passengers, airport tenants, emergency personnel and equipment, and shipment of freight; and to promote environmentally sound, planned long- PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 term economic development on Gravina Island. In August 2004, the FHWA issued a Final EIS for the Gravina Access Project (FHWA–AK–EIS–03–01–F) that identified Alternative F1: Bridges (200foot high East and 120-foot high West) Between South Tongass Avenue and the Airport, via Pennock Island, as FHWA’s and DOT&PF’s Preferred Alternative. FHWA issued a Record of Decision on September 15, 2004, and identified Alternative F1 as the Selected Alternative. More information can be found at the project Web site: https:// dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/projectinfo/ser/ Gravina/documents.shtml. The DOT&PF moved forward in 2006 with the first phase of implementing Alternative F1: construction of the Gravina Island Highway segment, which extends from the Ketchikan International Airport south approximately 3 miles to the proposed bridge spanning the west channel of Tongass Narrows, and is expected to be completed in 2008. On September 21, 2007, due to rapidly escalating costs, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin directed the DOT&PF to look for a lower cost alternative for access to Gravina Island instead of proceeding further with Alternative F1. Therefore, the DOT&PF intends to re-examine alternatives and identify and select a new preferred alternative. FHWA informed the DOT&PF that if the Gravina Island Highway segment was not incorporated into any new preferred alternative that segment may be determined ineligible for federal aid. Most of the reasonable alternatives evaluated in the FEIS did not include the Gravina Island Highway. A SEIS is being prepared to consider the impacts of the Gravina Island Highway in the analysis of reasonable alternatives, to address the reduced funding levels available, and to identify a new preferred alternative. The Gravina Access Project SEIS will build on the studies completed and previously approved by FHWA to identify a lower cost alternative for access to Gravina Island. The SEIS will examine several alternatives including: three ferry alternatives—one located north of the airport, one located near the existing ferry, and one located south of the airport; two 200-foot high bridge crossings located near the airport; two 120-foot high bridge crossings located near the airport; a bridge alternative that crosses Pennock Island with a 200-foot high bridge from Revilla Island to Pennock Island and a 120-foot high bridge from Pennock Island to Gravina Island; and a bridge alternative that crosses Pennock Island with a 60-foot high bridge from Revilla Island to E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM 02JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices Pennock Island and a 200-foot high bridge from Pennock Island to Gravina Island. The alternatives to be studied in detail in the SEIS will be determined by a screening process after scoping is complete and any new alternatives are identified. The No Action Alternative will remain under consideration throughout the SEIS process. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments should be submitted to FHWA or DOT&PF at the addresses provided above. The deadline for submitting comments to be included in the official Scoping Summary Report is August 19, 2008. Public scoping meetings will be held in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Avenue on July 22, 2008, from 11 a.m.– 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m.–7 p.m. Comments received through the scoping process will be addressed in the Draft SEIS. Public notice will be given regarding the availability of the Draft SEIS for public and agency review and comment. During the comment period on the Draft SEIS, FHWA and DOT&PF will hold a Public Hearing to receive testimony concerning the Draft SEIS. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: June 24, 2008. David C. Miller, FHWA Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska. [FR Doc. E8–14965 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2003–25290] Commercial Driver’s License Standards; Isuzu Motors America, Inc.; Exemption Renewal Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew Isuzu Motors America, Inc.’s (Isuzu) exemption from the Agency’s requirement that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) possess a commercial driver’s license VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:51 Jul 01, 2008 Jkt 214001 (CDL) issued in the United States. Isuzu requested that its current exemption for 11 Japanese engineers and technicians be renewed to enable them to continue test driving CMVs in the U.S. All 11 individuals are employees of Isuzu and hold a valid Japanese CDL. FMCSA believes the knowledge and skills testing and training program that Japanese drivers must undergo to obtain a Japanese CDL ensures a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained by complying with the U.S. requirements for a CDL. DATES: This decision is effective July 2, 2008. Comments must be received on or before August 1, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System Number FMCSA– 2003–25290 by any of the following methods: • Web Site: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket site. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590– 0001. • Hand Delivery: Ground Floor, Room W12–140, DOT Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information, see the Public Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov at any time or to the ground floor, room W12–140, DOT Building, New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38023 19476), or you may visit https:// docketsinfo.dot.gov. Public participation: The https:// www.regulations.gov Web site is generally available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can get electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the ‘‘help’’ section of the https://www.regulations.gov Web site and also at the DOT’s https:// docketsinfo.dot.gov Web site. If you want us to notify you that we received your comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting comments online. Comments received after the comment closing date will be included in the docket, and we will consider late comments to the extent practicable. Mr. Robert F. Schultz, Jr., FMCSA Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations, Driver and Carrier Operations Division, Telephone: 202– 366–4325, or e-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Background Under 49 U.S.C. 31315, as referenced in section 31136(e), FMCSA may grant an exemption if it finds ‘‘such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.’’ Exemptions may be granted for up to 2 years from the approval date and may be renewed upon application (49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1)). The procedure for requesting an exemption (including a renewal) is prescribed by 49 CFR part 381. FMCSA has evaluated Isuzu’s application for renewal on its merits and has decided to grant renewal of the exemption for 11 of Isuzu’s engineers and technicians for a 2-year period. Isuzu Application for an Exemption Renewal Isuzu Motors America, Inc. (Isuzu) has applied for the renewal of an exemption from 49 CFR 383.23, which sets forth rules applicable to drivers operating CMVs in interstate commerce. Isuzu seeks to renew its exemption for 11 of 19 drivers previously granted this exemption on October 16, 2003 (68 FR 59677). On June 21, 2006, the exemption was renewed (71 FR 35725). Isuzu is seeking renewal of this exemption because the drivers it employs are citizens and residents of Japan, and therefore cannot apply for a CDL from a State of the United States. A copy of the request for renewal is in the docket identified at the beginning of E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM 02JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38022-38023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14965]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Ketchikan, Ketchikan 
Gateway Borough, Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.7, the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and 
Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) will be 
prepared for the Gravina Access Project in the Ketchikan Gateway 
Borough, Ketchikan, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Vanderhoof, Environmental 
Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, P.O. Box 21648, Juneau, 
Alaska 99802, (907) 586-7464, e-mail (Michael.vanderhoof@dot.gov), fax 
(907) 586-7420; or Reuben Yost, Project Environmental Coordinator, 
DOT&PF, P.O. Box 2506, Juneau, AK 99811-2506, e-mail 
(Reuben.Yost@alaska.gov), fax (907-465-2030).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the DOT&PF, 
will prepare a SEIS to examine ways to link Revillagigedo Island, home 
of Ketchikan and Saxman, to Gravina Island, the location of the 
Ketchikan International Airport, and adjoining lands that offer 
recreational and development potential. Currently, a ferry across 
Tongass Narrows provides the only regular access to Gravina Island. The 
need for improving access is threefold: to provide the Ketchikan 
Gateway Borough and its residents more reliable, efficient, convenient, 
and cost-effective access for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians to 
Borough lands and other developable or recreation lands on Gravina 
Island in support of the Borough's adopted land use plans; to improve 
the convenience and reliability of access to Ketchikan International 
Airport for passengers, airport tenants, emergency personnel and 
equipment, and shipment of freight; and to promote environmentally 
sound, planned long-term economic development on Gravina Island.
    In August 2004, the FHWA issued a Final EIS for the Gravina Access 
Project (FHWA-AK-EIS-03-01-F) that identified Alternative F1: Bridges 
(200-foot high East and 120-foot high West) Between South Tongass 
Avenue and the Airport, via Pennock Island, as FHWA's and DOT&PF's 
Preferred Alternative. FHWA issued a Record of Decision on September 
15, 2004, and identified Alternative F1 as the Selected Alternative. 
More information can be found at the project Web site: https://
dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/projectinfo/ser/Gravina/documents.shtml.
    The DOT&PF moved forward in 2006 with the first phase of 
implementing Alternative F1: construction of the Gravina Island Highway 
segment, which extends from the Ketchikan International Airport south 
approximately 3 miles to the proposed bridge spanning the west channel 
of Tongass Narrows, and is expected to be completed in 2008. On 
September 21, 2007, due to rapidly escalating costs, Alaska Governor 
Sarah Palin directed the DOT&PF to look for a lower cost alternative 
for access to Gravina Island instead of proceeding further with 
Alternative F1. Therefore, the DOT&PF intends to re-examine 
alternatives and identify and select a new preferred alternative. FHWA 
informed the DOT&PF that if the Gravina Island Highway segment was not 
incorporated into any new preferred alternative that segment may be 
determined ineligible for federal aid. Most of the reasonable 
alternatives evaluated in the FEIS did not include the Gravina Island 
Highway. A SEIS is being prepared to consider the impacts of the 
Gravina Island Highway in the analysis of reasonable alternatives, to 
address the reduced funding levels available, and to identify a new 
preferred alternative.
    The Gravina Access Project SEIS will build on the studies completed 
and previously approved by FHWA to identify a lower cost alternative 
for access to Gravina Island. The SEIS will examine several 
alternatives including: three ferry alternatives--one located north of 
the airport, one located near the existing ferry, and one located south 
of the airport; two 200-foot high bridge crossings located near the 
airport; two 120-foot high bridge crossings located near the airport; a 
bridge alternative that crosses Pennock Island with a 200-foot high 
bridge from Revilla Island to Pennock Island and a 120-foot high bridge 
from Pennock Island to Gravina Island; and a bridge alternative that 
crosses Pennock Island with a 60-foot high bridge from Revilla Island 
to

[[Page 38023]]

Pennock Island and a 200-foot high bridge from Pennock Island to 
Gravina Island. The alternatives to be studied in detail in the SEIS 
will be determined by a screening process after scoping is complete and 
any new alternatives are identified. The No Action Alternative will 
remain under consideration throughout the SEIS process.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments 
should be submitted to FHWA or DOT&PF at the addresses provided above. 
The deadline for submitting comments to be included in the official 
Scoping Summary Report is August 19, 2008. Public scoping meetings will 
be held in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Avenue 
on July 22, 2008, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
    Comments received through the scoping process will be addressed in 
the Draft SEIS. Public notice will be given regarding the availability 
of the Draft SEIS for public and agency review and comment. During the 
comment period on the Draft SEIS, FHWA and DOT&PF will hold a Public 
Hearing to receive testimony concerning the Draft SEIS.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: June 24, 2008.
David C. Miller,
FHWA Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska.
 [FR Doc. E8-14965 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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