Public Meeting(s) Location/Date: (see Attachment A for Maps of locations)
Noatak - Native Village of Noatak Office December 5, 2017 10:00a – 12:00p
Kivalina - McQueen School Gym December 5, 2017 2:00p – 4:00p
Kotzebue - Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly Room December 5, 2017 6:00p – 8:00p
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) in partnership with the Northwest Arctic Borough (NAB), the Community of Kivalina, NANA Regional Corporation (NANA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Kivalina Evacuation and School Site Access Road project in Kivalina, Alaska for public review.
The project team proposes to construct a combined causeway and bridge facility across Kivalina Lagoon and associated all-season gravel access road from the lagoon eastern shoreline eastward to a community-selected evacuation site near Kisimigiuqtuq Hill (K-Hill). Up to four local material sites would also be developed to supply project requirements. The proposed project would provide Kivalina residents a safe and reliable evacuation route in the event of a catastrophic storm or ocean surge, allowing evacuees to temporarily mobilize to safe refuge at an assembly site on K-Hill also identified by the Northwest Arctic Borough School District as a preferred new location for the community school. The Draft EA addresses the proposed action and potential impacts to the natural and human environments.
The proposed project would also involve a portion of the Cape Krusenstern National Historic Landmark (CKNHL), an historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP) and protected under Section 4(f) of The Department of Transportation Act of 1966. The CKNHL, which in part encompasses private and state lands comprising the proposed project location as well the community of Kivalina, is administered by the U. S. Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS). Based on consultation with the Alaska Department of National Resources Office of History and Archeology and the NPS, DOT&PF intends to make a finding that, after consideration of impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation or enhancement measures, the proposed project would not adversely affect contributing elements, activities, features, and attributes of the CKNHL. The comment period for the 4(f) determination took place concurrently with the Section 106 review and has ended prior to this publication. However, DOT&PF will consider any additional comments regarding the potential impacts to the CKNHL received during the EA comment period. Documentation and other data informing this proposed 4(f) determination are provided in the Draft EA.
If you are unable to attend the public meeting dates referenced above but wish to provide comments on the Draft EA, you may access it via the project website listed below and also at the offices of the Northwest Arctic Borough (Kotzebue), the Native Village of Kivalina (Kivalina), the City of Kivalina (Kivalina), the Native Village of Noatak (Noatak), NANA Corporation (Anchorage and Kotzebue), and at the Red Dog Mine library. Formal written comments can be made until 12/15/2017 either via the project website at: http://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/KivalinaEvacRd/, or directly to the project manager by U.S. mail or email as noted below.
For more information or to provide written comments, please contact:
Jonathan Hutchinson, P.E., Project Manager
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Northern Region
2301 Peger Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709
(907) 451-5479
Jonathan.hutchinson@alaska.gov
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this proposed project are being, or have been, carried out by DOT&PF pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated November 3, 2017 and executed by FHWA and DOT&PF.
This proposed project will comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; Executive Orders: 11990 (Wetlands Protection), 11988 (Floodplain Protection), 12898 (Environmental Justice), the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and U.S. DOT Act Section 4(f).
It is the policy of the DOT&PF that no person shall be excluded from participation in, or be denied benefits of any and all programs or activities we provide based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, ability, or national origin, regardless of the funding source including Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration and State of Alaska Funds. The DOT&PF complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with a hearing impairment can contact DOT&PF at our Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (907) 451-2363.
ADOT&PF operates all programs without regard to race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, ability, or national origin. Full Title VI Nondiscrimination Policy: dot.alaska.gov/tvi_statement.shtml. To file a complaint go to: dot.alaska.gov/cvlrts/titlevi.shtml.