BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities proposes to change regulations on the Department’s Environmental Program.

The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities proposes to adopt regulation changes in 17 AAC 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the Department’s Environmental Program, including the following:

(1)        Chapter 12, is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to reflect an ongoing agreement between the State and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the State to accept responsibility under the National Environmental POLICY Act (NEPA) for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to Federal Highway projects within Alaska.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Ms. Mary McRae at the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Division of Design & Engineering Services, P.O. Box 112500, Attention: Ms. Mary McRae, Juneau, AK, 99811. Additionally, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will accept comments by electronic mail at mary.mcrae@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 4:30 pm on July 27, 2020.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Mary McRae by e-mail at mary.mcrae@alaska.gov or by mail at Ms. Mary McRae at the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Division of Design & Engineering Services, P.O. Box 112500, Attention: Ms. Mary McRae, Juneau, AK  99811. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Ms. Mary McRae at mary.mcrae@alaska.gov and (907) 465-1222 not later than July 13, 2020, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Ms. Mary McRae at mary.mcrae@alaska.gov and (907) 465-1222.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory authority: AS 44.42.030; AS 44.42.300

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 44.42.030; AS 44.42.300

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Division of Design & Engineering Services keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities at mary.mcrae@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Date: 6/12/2020
/s/ John MacKinnon
Commissioner
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities