The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announce the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Homer Airport Improvements project.

Electronic versions of the Final EA and FONSI/ROD are now available for public viewing at: https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/homerairport/documents.shtml.

The DOT&PF released the Draft EA for public and agency review in January 2022. In the Draft EA, DOT&PF committed to continuing consultation with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) regarding the potential for encountering per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during construction of the proposed project. Consultation with ADEC identified the need for additional site characterization to delineate PFAS-contaminated soils within the project’s footprint.

The DOT&PF performed initial sampling for PFAS at the Homer Airport in June 2021, in coordination with ADEC, as part of a statewide effort to identify PFAS issues at state-owned airports. Initial site characterization activities, consisting of soil, groundwater, surface water, and water well testing, identified PFAS contamination above regulatory limits at four soil sampling locations, one surface water sample location, and one temporary well point location within the project area. None of the water supply wells that were sampled contained PFAS contamination above regulatory levels.

Further site characterization activities performed in summer 2022 identified and delineated PFAS-contaminated soils within the project’s construction footprint. In an effort to avoid soil contaminated with PFAS during construction, the DOT&PF is reducing the scope of the proposed improvements. Elements removed from the project include:

• Expansion of the General Aviation (GA) Apron to the east toward Lampert Lake
• Construction of a new taxiway (Taxiway J) connecting the runway near mid-field to the expanded GA Apron

For current information about the project, please visit the project website at https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/homerairport/. You may also contact the DOT&PF Project Manager, Matthew Hansen, P.E., at 269-0602 or matthew.hansen@alaska.gov, with questions.

It is the policy of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (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) 269-0473.