The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), in cooperation with the Alaska Division of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announce the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) to relocate the Noatak Airport. The Final EA is being made available for the public on August 9, 2024.

Comments are requested by September 9, 2024, to chris.johnston@alaska.gov.

The Final EA is available for review online: https://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/noatak/

The proposed project would:

• Construct runway, taxiway, apron, lighting, and a Snow Removal Equipment Building (SREB).
• Relocate or demolish and reconstruct FAA-owned facilities for navigational aids, communications, and maintenance.
• Deobligate existing airport. Deobligation releases the existing airport from all existing FAA grant assurances identified during the asset recovery process and transfers the assurances’ encumbrances to the new, relocated airport.
• Deactivate the existing airport. Deactivation closes the existing airport to all aircraft operations and removes FAA equipment that is not transferred to the new airport.
• Acquire approximately 323 acres of land for the relocated airport and access road through various temporary and permanent interests from federal, state, and private entities.
• Acquire temporary interest for approximately 160 acres for mobilization and haul roads during construction of the project.
• Dispose existing airport land and non-FAA infrastructure once the land is no longer required for airport use. Disposal of existing airport property will occur in accordance with Federal and State regulations and FAA grant assurance requirements.
• Three parcels of airport property, totaling 9.60 acres, are perpetual easements from NANA Regional Corporation (NANA) and will revert to NANA per the terms of the easements. It is likely these parcels will continue to see similar undeveloped use due to their location.
• The remaining 116.45 acres will either be transferred back to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), per the terms of the deed, or if the reversionary clause is waived by both FAA and BLM, disposed of through a property sale at fair market value or transferred to a governmental agency for public use. FAA cannot reasonably foresee what use this land will have following disposal because the future landowner will not be known until after a record of decision has been issued.
• FAA approval of the Noatak Airport property (Tract 1, Parcel A) not reverting to federal government land when no longer needed for airport property purposes.
• FAA approval of the Noatak Airport property (Tract 1, Parcel B-D) reverting to NANA when no longer needed for airport property purposes, in accordance with terms of the perpetual easement.
• Upon the ultimate land disposal determination, the need for further environmental impact analysis to consider the potential environmental impacts for which the existing airport property and non-FAA infrastructure will be used will be assessed.
• Construct a road from Noatak to the relocated airport, with a bridge crossing Kuchoruk Creek.
• Develop local material sources and access.
• Transport material and equipment utilizing a combination of air, water, and overland access.
• Construct gravel pads for staging areas.
• Extend existing community above-ground utility lines to the relocated airport. The new power poles would be placed in the right-of-way (ROW) of the new airport access road.
• Mitigate loss of existing fuel transfer system due to decommissioning the existing airport by constructing pads for relocated fuel transfer and storage.
• A new community provided fuel transfer system would be required. Bulk fuel storage is not planned on the new airport property.
• Contaminant remediation on existing airport lease lots would be required by responsible lessees.
• FAA conditional approval of the Noatak Airport Layout Plan.

Supplemental Information: The Proposed Action will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment or otherwise include any condition requiring consultation pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA; an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is therefore not necessary.

The proposed project would comply with all applicable authorities, including:

• Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. §§ 470aa–470mm)
• Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 668–668c) • CAA (42 U.S.C. §§ 7401–7671q)
• Clean Water Act (CWA), Sections 401, 402, and 404 (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251–1387)
• CEQ (Council on Environmental Quality). 2023. National Environmental Policy Act Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change. 88 FR 1196. Interim Guidance. January 2023.
• Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 1531–1544)
• EO 11514 as amended by EO 11991, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality
• EO 11593, Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment
• EO 11988, Floodplain Protection
• EO 11990, Protection of Wetlands
• EO 12088, Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards
• EO 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
• EO 13985, Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
• EO 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All
• EO 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
• EO 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
• EO 13834, Efficient Federal Operations
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 703–712)
• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (54 U.S.C. § 300101)
• Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §§ 13101–13109)

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 FAA funds. DOT&PF complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

If you or someone you represent requires special accommodations in order to respond to this public notice, please call or email the project coordinator listed above, or call Alaska Relay at 711, or call (800) 770-8973 

Ask the communications assistant to call the project coordinator listed above so arrangements can be made to assist you.