Environmental Impact Statement: Whittier, AK

Robert E. Ruby
Federal Highway Administration
January 31, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2069]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Whittier, AK

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed access 
improvement project to Whittier, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phillip Smith, Field Operations 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration Box 21648, Juneau, Alaska 
99801-1648. Telephone (907) 586-7428 and Steven R. Horn, P.E., 
Environmental Coordinator, Alaska Department of Transportation and 
Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), Central Region, P.O. Box 196900, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99519. Telephone (907) 266-1737.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Alaska 
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), will 
prepare an environmental impact statement and preliminary engineering 
studies on a proposal to improve access between Whittier, Alaska and 
the Seward Highway corridor near Portage, Alaska.
    The purposes of improved access are to provide: (1) Access with 
greater capacity to meet projected demands from increased tourism and 
recreation; (2) more frequent and convenient access; (3) access that is 
less expensive for users; and (4) access safer than present vehicle on 
railroad flatcar transportation. In addition, the proposal would help 
create additional recreational opportunities in southcentral Alaska by 
providing easier transportation to Prince William Sound. Presently, 
land access is solely by the Alaska Railroad. Alternatives under 
consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) improving existing 
railroad service; and (3) constructing a joint use tunnel for both 
vehicle and train traffic. Incorporated into and studied with various 
build alternatives will be design variations.
    An agency scoping meeting was held on May 20, 1993. Public meetings 
were advertised in local newspapers and held in Whittier, Girdwood, and 
Anchorage in June 1993. Additional public meetings and two public 
hearings will be held in 1994 after publication of the Draft EIS. The 
Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the public hearings.
    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 or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FWHA or ADOT&PF at the addresses provided above.

(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.)

    Issued on January 12, 1994:
Robert E. Ruby,
Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 94-2069 Filed 1-28-94; 8:45 am]
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