Public Meeting Thursday Dec 6, 5 pm, Convention Center

Good afternoon,

Two weeks ago we convened meetings in Anchorage and Kodiak to talk about the Draft EIS for proposed runway safety area improvements at Kodiak Airport. I’d like to thank those of you who participated. We had some good discussions, and I really appreciate all of the constructive feedback.  We’ll do our best to respond fully to your questions and comments.

If you were unable to attend, or are just interested in reviewing some of the information covered during those meetings, I’ve had the PowerPoint presentation we used posted on the project website at  http://www.kodiakairporteis.com/documents/documents.htm. On that page, scroll down to “Project Reference Documents” and the presentation, in PDF form, is titled “Draft EIS Stakeholder Meetings November 2012.”

I’d also like to remind you that we have scheduled another round of consultations and meetings with tribes, agencies, and other stakeholders next week in Kodiak. If you would like us to meet with you or others in your organization, and haven’t already been contacted, please let me know and we’ll get in touch right away.

There are two events I just know you want to make sure are on your calendar. First, the public hearing for the Draft EIS will be Thursday night, December 6, at the Kodiak Convention Center. An open house with workshop stations will kick things off at 5:00 pm, and the formal hearing for public testimony will begin at 6:00 pm. Secondly, December 18 is the deadline for FAA to receive your comments on the Draft EIS. You can get those to me one of two ways, by 1) mail, to the address below or 2) e-mail, to my address at Leslie.Grey@faa.org<mailto:Leslie.Grey@faa.org>

Thanks, and see you soon!  Leslie

Leslie A. Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453

Draft Preferred Alternatives – Kodiak Airport DEIS

The preferred alternatives for both runways look pretty good; the FAA seems to have heard the concerns of Kodiak residents in determining their choices.  We urge you to read through the EIS and comment in favor of these preferred alternatives.
Copies of the Draft EIS are now on shelves and on-line for review at the following locations:

 *   Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, 222 W. 7th Avenue #14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7504
 *   A. Holmes Memorial Library, 319 Lower Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, AK 99615
 *   On the website at:  www.kodiakairporteis.com
 
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Draft Preferred Alternatives – Kodiak Airport DEIS

Of the alternatives described above, the FAA has identified a preferred RSA-improvement alternative for runways 07/25 and 18/36. These Preferred Alternatives are illustrated in Figure 3 (see page 2). The Preferred Alternatives were selected based upon their ability to meet the project purpose and need while minimizing the anticipated environmental impacts.

For Runway 07/25, Alternative 2 was chosen as the Preferred Alternative because it would require the smallest fill footprint, therefore minimizing the environmental impacts compared to Alternative 3.

For Runway 18/36, Alternative 7 was chosen because it represented the only alternative that avoided placing fill in the sensitive Buskin River area and associated freshwater plume, which was identified as an important resource and a major concern for both the community and relevant agencies. Runway 18/36 Alternative 7 also minimizes fill toward the Buskin River State Recreation site. The best available information was used in identifying these Preferred Alternatives.

Kodiak Airport EIS Project Update 08 August 2012

Kodiak Airport EIS Project Update
Hello!

For some time, the FAA has been preparing an environmental impact statement considering impacts associated with runway safety area improvements at Kodiak Airport. I think it is safe to say, at least on behalf of the FAA and consultants, that we are more than ready for the Draft EIS to be published for everyone to see. We aren’t quite finished; but we are very close. Our environmental analyses are undergoing review here in Anchorage and at FAA headquarters, and I think those will be the last hurdles before starting the public review portion of the work. My current goal is to publish a Draft EIS, including an ANILCA Title XI application and preliminary analysis, sometime this fall and most likely in October. We will provide 60 days for everyone to

review the Draft EIS and submit comments, and hold at least one public hearing for the Draft EIS in Kodiak during the review period. We will also hold public hearings concerning the ANILCA application in both Alaska and Washington, D.C.

I will keep you informed as we get closer to release of the Draft EIS. In the meantime, let me know if you have questions, comments or concerns. My phone number is 271-5453 or you can email Leslie.Grey@faa.gov.

Best regards, Leslie Grey

Leslie A. Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453
Leslie.Grey@faa.gov

Kodiak Airport EIS Deadlines, etc Update 31 March 2012

We are fast approaching some important deadlines for the proposed runway safety area
improvements at Kodiak Airport EIS, the first of which will be publication of a draft
environmental impact statement (EIS). I’ll use this update to let you know our schedule for
the coming months and years. To put the schedule in context, I’ll start with a quick overview
of what goes into an EIS and our status within that process. The last paragraph refers to the
law necessitating our analysis of these proposed actions and the statutory commitment for
completing RSA improvements at Kodiak and other airports across the U.S.
The Steps of an EIS
I know that many of you are very familiar with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and the procedures established by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to conform
with NEPA’s purpose, which essentially is to help public officials make informed decisions
with full understanding of possible environmental consequences. The process of meeting
that purpose also helps to make sure appropriate actions are taken to protect, restore, and
enhance the environment.
A mechanism outlined in the CEQ regulations to achieve those goals is preparation of an
EIS. Once a federal agency establishes that an EIS is needed, a notice of intent is published
announcing the decision and soliciting feedback from the public, agencies, tribes, and other
parties. This scoping process helps to define the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts
to be considered in the EIS. After the agency completes its analysis of potential
environmental impacts, the conclusions are published in a Draft EIS and another opportunity
for public is initiated. In a few relatively rare instances a draft is adopted as final, but in most
cases the federal agency will revise at least some aspect of the analysis and publish a Final
EIS that includes responses to comments made on the Draft. After a period of at least 30
days during which the Final EIS is available for public consideration, the federal agency can
make a decision concerning the actions that triggered the EIS. Our website for the project
includes a simple diagram of the main elements of an EIS and opportunities for public
involvement during that process (www.kodiakairporteis.com/schedule/schedule.htm).
Where is Kodiak Airport EIS in this Process?
On February 15, 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice of intent
to prepare an EIS that would assess the impacts resulting from improvements to runway
safety areas (RSA) on two runways (18/36 and 7/25) at Kodiak Airport. During the ensuing
5+ years, FAA and our EIS Consultant Team have compiled information documenting
existing environmental conditions on and around the Airport; put together a range of
alternatives to improve RSAs on two of the Airport runways; and conducted analyses of
possible environmental, cultural, economic and social impacts. A preliminary draft EIS was
prepared and distributed late 2010 to Kodiak-area Tribes and state and federal agencies that
generated substantial discussion and valuable feedback concerning, in particular, the
alternatives being considered, methods of impact analysis, and some of our conclusions.
We’ve also begun to develop the documentation needed for compliance with a variety of
state and federal laws, in the event that a decision is reached to improve RSAs on one or
both of the runways. These efforts are driven in part by two factors. One, our schedule for
completion of the EIS and possible construction of the RSAs is very ambitious (see below).
Page 2 of 3
So we don’t have the luxury of waiting for an FAA decision to begin, for example, consultation
with National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Second, FAA believes that consultation
processes are best done concurrent with NEPA analysis. Not only does this help integrate
NEPA with unique requirements of special purpose laws, but it results in more efficient and
streamlined government coordination and decision-making.
What is the Schedule for the Remainder of the EIS?
We are now working to complete a Draft EIS for public and agency review, and I hope to
release it in mid-summer of 2012. FAA will make it available at easily accessible locations in
Kodiak as well as at the FAA and Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
offices in Anchorage, and on the project website (www.kodiakairporteis.com). Hard copies
and CDs of the Draft EIS will be mailed to agency, tribal and other governmental contacts, as
well as those organizations and individuals who have expressed interest in receiving it.
In addition to opportunities to submit comments via mail and online, at least one public
hearing will also be conducted in Kodiak to receive additional verbal or written public
comments. I and members of my team will work hard to meet with as many people as we can
to explain the contents and conclusions in the Draft EIS, answer questions, and listen to
concerns. Summer can be a busy time for people in Kodiak, so we will extend our normal
public comment period to a full 60 days.
Once the public comment period is over we will begin preparing a Final EIS. Comments on
the Draft EIS can strongly influence the Final EIS and FAA’s ultimate decision concerning the
proposed RSA improvements, so we will carefully consider and respond to all of them. We’ll
make sure that substantive comments are attached to the Final EIS and posted on the project
website. FAA’s goal is to make decisions about RSA projects for Runways 18/36 and 7/25
no later than spring of next year.
What Happens After the Decision?
Construction of the proposed projects would take two to three years. If FAA were to approve
the RSA projects in early 2013 some components of the work could begin the same year, but
a number of factors would influence the construction start time. There are permits,
authorizations, consultations and other actions that would be needed before construction
could begin. Permits may include restrictions of various types that would dictate when
construction could occur and for how long. For instance, stipulations could be imposed to
protect natural resources, such as seasonal prohibitions to protect wildlife species of concern.
The construction work would also be designed to minimize impacts on commercial and
military aircraft operations.
Does the Schedule Above Have to be Met?
Yes! By passage of Public Law 109-115 Congress has directed that, not later than
December 31, 2015, the owner or operator of an airport such as Kodiak’s shall improve the
runway safety areas to comply with applicable FAA design standards. In other words, FAA
does not have the ability or authority to shift the deadline. Considering the approvals and
permits that could be needed, and the extended construction period that may be required to
Page 3 of 3
complete work on the runway ends, our efforts to complete the EIS and prepare and
complete a Record of Decision necessarily have to be aggressive.
I hope to be seeing some of you in the near future to talk more about the Draft EIS analysis,
and some of the consultation needs to comply with special purpose laws such as the
Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, ANILCA and so forth. In the
meantime, let me know if you have questions, comments or concerns. My phone number is
271-5453 or you can email Leslie.Grey@faa.gov.
Regards,
Leslie Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453

Kodiak Airport EIS meetings scheduled for Nov 1 & 2

Good afternoon,
 
Based on feedback from a number of our key agency representatives, I have
scheduled Kodiak Airport EIS meetings in Kodiak and Anchorage for the week
of October 31, 2011.  The intent of these meetings will be to present
runway safety area alternatives that will be included in the Draft EIS.
FAA and members of the EIS consulting team will take this opportunity to
describe the alternatives, provide rationale for why some alternatives work
and others won’t, and explain the factors considered in developing a range
for full environment analysis.  We are inviting agency and tribal
representatives, as well as other project stakeholders and interested
persons, to attend.  Our schedule will be:
 
      Kodiak Meetings
            Tuesday Afternoon, November 1 – Alternatives Meeting for All
            Wednesday Morning, November 2 – Available for individual
            agency/tribal/stakeholder meetings
 
      Anchorage Meetings
            Thursday Morning, November 3 – Alternatives Meeting for All
            Thursday Afternoon, November 3 - Available for individual
            agency/tribal/stakeholder meetings
 
As you can see from the schedule, I have also set aside time to meet with
some of you who would like further consultation or to discuss other
elements of the EIS.  I or another member of my consultant team will follow
up with you shortly to make those arrangements.  Let me know if you or
others from your organization cannot attend the alternatives meeting, and I
will do my best to arrange a conference call or some other forum to cover
this information with you in the near future.
 
In the next few days we will reserve meetings rooms, and I will send
another announcement with locations and times.  In the meantime, please
don’t hesitate to call me at 271-5453 if you have questions or specific
requests.
 
Leslie Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453

23 August 2011 FAA Email Update from Leslie Grey

Hello,
 
 As you are probably aware, I and many of my co-workers in FAA’s Airports
Division, in Alaska and nation-wide, were part of the approximately 4,000
workforce that was temporarily furloughed.  The furlough affected a number
of Alaska projects, including the Kodiak Airport EIS.  The full impact of
the work disruption on the EIS and other projects is hard to determine, but
it certainly isn’t always limited to just a delay in schedule.  Resources
may get shifted to other priorities, contractors and consultants have to
adapt their manpower allocations, contingency plans may have to be prepared
to shut down work and, once a furlough is over, it takes extra time and
energy to get back project momentum.  The good news is, because their costs
are allocated through a previously committed grant managed by Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), our
consulting team had some funding to continue work while I was away from the
office.  However, even the consultant’s work had to be somewhat limited in
scope, primarily because at the time of furlough FAA staff was pushing to
complete our comprehensive re-examination of runway safety alternatives.
The consultants can’t go very far with their efforts until FAA decides
which alternatives will be carried through a detailed analysis of possible
environmental impacts.  Although we still haven’t completed our analysis,
involving personnel from both Alaska Region and FAA headquarters with
critical input from ADOT&PF, Alaska Airlines, and U.S. Coast Guard, I can
report that the range of alternatives to be included in the Draft EIS will
be substantially different than was initially presented in the Preliminary
Draft EIS.  More will be forthcoming on that subject in the near future.
 
On a different note.  You may remember that after we had distributed the
Preliminary Draft EIS and received comments from reviewing agencies, Stacy
Studebaker, a biologist and Kodiak resident, alerted us to the presence of
a potentially rare plant in the vicinity of the Airport.  The
sessile-leaved scurvy grass (Cochlearia sessilifolia) was found in the
Buskin River estuary in late summer 2010.  The sessile-leaved scurvy grass
is not a federally listed species, and there are no state protections for
the species, but it is listed on the Alaska Rare Plant List by the Alaska
Natural Heritage Program.  The Heritage rank for Cochlearia sessilifolia (
G1G2Q/S1S2) means the species is considered either critically imperiled or
imperiled at both a global and state geographic level.
 
During our meetings earlier this year and in other communications, a number
of you encouraged FAA to undertake a more thorough investigation for the
presence and distribution of sessile-leaf scurvy grass in the area on or
around the Kodiak Airport.  The EIS consultants will be conducting surveys
for this plant later in August, in the EIS project area as well as in
surrounding suitable habitats within Chiniak Bay. Other potentially rare
plant species may be found in the project area, such as the Oriental
Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys orientalis) and the Alaska Mistmaiden (
Romazoffia unalaschkensis), and the surveys will document these and other
species of interest that may be found.
 
 
I hope this information is helpful.  Please don’t hesitate to call
(271-5453) or write (Leslie.Grey@faa.gov) if you have questions or comments
or just want to talk about the EIS.
 
 
Thanks very much,
 
 
Leslie Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453

FAA update 08 Feb 2011 from Leslie Grey

I would like to update you on the status and progress of the Kodiak Airport Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) currently underway.  The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing this EIS to evaluate actions proposed by the Airport Operator, the Alaska State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), to improve the Runway Safety Area (RSA).

For those of you that may be unfamiliar, the RSA is a clear and graded area surrounding a runway.  This area is there to minimize the severity of injury and aircraft damage in the event of an aircraft excursion.  The project in Kodiak is to improve the deficient RSA to the extent practical.

First, I would like to thank you for your patience and continued interest throughout the course of this project.  There has been a tremendous amount of work and progress since my last update in September 2010.  Since that last message, we have evaluated and updated a range of build alternatives that support operational needs, are reasonable, and are financially feasible.

We are currently in the process of scheduling meetings in both Kodiak and Anchorage with staff from cooperating agencies, coordinating agencies, and federally recognized tribal governments.  These meetings are a necessary part of the EIS process, and will assist us greatly in completing the Draft EIS in anticipation of a mid-summer 2010 release.

Our extended review comments and concerns generated from the preliminary draft EIS, as well as our development of updated build alternatives has impacted our schedule.  Despite that impact, we still plan to release the Draft EIS as close to the above schedule of mid-summer 2010 as possible.  As that date approaches, I will continue to provide updates letting you know were we are.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at the number or e-mail address below.

Finally, if you no longer want updates, please let me know, and I will remove you from our mailing list.  Additionally, if you know of someone that needs to be included, but is not, please forward this message, and have them contact me for inclusion in future updates.

Thank you so much, Leslie

Leslie A. Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453

FAA UPDATE: 13 September 2010

Leslie.Grey@faa.gov
Subject: Kodiak Airport EIS project update                

All,
This message is to inform agencies and other interested parties of
the status of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared by
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  I think you are all aware
the purpose of the EIS is to evaluate actions proposed by the Airport
operator, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(ADOT&PF) to bring the facility into compliance with the most current
national aviation safety standards for runway safety areas.


First, I would like to thank many of you for attending our various
Anchorage and Kodiak meetings in late June.  My consulting team and I found
them very informative, particularly as we were able to further explore
comments from agencies concerning the Preliminary Draft EIS (PDEIS), and
discuss some of our proposed changes to the document in response to your
concerns.


As I informed meeting participants earlier this summer, our efforts to
complete the Draft EIS (DEIS) are focused in two areas.  At this time, FAA
is conducting a comprehensive review of the alternatives to affirm that the
EIS includes a suitable range of practicable and feasible runway safety
area enhancements for the runways in consideration.  I can tell you the
Draft EIS will include some different alternatives than were evaluated in
the PDEIS.  Second, we are thoroughly reviewing and, in some cases,
revising our impact analyses not only to consider the new alternatives but
to address substantive comments made by those of you who reviewed the
PDEIS.  We are also working on all other aspects of the EIS to respond to
comments and assure an appropriate level of disclosure when the DEIS is
released for public review.


I plan to schedule another round of meetings in the near future with as
many of you as possible.  Our intent will be to present you with a detailed
explanation of the alternatives, including the physical and operational
factors that limit or even prevent consideration of some options and other
rationale used to screen impracticable alternatives or those not feasible.
We will spend time reviewing the alternatives that are undergoing a full
environmental analysis, and I hope to be able at that time to present you
with FAA's preferred alternatives.


The current schedule for the project has the Draft EIS being released
during the first half of 2011.  As we get closer to completion of the
analysis and documentation, I will provide additional updates to inform you
of our progress and next steps.

Let me know if you have questions or concerns, at the contact information
below.  Additionally, the project website (kodiakairporteis.com) has
background information about the project.


P.S.  Please let me know if you should no longer be on our e-mail
distribution list, or if your contact information has changed. In addition,
if there are others in your organization who should receive these updates
and other information concerning the Kodiak Airport EIS, please forward
this message.  Thanks, Leslie


Leslie A. Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453

Update 30 May 2010

At this time, we are still awaiting word from Leslie Grey at the FAA as to when the draft EIS for the Runway Extension Project will be available for public review.
We suggest checking this blog or the Stewards of the Buskin River Facebook page on a weekly basis for notification.
Or email Leslie Grey directly and ask to be put on the email notification list.

UPDATE 29 APRIL 2010 from Leslie Grey, FAA

All,
This message is to provide a status for the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) being prepared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The
purpose of the EIS is to evaluate actions proposed by the Airport operator,
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADPT&PF) to
bring the facility into compliance with the most current national aviation
safety standards for runway safety areas.
 
The FAA and the EIS consulting team are coordinating with local, state, and
federal agencies as well as local tribal organizations, to assist in the
preparation of the Draft EIS which will be released for public, agency and
tribal review and comment before the FAA conducts a public hearing for the
project.  Further, FAA is conducting a thorough review of the alternatives
to assure that the EIS includes a suitable range of practicable and
feasible runway safety area enhancements for the runways in consideration.
 
The current schedule for the project has the Draft EIS being released this
fall, with the public hearing occurring before the holidays.  As we get
closer to completion of the analysis and documentation, I will provide
additional updates to inform you of our progress and next steps.
 
Please let me know if you have questions or concerns, at the contact
information below.  Additionally, the project website
(kodiakairporteis.com) has background information about the project.
 
Leslie A. Grey
Environmental Protection Specialist
FAA - Alaskan Region, Airports Division
907-271-5453