--About The EIS--

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires consideration of the environmental consequences of a federal action before the action is taken. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is prepared when a significant environmental impact may occur. The EIS document provides an in-depth review and disclosure of the environmental impacts for the proposed actions, alternatives to those actions, and mitigation that may be incorporated into the project.

Actions proposed by Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) at Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport that are assessed in this EIS include the following:

• Improvements to the runway safety area
• Extension of a full-length Parallel Taxiway
• Relocation of the Airport Seaplane Pullout from west of the runway
• Installation of an Approach Lighting System
• Repairs and improvements to the airport seawall
• Acquisition of sufficient property rights to lands needed for existing and future aviation and airport uses

Feasible and prudent alternatives to each of the proposed actions are being considered during the EIS process, including the no-action alternative.

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The purpose and needs for the proposed actions are:

• Provide runway safety areas that meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidance to the greatest extent practicable
• Reduce the potential for runway incursions and thus improve the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations at the airport
• Improve the ability of aircraft to land and/or takeoff during inclement weather
• Maintain structural integrity of the runway and prevent closure of the runway resulting from wave overtopping and associated storm debris
• Obtain property rights sufficient to protect lands for current and future aviation and airport uses

The FAA’s Preferred Alternatives are presented in the Draft EIS. The FAA’s Preferred Alternatives are as follows:

• Runway Safety Area Alternative 5 – This alternative includes a 280-Foot landmass expansion on Runway end 29 to extend the Runway Safety Area.
• Parallel Taxiway Alternative 3 – This alternative is a partial extension of the Parallel Taxiway to Charcoal Island, involving fill into the Airport Lagoon.
• Seaplane Pullout Alternative 2 – This alternative involves the construction of a fixed ramp Seaplane Pullout on Charcoal Island, located in Mermaid Cove.
• Approach Lighting System Alternative 1 – No Action. The DEIS determined that an approach lighting system was not warranted at this time.
• Seawall Alternative 1 – No Action. The DEIS determined that reconstruction of the seawall was not needed at this time.
• Land Transfer Alternative 2 – This alternative involves the acquisition of property rights sufficient to protect land for current and future aviation and airport uses.

Project-specific materials including the complete Draft EIS, maps, informational materials (reports, technical memorandums, etc), and an EIS schedule are available in other sections of this web site. Information is also housed at Sitka's local library:

Kettleson Memorial Library
320 Harbor Drive
Sitka, AK 99835