November 11, Subject: Public Scoping Meeting November 9, 2016 Public Comments and Response. Dear Ken:

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1 November 11, 2016 Mr. Ken Nichols City and Borough of Juneau Juneau International Airport Planning, Design and Construction 1873 Shell Simmons Dr., Ste. 200 Juneau, Alaska Subject: Public Scoping Meeting November 9, 2016 Public Comments and Response Dear Ken: Enclosed are the scoping meeting comments and responses from the public meeting on November 9, If you have any questions, please contact me on (907) or Sincerely, DOWL Patrick Whitesell Environmental Specialist Enc. Meeting Notes (3 pages total) (fax) 4041 B Street Anchorage, Alaska Alaska Arizona Colorado Montana North Dakota Oregon Washington Wyoming

2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Emergency Vehicle Access Road (EVAR) Project MEETING NOTES Agency Meeting: 3:00 PM, Alaska Room No attendance; no federal or state agency personnel present Public Meeting : 5:30 PM, Alaska Room Presentation, 5:45pm to 6:10pm (Q = Question, A = Answer, C = Comment) Q: So we will replace the fence? A: No, there is a gap in the fence that will be filled. Q: Filling the fence gap by float pond also? Q: When is the anticipated date of construction? A: 2017 or 2018, not confirmed. For the FAA, security is a high priority, road is a lower priority. There are a mix of issues that the Alaska Region FAA has to fund, and other items have higher priority. Assuming it is accepted and approved, this project will make the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list. Most likely 2018 construction, taking less than one season (3-4 months). Q: What time of year for construction? A: Timing would be left to the contractor unless there is a comment or reason limiting the window. The US Fish & Wildlife Service s Migratory Bird Clearing Window will impact timing, as might fish runs. Q: Do you have a way to ensure the fence and road construction are linked, so there are not two separate projects to endure? A: We do. We ve already analyzed impact of the fence, but FAA wanted an environmental analysis of both. There is the small possibility of doing the float plane fence gap separately, but having the contractor go out once rather than twice will make it less expensive. Projects will bid together. C: Noting the shelter constructed by Boy Scouts. A: It is surveyed in. Page 1 of 3

3 Q: The existing Lower Dike Trail will remain? Q: The berm will require vegetation clearing? A: Yes, although there will be a buffer of trees left. The existing trail will be basically be left the same. We don t anticipate any conflicts during construction except a detour at the beginning of the project. Q: Is this all on airport property? Q: What is the purpose of the project? A: Emergency access to this area of the airport, and to provide aid to the area south of the airport. Events take time, and it is better to stage vehicles out of wetlands and above tidal elevations. Q: Why not use float pond road? Consider spurs, cut fewer trees. A: This will be considered. C: Fireman clarifies that if there is a plane out there, it is not timely or efficient to get through multiple cuts and through fences. Emergency crews need to get access, and it is much more efficient via the proposed road. This proposed extension would get them closer to historical accident sites. Q: During construction can we run construction vehicles down float pond road to limit conflicts? A: Makes a lot of sense. The airport wants construction to be seamless, and keep the west end of the trail open for public, hopefully entire trail will remain open. There may be a detour where the trail leaves the road. There may be limited closures while installing the fence, depending on equipment used. Could be auger or air hammer. Q: Is it wide enough for two rigs to pass side by side? A: (from audience member and JFD personnel) No, we would never try to pass side by side, and would respond one way. This is not intended for two way traffic. C: If the project is approved, I recommend restricting construction to August and September, after bird nesting and fledging. A: Per recollection, May through July is the critical window. If nests are disturbed, birds may renest and may extend the window. Page 2 of 3

4 C: As a birder, this is a loss. It is a beautiful area because of the transition between dense underbrush into open terrain, especially in the fall during migration. C: Commenter thinks the airport is concerned about the wetlands due to laws. From the standpoint of birding, wetlands are important, but so are trees. C: One of the losses during construction this year was the cluster of rose bushes at the end of the trail. Prior to this year it was the biggest area the commenter had seen, but it got torn up this spring. (Just N of the gate at the end, and some along the side). 2/3rds got decimated. It would be nice to help them recover. C: Commenter says, with respect to the fireman, the distance on the float pond road is the same as the proposed EVAR extension. C: There were rumors of closure of the trail. It is even and one of the sunniest areas in town, a very nice trail for all levels. A: We understand there is a huge diversity of users and the trail is very popular. The intent is for users to see little to no impact. During high tide the existing east end trail may not be walkable (as it is now), but the intent is not to shut off access. After construction, the access road will be available during high tide for walking. C: They could have told us that we just can t have people walking under jets, it is a different time. A: We decided early in the master plan process that we want to look at sustainability and keeping the trail open is important in that plan and as a community relationship. Q/A: Is another bench possible? Yes. C: A possible mitigation, the short section coming off the dike is very muddy at the bottom. Especially when it is raining. C: The treed area becomes a de facto bathroom. Can some facilities be established? A: Possibly. FAA would not participate, but it could be done. There is some concern about no water or sewer. The sponsor will need to be a volunteer org or city organization. C: Clarification on who puts up the bird interpretive signs. This is done by Fish and Game, on city property. Page 3 of 3

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