Noatak Haul Roadby DOT&PF

Northern RegionAugust 14th, 2018

Noatak Airport Relocation Update

Project website http://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/noatak/ Project

Construct a new 4000' x 75' runway, apron, taxiway, and aviation support areas.Construct

Construct a new Snow Removal Equipment Building (SREB).ConstructConstruct an airport access road from the Village of Noatak to the proposed airport location.ConstructInstall a single-span bridge over the Kuchoruk Creek at the new airport access road crossing.Install

Develop a material site and necessary access routes during airport construction.Develop

Acquire necessary Right-of-Way for the new airport and access road.Acquire

Noatak Airport Relocation Update

• Items still requiring work for the draft EA are contractor access for construction and fuel delivery impacts associated with the airport relocation.

• DOT&PF plans to submit a request for funding from the $1B in Ombinus funds that Congress authorized. If approved, we would advertise a project in summer 2020 with construction starting in 2021.

Project Study Area Red Dog Road Boundary

Watershed Boundary

Watershed Boundary

Noatak River Boundary

Various Proposed Alignments

Video (Noatak3)

Various Alignments

Example Project Purpose

#1: The community of Noatak seeks to benefit future generations by making current decisions that focus on sustainable planning, development and practices. The construction of an all-season road that connects Noatak to the Delong Mountain Road near the Red Dog Mine "Pit 6" is aligned with the community's larger focus on sustainability. PARK ACCESS IS A BENEFIT

#2: The community of Noatak intends to mitigate rising energy costs and a high cost of living by conducting long-range planning that is centered on sustainable practices. The construction of an all-season road that connects Noatak to the Delong Mountain Road near the Red Dog Mine "Pit 6" is aligned with this vision and would ultimately help ensure Noatak's sustainability for future generations.

Example Project Need

Noatak has expensive fuel costs that prohibit them from spending money on other critical community needs, including food, sanitation, heat, etc. Provide Noatak a way to transport hazardous waste, recyclables, etc. out of the community to the Red Dog Port.

High fuel costs directly impact the cost of heating oil, gasoline for subsistence hunting, and diesel for electricity

The Napaaqtugmiut School is a large user of fuel and has a stake in the development of a Haul Road.Economic Development for exports

Noatak has one of the highest costs of living in the State due to high costs of transporting fuel and goods due to low water levels in the Noatak River

Noatak lacks access to a secondary emergency airport at Red Dog MineProvide safe travel for hunting and subsistence food gathering. Provide Red Dog Mine an alternate emergency runway, especially in fog conditions.

Termini

Video (Noatak4)

Noatak’s Routing

Video (Noatak5)

Alternative Routing

Planning and Environmenal Linkages (PEL)

NEPA PROCESS P.E.L

Benefits of a

P.E.L for the Noatak Haul

Road

Common sense in NOT DUPLICATING

WORK

Early and continuous coordination with

agencies

Better decisions result in:

Environmental stewardship

Financial stewardship

Ultimately save time, money and effort

Relationship-building with TEAM

A PEL for Noatak could potentially shave years off of the NEPA process

through collaborative

agency coordination and

a strategic preconstruction

approach.

Complete any further needed conceptual design/feasibility, purpose and need, and logical project termini. Community engagement with process.

Planning

Undergo fieldwork required for a completed Environmental Document.Fieldwork

Narrow down project alternatives for FHWA review. Preferred Alternative

Evaluate Indirect and Cumulative Impacts as will be needed during the NEPA process. Impacts

The PEL doubles as an Environmental Review document which will lead to a more efficient NEPA process.

Environmental Review

NEXT STEPS/TIMELINE

September 2018

Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL), consistent with FHWA PEL guidance, to narrow down existing alternatives.

Fall 2018

STIP Project Nomination

?

Class of Action/NEPA/Preliminary Design/Final Design

?

Mobilization and Construction

Teaming in Construction for Time and Cost Savings

Noatak PELCore Team

FHWA/FAATeam

Local Stakeholder

Team

DOT&PF Planning Team

Federal AgenciesTeam

DOT&PF Environmental

Team

State AgenciesTeam

DOT&PF Engineering

Team

NEEDED: Strong team participation throughout

project.

• Native Village of Noatak

• Teck

Planning and Environmental Linkages StudyPURPOSE

The purpose of this PEL is to document the environmental and economic feasibility of connecting the Village of Noatak to the Delong Mountain Road.

NEED

• To ensure the safe movement of fuel, goods, people, and services along the potential Noatak Haul Road

• To investigate and minimize the environmental impacts of the Noatak Haul Road

• To investigate the benefits, costs, and economic impacts of developing the Noatak Haul Road to the DMTS Road

Noatak Overall Transportation Projects

Noatak Airport Relocation

Noatak Cemetery Road

Noatak Haul Road to Port Site

Noatak New Landfill

Noatak New Powerplant

Noatak Relocated Tank Farm at Port Site and Noatak

Kuchoruk River Bridge Repair

Airport SREB and Terminal

Noatak TransitAlternative Wind Energy AccessRoad from Kivalina to Haul Road to connect Kivalina and Noatak

Noatak Projects for PEL Screening

Noatak Haul Road to Port Site

Noatak Cemetery Road

Noatak New Landfill

Noatak New Powerplant

Noatak Relocated Tank FarmNoatak Airport Relocation

Next Steps

CommunityDo the project purpose and need statements align with the purpose and need of the community?Comments and considerations on the information?

DOT&PFComplete the PEL by end of 2018.Secure funding for NEPA processes.