April 8, 2005
RE: Chalkyitsik Airport Improvements
Environmental Scoping
ADOT&PF Project No. 62597
To Whom It May Concern:
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is soliciting comments and information on a proposal for improvements at the Chalkyitsik Airport. ABR, Inc.—Environmental Research & Services is assisting ADOT&PF with the preparation of the environmental document.
Existing Facility Description
Chalkyitsik is located in the eastern interior of Alaska on the Black River
about 50 miles east of Fort Yukon (Figure
1). The village is approximately 170 air miles northeast of Fairbanks and
75 miles west of the US-Canada border (Section 12, Township 21N, Range 18E,
Fairbanks Meridian).
The Chalkyitsik Airport consists of a lighted 4000-ft long by 75-ft wide gravel runway, a lighted 137-ft long by 35-ft wide taxiway, and a 225-ft long by 100-ft wide apron. The airport is located about 0.25 miles southwest of the village and is owned and operated by the State of Alaska. The airport is used as the major transportation and goods distribution center for the village.
Purpose and Need
The airport serves as the sole transportation link for the community. All mail,
fuel, freight, and medical evacuations are via aircraft. Student athletes participating
in interscholastic sports travel via air. Therefore, it is vital that this airport
continues to safely serve the public.
The airport has several deficiencies:
• The airport gravel surfaces are thin and raveled.
• The school and housing are adjacent to the airport.
• A subdivision access road crosses just beyond the runway safety area
causing the threshold on the northwest end of the runway to be displaced.
This effectively limits the runway landing length from the northwest to 3,525-ft.
• The parking apron is small and congested and too close to the runway.
• The location of structures and the parking apron limit the approaches
to visual flight rules.
• When large cargo aircraft are parked on the small apron they obstruct
the airspace.
• The lighting system has outlived its useful life, and is becoming
prone to outages that can severely limit operations during the winter when
daylight is limited.
• Airport land interest is inadequate to support an aviation support
area where hangars and airport businesses would operate. It is also inadequate
to support low visibility approaches.
Proposed Action
The proposed action entails shifting the existing airport runway approximately
2,500-ft to the southwest along the same alignment and developing a new apron
area, with alternative locations for the apron on either side of the runway
(Figure 2). The gravel
surface course will be replaced at the same time. This shift in location will
accommodate runway protection zones designed for low visibility approaches and
permit full use of a minimum of 4,000-ft of runway from either direction. This
shift will also increase the separation distance from the school and housing,
making for a safer airport environment. The parking apron will be a minimum
of 250-ft by 400-ft and it will be offset from the runway centerline at least
700-ft. This location would allow the large cargo aircraft currently serving
the airport to park and not penetrate the airspace. A 50-ft wide taxiway within
a 120-ft safety area will connect the new apron to the runway. The wider dimensions
would serve the larger aircraft more safely especially during icy, windy conditions.
The airport lighting system would be replaced. Additional land would be acquired
to protect the airport from incompatible land uses, allow low visibility approaches,
and provide a functional area for airport businesses to develop.
Materials sites for the proposed project have not been finalized. Several materials sites along the Black River and one adjacent to the airport runway will be evaluated by ADOT&PF in spring 2005 (Figure 3).
The project will be developed pursuant to the 2003 Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Impacts to Wetlands and Other Aquatic Resources, Mitigation and Airport Improvement Projects in Alaska.
Preliminary Research Results
In 2004, ABR, Inc., conducted a study that included classification and mapping
of wetlands using aerial photography, a field survey to verify wetland and upland
boundaries, functional assessments of each wetland type, mapping of vegetation
and habitats, and an evaluation of habitat values for selected wildlife species.
These data will be used to assess impacts to wetlands and other wildlife habitat.
The wetlands report will be available in April 2005. Wetlands were delineated
in the project area (Figure
4).
Results of a preliminary research on natural resources in the project area
are provided in Appendix
A. To ensure that all factors are considered in the environmental document
(an environmental assessment), your comments are requested no later than May
8, 2005. Below is a list federal, state, and local entities from which we are
requesting input. Please click on the organization that you represent. This
link will take you to a summary of pertinent findings and a list of questions
specific to your agencies purview.
Project Schedule
The project is scheduled for construction funding in the Federal fiscal year
2007.
Written comments may be submitted to Betty Anderson, ABR, Inc., P.O. Box 80410, Fairbanks, AK 99708-0410 or via e-mail to banderson@abrinc.com. All comments are requested by May 8, 2005.
If you have any questions regarding the project feel free to contact our Environmental Consultant, Betty Anderson, at ABR, Inc., at 455-6777, or by e-mail at banderson@abrinc.com. Should you have any questions on the design of the proposed project, contact Cindie Little, Project Manager, at 451-2284 or by e-mail at Cindie_Little@dot.state.ak.us.
Sincerely,
Cynthia M. Little, P.E.
Engineering Manager
Northern Region ADOT&PF Design
Links: Agency Links
Figure 1 – Location and Vicinity Map
Figure 2 – Project Layout
Figure 3 – Possible Materials Sites Map
Figure 4 – Wetlands Map
Appendix A
cc: Cindie Little, P.E, ADOT&PF Engineering Manager
Bruce Campbell, ADOT&PF Environmental Analyst
Betty Anderson, ABR, Inc., Project Manager
Katrina Moss, FAA Planner, Airports Division, 222 W 7th Ave., Box 14, Anchorage,
AK 99513
Matt Freeman, FAA Engineer, Airports Division, Box 14, 222 W 7th Ave., Anchorage,
AK 99513
Printable version of scoping letter.
"Providing for the movement of people and goods and the delivery of
state services"