Nenana Rail Realignment Project Nenana, Alaska Railroad Mile 410.1 to Mile 413.3 NEP A ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Submitted pursuant to 42 USC 4332(2)(c), 23 CFR Part 771.119 by the u.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION and ALASKA RAILROAD CORPORATION /~ Ociof:yyy r2tXJ<j Date of Approval ~ R..rkdtLJU.Krocha1is,RegionalJpMAdministrator . 0 Federal Transit Administration The following persons may be contacted for additional information concerning this document: Jennifer Bowman . Barbara Hotchkin or Greg Lotakis Federal Transit Administration Alaska Railroad Corporation 915 Second Avenue Suite 3142 P.O. Box 107500 Seattle, Washington 98174 Anchorage, Alaska 99510 (206) 220-7953 (907) 265-2313 or (907) 265-2217 The Alaska Railroad Corporation proposes to realign its mainline track to bypass the downtown area ofNenana, Alaska. The Proposed Action includes a new embankment (up to approximately 150 feet wide and 25 feet high), a bridge over the George Parks Highway, oversized culvert underpasses (multi-plate tunnels) to maintain access along the airport access road and 9thStreet, and an optional rail sidingnear the airport. The existing track through downtown Nenana and the existing looped approach to the Tanana River bridge would be left in place to maintain freight service to the Port ofNenana. To mitigate impacts on floodwater elevations, a dike would be constructed at the upstream end of the airport runway. This document addresses the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposal. Additional copies of the document can be obtained by contacting Stephenie Wheeler, Alaska Railroad Corporation, P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, Alaska, 99510, (907) 265-2671. Comments on this environmental assessment are requested by November 15,2004 and should be sent to Greg Lotakis, Project Manager, Alaska Railroad Corporation, P.O. Box 107500, Anchorage, Alaska, 99510, (907) 265-2217. [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 PURPOSE.................................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 NEED........................................................................................................................................1-1 1.3 THE NEPA PROCESS.............................................................................................................1-2 INSERT FIGURE 1 ..........................................................................................................................1-3 1.4 PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS .............................................................................................1-5 2.0 ALTERNATIVES.............................................................................................................................2-1 2.1 PROPOSED ACTION..............................................................................................................2-1 2.1.1 Factors Considered in Selecting the Proposed Action................................................2-2 2.1.2 Construction of the Proposed Action..........................................................................2-6 2.2 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED FOR DETAILED STUDY ..............................................2-7 2.2.1 Alternative B High Profile..........................................................................................2-7 2.2.2 No Action ...................................................................................................................2-8 2.3 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED STUDY ........2-9 2.3.1 Alternative A: New Tanana River Bridge Crossing ...................................................2-9 2.3.2 Alternative B Low Profile Options.............................................................................2-9 2.3.2.1 Alternative B Low Profile ...........................................................................2-9 2.3.2.2 Alternative B-1 Low Profile......................................................................2-10 2.3.2.3 Alternative B-2 Low Profile......................................................................2-10 2.3.2.4 Reasons for Eliminating the B Low Profile Alternatives from Further Consideration............................................................................................................2-10 2.3.3 Alternative C: East Airport Bypass ..........................................................................2-11 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND IMPACTS ............................................................................3-1 3.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.................................................................................................3-1 3.1.1 Air Quality..................................................................................................................3-1 3.1.2 Soils, Geology, and Seismic Conditions.....................................................................3-2 3.1.3 Surface Water and Groundwater Hydrology ..............................................................3-4 3.1.4 Water Resources.........................................................................................................3-8 3.2 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT............................................................................................3-9 3.2.1 Upland Vegetation......................................................................................................3-9 3.2.2 Wetlands ...................................................................................................................3-11 3.2.3 Fish and Wildlife ......................................................................................................3-14 3.2.3.1 Fish............................................................................................................3-14 3.2.3.2 Birds ..........................................................................................................3-15 3.2.3.3 Mammals...................................................................................................3-17 3.2.3.4 Effects of Alternatives on Fish and Wildlife.............................................3-18 3.2.4 Protected Species......................................................................................................3-19 3.3 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT...................................................................................................3-19 3.3.1 Land Status and Land Use ........................................................................................3-20 3.3.2 Socioeconomics........................................................................................................3-23 3.3.2.1 Population, Demographics, and Housing ..................................................3-23 3.3.2.2 Economy....................................................................................................3-24 3.3.2.3 Subsistence................................................................................................3-27 NENANA RAIL REALIGNMENT PROJECT i SEPTEMBER 2004 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 3.3.3 Environmental Justice...............................................................................................3-28 3.3.4 Transportation Systems and Facilities......................................................................3-29 3.3.4.1 Highways and Roads.................................................................................3-29 3.3.4.2 River Transportation..................................................................................3-30 3.3.4.3 Aviation.....................................................................................................3-30 3.3.4.4 Alaska Railroad .........................................................................................3-31 3.3.5 Noise and Vibration..................................................................................................3-31 3.3.5.1 Noise..........................................................................................................3-31 3.3.5.2 Vibration....................................................................................................3-34 3.3.6 Utilities .....................................................................................................................3-34 3.3.7 Cultural, Archaeological, and Historic Sites ............................................................3-35 3.3.8 Recreation.................................................................................................................3-36 3.3.9 Section 4(f)/Section 6(f) Property ............................................................................3-37 3.3.10 Contaminated Sites...................................................................................................3-38 3.3.11 Visual Impacts ..........................................................................................................3-38 3.4 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ...............................................................................................3-39 3.5 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ....................................................................................................3-41 3.5.1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future External Actions .......................3-41 3.5.2 Cumulative Effects on the Physical Environment ....................................................3-43