Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction

Environmental Assessment Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction May 2021 Prepared by Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Fairbanks, AK Estimated Lead Agency Total Costs Associated with Developing and Producing This Environmental Assessment: $1,500 EA Template Table of Contents PROPOSED ACTION 3 BACKGROUND 3 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE ACTION 5 ALTERNATIVES 7 ALTERNATIVE A – [NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE] 8 ALTERNATIVE B 8 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 7 SUMMARY OF ANALYSIS 18 ALTERNATIVE A – [NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE] 18 ALTERNATIVE B 18 LIST OF SOURCES, AGENCIES AND PERSONS CONSULTED 19 LIST OF PREPARERS 19 STATE COORDINATION 19 TRIBAL CONSULTATION 19 PUBLIC OUTREACH 19 DETERMINATION 20 SIGNATURES 20 REFERENCES 21 2 Environmental Assessment for Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction Environmental Assessment for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge bunkhouse construction at Galbraith Lake, AK Date: May 7, 2021 This Draft Environmental Assessment is being prepared to evaluate the effects associated with the proposed action and complies with the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500-1509) and Department of the Interior (43 CFR 46; 516 DM 8) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (550 FW 3) regulations and policies. The National Environmental Policy Act requires examination of the effects of proposed actions on the natural and human environment (see Appendix A for relevant Laws and Orders). Proposed Action The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing to construct a new bunkhouse and vault toilet facility on a BLM lease space at the Galbraith Lake Airport. This building would serve as a bunkhouse, providing temporary housing for up to 8-10 persons consistent with the Arctic Refuge CCP (2015) (2.4.21.2) for the use and occupancy of administrative cabins. A proposed action may evolve during the NEPA process as the agency refines its proposal and gathers feedback from the public. Therefore, the final proposed action may be different from the original. The proposed action will be finalized at the conclusion of the public comment period for the EA. Background National Wildlife Refuges are guided by the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), the purposes of an individual refuge, Service policy, and laws and international treaties. Relevant guidance includes the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, and selected portions of the Code of Federal Regulations and Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. The mission of the NWRS, as outlined by the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (NWRSAA), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), is “... to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans” 3 Environmental Assessment for Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction Additionally, the NWRSAA mandates the Secretary of the Interior in administering the NWRS (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(4)) to: • Provide for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats within the NWRS; • Ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the NWRS are maintained for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans; • Ensure that the mission of the NWRS described at 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(2) and the purposes of each refuge are carried out; • Ensure effective coordination, interaction, and cooperation with owners of land adjoining refuges and the fish and wildlife agency of the states in which the units of the NWRS are located; • Assist in the maintenance of adequate water quantity and water quality to fulfill the mission of the NWRS and the purposes of each refuge; • Recognize compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses as the priority general public uses of the NWRS through which the American public can develop an appreciation for fish and wildlife; • Ensure that opportunities are provided within the NWRS for compatible wildlife- dependent recreational uses; and • Monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge. The Arctic National Wildlife Range (Arctic Range, Range) was created in 1960 by Public Land Order (PLO) 2214 to “to preserve unique wildlife, wilderness, and recreational values” within the Range. In 1980, The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) re-designated the Range as part of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and provided four purposes that guide management of the entire Refuge. Section 303(2)(B) of ANILCA set forth the following purposes for Arctic Refuge. ( i) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to, the Porcupine caribou herd (including participation in coordinating the Western Arctic caribou herd, polar bears, grizzly bears, musk ox, Dall sheep, wolves, wolverines, snow geese, peregrine falcons and other migratory birds, and Arctic char and grayling. 4 Environmental Assessment for Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction (ii) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats. (iii) to provide, in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents. (iv) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality and necessary water quantity within the Refuge. The Tax Act of 2017 added a 5th purpose to include an Oil and Gas program. This Act orders the Secretary of the Interior to establish an oil and gas plan for the Coastal Plain and required that two lease sales occur within 10 years of the passage of the Act. ANILCA section 702(3) also designated 7.16 million acres of the Refuge as Wilderness. The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wildlife Preservation System and prescribed policy for management of designated Wilderness areas. The purposes of the Wilderness Act are within and supplemental to the purposes of the Refuge, subject to the exceptions found in ANILCA. ANILCA Sections 602(39)(42)(43) and 605(a) designated those portions of the Ivishak, Sheenjek, and Wind rivers within the boundaries of the Refuge as wild rivers pursuant to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended by ANILCA Section 606. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 established the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and designated certain rivers as wild, scenic, or recreational. Purpose and Need for the Action The purpose of this proposed action is the construct a new bunkhouse/rest room facility at Galbraith Lake. The existing bunkhouse is a small (sub 600 ft²), single room building with two small bedrooms that are a recent addition. The facility functions predominantly as a bunkhouse and work station for field crews working on the North Slope or in the Brooks Range. The small size of the existing building and lack of restroom facilities greatly limits the effectiveness of the bunkhouse for consistent and longer term use. The existing building also has unreliable power availability that adds to the challenges of using the facility year round. A larger and more 5 Environmental Assessment for Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction modern facility would greatly benefit Refuge operations along the Dalton Highway, the North Slope and the Brooks Range. Other conservation partners such as the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and United States Forest Service (USFS) would also benefit from this enhanced facility as a base of operations. The entire new bunkhouse total footprint would be approximately 2000 ft², built directly east of the existing bunkhouse (See Figure 1), include a new vault toilet and relocated fuel tank that will impact less than ¼ acres. The purpose of the facility would be to provide transient housing for Refuge staff and conservation partners. Figure 1: New Bunkhouse site map 6 Environmental Assessment for Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction Figure 2: Existing bunkhouse and gravel pad Figure 3: Rear of bunkhouse, fuel tank and gravel fill above existing tundra 7 Environmental Assessment for Galbraith Lake Bunkhouse Construction Alternatives Alternative A – No Action Alternative Under the “no action” alternative, no new building would be constructed. The existing bunkhouse would continue to be used periodically throughout the year with most use occurring in the summer months. The bunkhouse would remain a modest sized facility with 2 independent sleeping rooms lacking a reliable and dedicated power source and a restroom facility. Occasional updates, renovations and any necessary safety improvements would be made to the cabin when warranted, but no significant renovations would occur. The designated construction site for a new facility on the southern edge of the airport/tarmac area would remain unencumbered. Alternative B – Construct Bunkhouse (Preferred Alternative) Under the Proposed Action Alternative, the Service’s preferred alternative – a new bunkhouse would be constructed within the expanded lease area directly east of the existing bunkhouse (see Figure 1). Included in this

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