Ambler Road Final EIS Volume 1
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U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Ambler Road Environmental Impact Statement FINAL Volume 1: Chapters 1–3, Appendices A–F March 2020 Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management In Cooperation with: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Alatna Village Council Allakaket Tribal Council (representing Allakaket Village) Hughes Traditional Council (representing Hughes Village) Noorvik Native Community Northwest Arctic Borough State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Participating Agencies: Federal Highway Administration National Park Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Estimated Total Costs Associated with Developing and Producing this EIS: $4,880,000 Mission Sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Cover Photo: Looking north at the Brooks Range from the Alatna Hills. Photo by Crystal Glassburn (BLM). DOI-BLM-AK-F030-2016-0008-EIS BLM/AK/PL- 19/013+1610+F030 Ambler Road Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1: Executive Summary, Chapters 1–3, and Appendices A–F Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management In Cooperation with: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Alatna Village Council Allakaket Tribal Council (representing Allakaket Village) Hughes Traditional Council (representing Hughes Village) Noorvik Native Community Northwest Arctic Borough State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Participating Agencies: Federal Highway Administration National Park Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service March 2020 Estimated Agency Total Costs Associated with Developing and Producing this EIS: $4,880,000 This page is intentionally left blank. Ambler Road Environmental Impact Statement Responsible agency: United States Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Document status: ( ) Draft (x) Final Abstract: The BLM has prepared the Ambler Road Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to an application for an industrial road right-of-way (ROW) in north-central Alaska across federal public lands and other lands. The road would run from the existing Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District (District). The area involved lies between the Brooks Range and the Yukon River and between the Dalton Highway (to the east) and the Purcell Mountains (to the west). The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), a public corporation of the State of Alaska, is the applicant. BLM’s proposed federal action is approval of the requested 50-year ROW. BLM’s purpose is approval of a ROW grant that provides for technically and economically practical and feasible year-round industrial surface transportation access in support of mining exploration and development, and for construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities associated with that access. The need for the BLM action results from a requirement under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act for the BLM to consider such applications. AIDEA’s purpose for this project is to support mineral resource exploration and development in the District. AIDEA indicates that surface transportation would help bring high-value mineral resources into production. The BLM has evaluated 4 alternatives: 1) The No Action Alternative is a benchmark against which other alternatives are evaluated. 2) Alternative A is the applicant’s proposed alignment. It begins at Milepost (MP) 161 of the Dalton Highway and runs 211 miles almost directly west, terminating at the Ambler River. It would use approximately 3,500 acres of federal public lands managed by the DOI (Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve [GAAR] and BLM-managed lands). 3) Alternative B shares much of its alignment with Alternative A, with the same termini. It runs 228 miles and would use approximately 3,100 acres of federal public lands managed by the DOI. While Alternatives A and B are separate alternatives, they share an alignment except in their approach to and crossing of GAAR. 4) Alternative C begins at MP 59.5 of the Dalton Highway and runs generally northwest 332 miles and terminates at the Ambler River. It would use approximately 19,100 acres of federal public lands managed by the DOI. Congress, in creating GAAR, authorized a road crossing of the Preserve (Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act, 1980). Among the larger issues evaluated in the Draft EIS are effects of the road on water resources and wetlands; caribou, fish, and their habitats; subsistence and communities; transportation and access; and special designation lands. The Draft EIS also evaluates the indirect and cumulative effects of a mining scenario deemed reasonable to occur if the road is authorized. Record of Decision: The BLM may issue a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days following publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) notice of filing of this Final EIS For further information, contact: Tina McMaster-Goering, Project Manager Bureau of Land Management, Central Yukon Field Office Phone: (907) 271-1310 222 University Avenue Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 www.blm.gov/AmblerRoadEIS United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Alaska State Office 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13 Anchorage, Alaska 995 13-7504 www.blm.gov/alaska March 2020 Dear Reader: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Ambler Road Project, proposed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), a state corporation. The proposal is for a new 211-mile industrial access road from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District in north-central Alaska to facilitate mining exploration and potential development. The Final ElS is an analysis of AIDEA’s application for a right-of-way to cross federal public lands for a 50-year tenm Based on analysis contained within this EIS, BLM will determine if the project will be authorized in whole or in part. The final EIS discloses potential effects associated with the construction, operation, maintenance and reclamation of the road. Analysis of the preferred alternative (Alternative A) and other alternatives was conducted based on public input gathered from the 11-month scoping period and a 60-day comment period on the Draft EIS. In September and October of 2019, the BLM held public comment meetings on the Draft EIS in 1$ affected communities as well as Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Washington, DC. Modifications to the Draft EIS were made based on public comment, cooperating agency coordination, tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation consultation, and the BLM’s internal review. A record of decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after publication of the Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register. You may access the final EIS at www.blm.gov/alaska or request a U$B drive from Ms. Tina McMaster-Goering, project manager, at 907-271-1310. Thank you for your continued interest in the Ambler Road EIS. Sincerely, Chad B. Padgett State Director INTERIOR REGION 11 • ALASKA This page is intentionally left blank. Ambler Road Final EIS Table of Contents Table of Contents Volume 1 – Executive Summary, Chapters 1–3, and Appendices A–F Volume 2 – Appendices G–K Volume 3 – Appendices L–R Volume 4 – Maps (Maps for Chapters 1–3) Volume 1 Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. ES-1 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2. Project Background and Overview ......................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 Ambler Mining District Location and Land Status .......................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 Project Development Background and History ............................................................... 1-2 1.2.3 Summary of Applicant’s Proposed Action ...................................................................... 1-2 1.3. Applicant’s Purpose and Need for the Project ....................................................................... 1-3 1.4. Purpose and Need for Federal Action .................................................................................... 1-3 1.5. Collaboration and Coordination ............................................................................................. 1-4 1.5.1 Key Agency Participation ................................................................................................ 1-4 1.5.2 Cooperating Agency Engagement ................................................................................... 1-5 1.5.3 Government-to-Government and Other Consultation with Tribes .................................. 1-5 1.5.4 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporations ........................................................ 1-5 1.5.5 National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation ......................................... 1-5 1.5.6 Other Coordination .......................................................................................................... 1-6 1.5.7 Summary of Applicable Laws, Regulations,