FINAL SCOPING SUMMARY REPORT HAINES HIGHWAY MILE POST 3.5 TO 25.3 DOT&PF Project No. 68606 Prepared for: State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 6860 Glacier Highway P.O. Box 112506 Juneau, Alaska 99811-2506 Prepared by: DOWL Engineers 4040 B Street Anchorage, Alaska 99503 (907) 562-2000 W.O. D59119 August 2006 Haines Highway Mile Post 3.5 to 25.3 Haines, Alaska FINAL Scoping Summary Report DOT&PF Project No. 68606 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 1.1 General........................................................................................................................1 1.2 Project Team...............................................................................................................3 1.2.1 Contracting Agency..............................................................................................3 1.2.2 Prime Consultant...................................................................................................3 1.2.3 Specialty Consultants............................................................................................3 1.3 Scoping Method..........................................................................................................3 1.3.1 Mailing List of Potentially Affected Interests ......................................................4 1.3.2 Project Website .....................................................................................................4 1.3.3 Project Comment Form.........................................................................................4 2.0 PUBLIC SCOPING.......................................................................................................5 2.1 Public Scoping Meeting..............................................................................................5 2.2 Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Council Meeting ...........................................................5 2.3 Tribal Consultation Meeting.......................................................................................5 2.4 Documentation of Public Scoping Comments............................................................6 3.0 AGENCY SCOPING...................................................................................................12 3.1 Agency Scoping Meeting..........................................................................................12 3.2 Documentation of Agency Scoping Comments........................................................12 4.0 SUMMARY.................................................................................................................18 FIGURES Figure 1: Project Location Map ................................................................................................2 TABLES Table 1: Public Comments Summary Matrix ...........................................................................7 Table 2: Agency Comments Summary Matrix .......................................................................13 APPENDICES Appendix A.......................................................................................................General Scoping Appendix B ...........................................................................................Public Scoping Meeting Appendix C ......................................................................Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Meeting Appendix D....................................................................................Tribal Consultation Meeting Appendix E .........................................................................................Agency Scoping Meeting Appendix F.................................................................................... Written Comments Received Page i Haines Highway Mile Post 3.5 to 25.3 Haines, Alaska FINAL Scoping Summary Report DOT&PF Project No. 68606 LIST OF ACRONYMS ADF&G...........................................................................Alaska Department of Fish and Game ADNR ........................................................................Alaska Department of Natural Resources DOT&PF..........................State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities DOWL............................................................................................................ DOWL Engineers DPOR....................................................................... Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation EA ....................................................................................................Environmental Assessment EIS...........................................................................................Environmental Impact Statement IDT........................................................................................................Inter-Disciplinary Team MP................................................................................................................................ Mile Post mph ...................................................................................................................... miles per hour NEPA ..................................................................................National Environmental Policy Act NMFS....................................................................................National Marine Fisheries Service NSRAA................................................ Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association OHMP................................................................Office of Habitat Management and Permitting S&HI............................................................................................ Stream and Habitat Inventory SES.............................................................................................................. Southeast Strategies USACE ...................................................................................... U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USFWS ...................................................................................... U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Page ii Haines Highway Mile Post 3.5 to 25.3 Haines, Alaska FINAL Scoping Summary Report DOT&PF Project No. 68606 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General This Scoping Summary Report summarizes the process that took place during the scoping phase of the Haines Highway Mile Post (MP) 3.5 to 25.3 project (see Figure 1, Project Location Map). The Haines Highway was originally constructed in 1949, and most of the proposed project area was last upgraded around 1980. The portions of the highway from the town of Haines to the airport and approximately Mile 25 to the Canadian border (MP 40) have already been upgraded in recent years to 55 mph design standards. The goal of this project is to bring the last portion of the Haines Highway up to National Highway System standards for design speed 55 mph and to provide a safe, consistent, and efficient roadway. The proposed project improvements consist of widening the roadway to 12-foot driving lanes with 6-foot shoulders and clear zones, straightening of curves to meet 55 mph design standards, and repaving the roadway for the entire length of the project. The project may also include replacement of the Chilkat River Bridge as well as a long-term solution to the debris flow problems that have historically plagued the route near MP 19 and MP 23. State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is currently considering three alignment options at the Chilkat River Bridge, and will be making a decision regarding these options after scoping is complete. This report, with its appendices, summarizes the scoping methods, issues, and concerns raised during scoping, and lists sources of comments. Comments were received from local residents, resource agency representatives, tribal entities, and concerned organizations. Legislation establishing the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve specifically exempts all private lands and transportation rights-of-way within Preserve boundaries. The maps prepared in support of scoping did not identify private lands within the Preserve boundaries, and thus overstate the areas that are part of the Preserve. Future mapping efforts will be more precise with respect to Preserve holdings, and identify both public and private land status in the vicinity of the right-of-way as accurately as possible. Page 1 Haines Highway Mile Post 3.5 to 25.3 Haines, Alaska FINAL Scoping Summary Report DOT&PF Project No. 68606 Figure 1: Project Location Map Page 2 Haines Highway Mile Post 3.5 to 25.3 Haines, Alaska FINAL Scoping Summary Report DOT&PF Project No. 68606 1.2 Project Team 1.2.1 Contracting Agency DOT&PF • Tracy Moore, P.E. - Design Group Chief • Pete Bednarowicz, P.E. - Engineering Manager • Kris Benson - Project Environmental Coordinator 1.2.2 Prime Consultant DOWL Engineers (DOWL) • Stewart Osgood, P.E. - Project Manager • Kristen Hansen - Environmental Task Manager • Steve Noble, P.E, PTOE - Engineering Task Manager • Kelly Brown - Public Involvement Coordinator 1.2.3 Specialty Consultants • Inter-Fluve - Dan Miller, P.E., Greg Koonce, and Mark Sogge - Fish Habitat Assessment and Hydrology Studies • Southeast Strategies (SES) - Linda Snow - Public Involvement • Cultural Resource Consultants, Inc. - Mike Yarborough - Cultural Resources Investigation 1.3 Scoping Method The purpose of scoping is to solicit the input of agencies, organizations, and the general public regarding the