AK NPS DENA 10(49) FHWA FONSI Final Signed.pdf

Western Federal Lands Highway Division 610 E. Fifth Street

Vancouver, WA 98661 Phone 360-619-7700

Fax 360-619-7846

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

ADOPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) AND

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)

Polychrome Area Improvements

Denali National Park and Preserve, Denali Borough, Alaska

Introduction and Background This document serves as the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) adoption of the National Park Service (NPS) Denali National Park and Preserve Polychrome Area Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA) and issuance of the FHWA Finding of No significant Impact (FONSI).

NPS issued the Denali National Park and Preserve Polychrome Area Improvements EA on January 13, 2022 and their Denali National Park and Preserve Polychrome Area Improvements FONSI on March 10, 2022. The NPS EA and FONSI (and associated documents) are incorporated by reference and can be viewed on the NPS project website located at the following link: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/polychrome .

NPS in cooperation with FHWA is proposing the project to restore reliable transportation access west of Polychrome in Denali National Park, Denali Borough, Alaska for users of the Park Road, including visitors, staff, concessioners, and Kantishna property owners.

FHWA is proposing to provide Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) funding to implement a series of engineered solutions to address several geologic hazards impacting the Polychrome section of the Denali Park Road between Mile 44 and Mile 46 including a 400-foot steel bridge spanning the Pretty Rocks Landslide at approximately Mile 45.4, minor road alignment shifts, construction of retaining walls, drainage improvements and rockfall ditches and benches, and rock scaling and installation of rock bolts and dowels. The overall project is estimated to cost approximately $100 million. Phase I will cost approximately 50 million with half of that cost funded by FLTP funds and the remaining half through NPS’s Line Item Construction Program. Phase II is estimated to cost another 50 million to be funded by FLTP funds, or NPS Line Item Construction Program funds, or a combination of both.

Section 4(f) Section 4(f), as codified in 49 U.S.C. Section 303 and 23 U.S.C. Section 138, does not apply because the project meets the definition of a Federal Lands transportation facility described in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(8) and, as such, qualifies as an exception in accordance with 23 CFR Section 774.13(e).

March 17, 2022 http://parkplanning.nps.gov/polychrome

Public Involvement On January 13, 2022, the EA was made available for public and agency review until February 13, 2022. A total of 22 submittals were received containing 298 comments. A comment is a portion of text within a submittal that addresses a single subject or issue. Similar comments were grouped into 71 distinct comment summaries.

In accordance with 23 CFR 771.121, FHWA performed an independent review of all comments, comment summaries, and responses which it partnered with NPS in developing. FHWA determined that all pertinent comments were addressed and that no comments raised new substantive issues requiring material changes to the range of alternatives or analysis of environmental effects. Finally, FHWA determined that the analysis provided in the EA, the publicly available supporting documents found at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/projects/ak/nps-dena-10-49, and the comment responses in the NPS FONSI adequately address all issues raised in the comments and support NPS and FHWA’s identification and selection of the preferred alternative.

Proposed Mitigation Measures The mitigation measures listed in the EA are to be implemented by WFLHD, NPS, or both.

Below is a list of those measures and points of responsibility. Where responsibility is shared, the role of each agency is briefly described.

Resource Area Mitigation Measures Responsible Agencies

Socioeconomics

• Construction workers would be housed in DENA at existing locations and possibly campgrounds.

• NPS identify location;

WFLHD enforce in contract

Visual Resources

• The bridge would be designed to be nonreflective and in a neutral color to reduce contrast with surroundings.

• The width of the bench cut along the west abutment excavation area should be minimized and have a rough texture.

• The retaining walls at the east end of the bridge and Perlite Landslide should resemble natural materials and blend into the landscape, if possible.

• Excavation and rock scaling would produce rough, irregular rock faces that resemble the surrounding natural rock

• Any disturbed previously vegetated areas should be revegetated with native species.

• Shielding on construction lighting should be required to eliminate light trespass.

• NPS provide approval of contractor proposal;

WFLHD enforce in contract

• WFLHD

• NPS identify acceptable materials; WFLHD enforce in contract

• NPS

Visitor Use and Experience

• Dust management measures would be employed during Phase II.

Noise and Soundscape

• Broadband amplitude-adjusting backup alarms would be used to reduce the noise intensity and audible distances.

• Vibratory hammers would be used for pile driving, instead of impact hammers, whenever possible.

• The driving surface of the bridge would be a closed metal deck topped with a high friction surface to reduce the noise of vehicles on the bridge.

• WFLHD

https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/projects/ak/nps-dena-10-49 https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/projects/ak/nps-dena-10-49

Resource Area Mitigation Measures Responsible Agencies

• Approach pavement would be included on both ends of the bridge to limit the noise of vehicles coming onto the bridge and driving over the bridge.

Wildlife

• All construction activities will comply with the MBTA and Executive Order 13186.

• A qualified biologist would conduct surveys where ground disturbance would occur if during bird breeding and nesting seasons.

• Construction would halt when certain wildlife are within certain limits to reduce disturbance.

• Vehicles that encounter wildlife on the road or proposed bridge would be required to comply with NPS regulations, which give wildlife the right of way.

• WFLHD

• WFLHD notifies NPS if needed; NPS to provide biologist to conduct surveys

• NPS and WFLHD

Wetlands and Vegetation

• Dust management measures would be employed.

• Revegetation of disturbed areas would be implemented with plants salvaged from the project area and native seeds.

• Stormwater and erosion control best management practices would be implemented to protect wetlands and waters during construction, including vegetation buffers and erosion control fencing

• Measures would be implemented to protect the vegetation from damage by heavy machinery and tracked vehicles.

• Construction vehicle and equipment inspection would be done prior to entering DENA to ensure invasive/non-native plant species are not introduced.

• Long-term monitoring should be done to ensure invasive/nonnative plant species are not established.

• Wetland areas would be flagged where these areas are within 100 feet of the project. A wetland area that is 0.01 acres above the road in Phase I will be avoided.

Cultural Resources

• Mitigation for adverse effects would be addressed through measures included in the Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement.

• Rock bolts would be designed to match surroundings by cutting them flush with the rock and either staining the bolts or grouting over them.

• The road realignment on the west side of the proposed bridge would consistent with the curvilinear design of the existing road.

• The historic road width (16 to 24 feet) would be restored once construction is complete.

• If cultural resources or ite4ms protected by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act are discovered during project implementation, all project-related activities in the vicinity of the discovery will be stopped and the park archaeologist will be notified immediately.

Wilderness

• Wilderness areas within 100 feet of the established project area would be identified and avoided.

• Measures would be implemented to protect the wilderness areas from damage by heavy machinery and tracked vehicles.

Decision In accordance with 40 CFR Sections 1501.3 and 1501.6, FHWA has determined that the proposed Polychrome Area Improvements will have no significant effects. This FONSI is based on an independent review and evaluation of the NPS Denali National Park and Preserve Polychrome Area Improvements Environmental Assessment (January 13, 2022) and the Denali National Park and Preserve Polychrome Area Improvements FONSI (issued on March 10. 2022) which are incorporated, in their entirety, by reference.

FHWA has determined that the NPS EA and FONSI adequately and accurately discuss the purpose and need, environmental issues, and effects of the proposed project and appropriate mitigation measures. An independent review of the NPS EA and FONSI determined that these documents provide sufficient evidence and analysis for concluding that the proposed action would have no significant effects and that an EIS is not required by section 202(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, or its implementing regulations.

FHWA takes full responsibility for the accuracy, scope, and content of the adopted NPS EA and incorporated NPS FONSI. After careful and thorough consideration of the facts and findings of the NPS EA and FONSI, FHWA finds that the proposed Federal action is consistent with existing national environmental policies and objectives as set forth in NEPA and other applicable environmental requirements.

RECOMMENDED By:

Scott Smithline, Environmental Manager Date Western Federal Lands Highway Division, FHWA

APPROVED BY:

Dan Donovan, Chief of Business Operations Date Western Federal Lands Highway Division, FHWA