Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Institute of Marine Science Infrastructure Improvement Project Located in Seward, AK

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[DES 94-34]

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed

Institute of Marine Science Infrastructure Improvement Project Located

in Seward, AK

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior (DOI).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement for the Proposed Institute of Marine Science Infrastructure

Improvement Project.

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SUMMARY: The DOI, on behalf of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS)

Trustee Council, announces the availability of the Draft EIS for the

Proposed Institute of Marine Science (IMS) Infrastructure Improvement

Project. This notice announces the locations and dates of public

hearings to solicit comments on the Draft EIS, a contact to whom

written comments may be sent and information may be obtained, and a

contact to obtain a copy of the Draft EIS or Draft EIS summary. The

responsible official for the preparation of the Draft EIS is George T.

Frampton, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

DATES: Comments concerning the Draft EIS should be received within 45

days of the publication of the Notice of Availability by the

Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments regarding the Draft EIS to Nancy K.

Swanton, DOI EIS Project Manager, 949 East 36th Avenue,Room 603,

Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4302. Telephone Numbers: (907) 271-6622 (voice)

or (907) 271-6506 (fax). For a copy of the Draft EIS or of the Draft

EIS summary, contact the EVOS Restoration Office, Oil Spill Public

Information Office, 645 G Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Telephone

Numbers: (907) 278-8008, (800) 478-7745 (within Alaska), or (800) 283-

7745 (outside Alaska). Copies of the Draft EIS have been sent to public

libraries in Seward, Homer, Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova, Kenai, Anchorage,

Fairbanks, Juneau, among others, as well as the DOI Library in

Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the EIS can be

obtained from Nancy K. Swanton, DOI Project Manager, at the address and

phone numbers shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOI, on behalf of the EVOS Trustee

Council, has prepared a Draft EIS on a proposal to construct

infrastructure improvements to the IMS in Seward, Alaska. The EVOS

Trustee Council is considering providing funding for a portion of this

project. The Council is comprised of the designees of the Administrator

for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary

of the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of the DOI, and the

Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the

Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation,

and the Alaska Attorney General. All decisions about restoration and

uses of restoration funds are determined by these six Trustees. The

EVOS Trustee Council is responsible for decisions relating to the

assessment of injuries, uses of the joint restoration funds, and all

restoration activities relating to the proposed project.

On March 9, 1994, the DOI, on behalf of the EVOS Trustee Council,

published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on the Proposed IMS

Infrastructure Improvement Project (59 FR 11082-11083). Scoping

commenced on that date. Scoping meetings were held in Seward and

Anchorage, Alaska, on March 22 and 24, 1994, respectively. Public

notices announcing these meetings and requesting comments were

published in EVOS-area newspapers; and a scoping newsletter was

distributed widely throughout the EVOS area and beyond. In addition to

comments and suggestions received at the scoping meetings, over 300

written responses were received. These comments were evaluated by the

DOI and form the basis for the topics, issues, and alternatives

addressed in the Draft EIS.

The EVOS Trustee Council is proposing to improve the existing

infrastructure at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks IMS in Seward,

Alaska, to enhance the EVOS Trustee Council's capabilities to study

marine mammals, marine birds, and the ecosystem injured by the Exxon

Valdez oil spill. The improvements are intended to help focus and carry

out a long-term research and monitoring program for the EVOS area as

part of an overall restoration plan. The project would be constructed

adjacent to the existing campus of the IMS Seward Marine Center, and

would have two components: (1) a research and wildlife rehabilitation

component and (2) a public education and visitation component.

The research and wildlife rehabilitation component would consist of

approximately 22,000 square feet of interior space comprised of wet and

dry laboratories, staff offices, and a library for studies and

rehabilitation of marine mammals, marine birds, and other wildlife.

Approximately, 32,000 square feet of interior space would be shared

with the public education and visitation component. There also would be

approximately 41,000 square feet of exterior space containing outdoor

research habitat, tanks, and pools for pinnipeds, sea otters, Steller

sea lions, and marine birds. A 50-space parking lot for staff vehicles

would be constructed next to the existing IMS Rae Building parking lot.

The public education and visitation component would include

approximately 20,000 square feet of interior space to promote public

awareness of the marine environment. It would function in concert with,

and in support of, the research and wildlife rehabilitation component.

This component would include exhibits, interpretive displays, and

public areas. A 150- to 160-space visitor parking lot would be built

adjacent to the education and visitor component. No joint EVOS

restoration funds would be involved in the construction or maintenance

of the public education and visitation component.

Funding for the proposed project would come, in large part, from

EVOS funds. Overall, the total project capital budget would be

approximately $47.5 million, of which approximately $37.5 million would

come from EVOS funds. Twelve and one-half million dollars of State EVOS

restitution funds were appropriated by the Alaska Legislature in 1993

to the City of Seward for the planning, design, and construction of the

proposed project. In addition, approximately $25 million of EVOS monies

have been requested to fund the research and wildlife rehabilitation

component of the proposed project. Lastly, approximately $10 million

would be raised from private donors to fund the public education and

visitation component of the proposed project. Revenue from public

education and visitation would be used to help offset the operational

costs of all of the proposed improvements.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,

the Draft EIS presents analyses of the environmental, including social

and economic, effects that would be anticipated if the proposed

improvements to the IMS in Seward were to occur as presently

envisioned. In addition, the EIS assesses the effects of an alternative

to the proposal that would eliminate the public education and

visitation component--a research and wildlife rehabilitation-only

alternative. Lastly, a no action alternative is assessed to determine

the effects on the environment should the proposed improvements not be

made.

Public Hearings: During the comment period for the Draft EIS, public

hearings will be held on the dates and at the locations below:

July 26, 1994--IMS, K.M. Rae Building, 125 Third Avenue, Seward, AK

July 28, 1994--EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill, Trustee Council Restoration

Office, 645 G. Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK

The hearings are scheduled for 8 p.m., preceded by a 1-hour

information meeting.

Comments: The comment period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from the

date the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability

appears in the Federal Register. It is very important that those

interested in this proposed action participate at this time. To be most

helpful, comments on the Draft EIS should be as specific as possible,

and may address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of the

alternatives discussed. (See the Council on Environmental Quality

Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3.)

In addition, Federal court decisions have established that

reviewers of Draft EIS's must structure their participation in the

environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and

alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and concerns. Vermont

Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC. 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978).

Environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage

may be waived if not raised until after completion of the Final EIS.

Wisconsin Heritage, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis.

1980). The reason for this is to ensure that substantive comments and

objections are made available to the Department of the Interior at a

time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the

Final EIS.

Dated: June 17, 1994.

George T. Frampton, Jr.,

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the

Interior.

[FR Doc. 94-15238 Filed 6-22-94; 8:45 am]

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