NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE - Bethel Airport West Apron Improvements - CFAPT00859 / AIP NO. 3-02-0029-00X-20XX

What is this notice about?

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have released a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for planned improvements at the Bethel Airport. The project would rebuild and repair aprons and taxiways and add a new perimeter service road and fencing. The public can review the draft, attend an open house on October 6, 2026, and send written comments by October 26, 2026.

Why was this notice issued?

DOT&PF, working with the Federal Aviation Administration, has finished a draft Environmental Assessment for the Bethel Airport West Apron Improvements project and is making it available for public review and comment.

What action is being taken?

DOT&PF is asking for public comments on the draft EA and holding a public open house. The project would reconstruct and rehabilitate parts of the Bethel Airport west apron, main apron, the snow removal equipment building/aircraft rescue and firefighting ramp, and taxiways E and G. It would also build a new perimeter service road with a fence, including upgrades to existing fencing and gates. The notice says the project will comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, executive orders on wetlands, floodplains, historic preservation, and consultation with tribal governments, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and U.S. Department of Transportation Act Section 4(f).

Who is involved: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; Federal Aviation Administration; Bethel Airport users and the Bethel community

How can the public respond?

Respond by Mon, Oct 26, 2026 This deadline has passed.

“Comments on the draft EA are requested by October 26, 2026.”

Ways to respond

Mail Brian Elliott, Central Region Environmental Manager, DOT&PF Preliminary Design & Environmental, P.O. Box 196900, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900
Email brian.elliott@alaska.gov

What to include

Comments must be written. The draft EA can be viewed online at https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/bethel-airport/. Hard copies are available by mail on request to the Environmental Analyst (Maureen Orr, 907-269-0530, maureen.orr@alaska.gov) or Project Manager (Aaron Hughes, P.E., 907-269-0523, aaron.hughes@alaska.gov). People with a hearing impairment can contact DOT&PF by Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (907) 269-0473.

Contact

Brian Elliott, Central Region Environmental Manager
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Preliminary Design & Environmental
brian.elliott@alaska.gov
P.O. Box 196900, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900

Will there be public meetings?

Public open house: Tue, Oct 6, 2026, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Yute Commuter Service Terminal, 3551 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy, Second Floor, Bethel
Attend in person. Meeting materials will be posted after the meeting at https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/bethel-airport/

Key dates

Sep 9, 2026: Notice published; draft EA available for public review online
Oct 6, 2026: Public open house, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Yute Commuter Service Terminal, Bethel
Oct 26, 2026: Deadline for written comments on the draft EA

Original notice text

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, announces the availability of the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Bethel (BET) Airport West Apron Improvements project for public review. The project will reconstruct and rehabilitate portions of the BET west apron, main apron, snow removal equipment building/aircraft rescue and firefighting ramp, taxiways E and G, and construct a new perimeter service road with a fence, including upgrades to existing fencing and gates. A public open house has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the Yute Commuter Service Terminal, 3551 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy, Second Floor. All meeting materials will be available online at the project website after the meeting: https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/bethel-airport/ Electronic versions of the draft EA are now available for public viewing at: https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/bethel-airport/ Hard copies are available by mail upon request made to the Environmental Analyst or Project Manager. Comments on the draft EA are requested by October 26, 2026. Submit written comments to: Brian Elliott, Central Region Environmental Manager DOT&PF Preliminary Design & Environmental P.O. Box 196900 Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900 brian.elliott@alaska.gov You may also contact Aaron Hughes, P.E., Project Manager, at 907-269-0523 or aaron.hughes@alaska.gov, or Maureen Orr, Environmental Analyst, at 907-269-0530 or maureen.orr@alaska.gov. This proposed project will comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; Executive Orders: 11990 (Wetlands Protection), 11988 (Floodplain Protection), 11593 (Historic Preservation), 13084 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments), the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and U.S. DOT Act Section 4(f). It is the policy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities DOT&PF that no one shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, regardless of the funding source, including Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and State of Alaska funds. The DOT&PF complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with a hearing impairment can contact DOT&PF at our Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (907) 269-0473.

This summary was written by an AI model (Claude) from the official notice text. This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm deadlines and instructions in the official notice. Legal disclaimer.