Iliamna to Nondalton Road Environmental Assessment

Iliamna Village Council is pursuing funding to construct a bridge across the Newhalen River and upgrade an existing ATV trail into an all-season road connecting the river to Nondalton. SWCA is supporting Federal Highways Administration compliance with NHPA Section 106 and NEPA by completing required technical studies and supporting and coordinating project permitting.

SWCA conducted wetland delineations and cultural resources surveys for the proposed road and bridge alignment and is coordinating permits including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sections 404 and 401, U.S. Coast Guard Section 9, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Title 16, a development permit from Lake and Peninsula Borough, and an Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for National Marine Fisheries Service. Because the public right-of-way is located on state land, the project also required a state-issued permit, which SWCA successfully obtained.

To support NEPA compliance, SWCA reviewed the more than 20-year-old Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact prepared in 2001 and developed a Changed Conditions Report for FHWA to determine NEPA adequacy. The report evaluates whether environmental conditions within the affected area have changed in ways that could alter the original impact analysis. As part of this effort, SWCA held three public meetings to gather input from affected communities about local changes.

SWCA also conducted a state-permitted cultural resources investigation consisting of a literature review, pedestrian survey, subsurface testing, and reporting. The project is ongoing and currently awaiting concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Office. Throughout the process, SWCA has coordinated with Iliamna Tribal Council, Village of Nondalton, and FHWA, and will submit a comprehensive report documenting all identified cultural resources.