Environmental Assessment for the Upgrade and Construction of the Eielson Air Force Base Rail Line, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska

摘要

NAME OF PROPOSED ACTION. Upgrade and Construction of the Eielson Air Force Base (Eielson AFB) Rail Line. The Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) were prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations (Council on Environmental Quality, 40 CFR 1500-1508). The Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA) was prepared in accordance with the Secretary of the Air Force Order 791.1 and Executive Order 11990 (May 24, 1977), 'Protection of Wetlands.' DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE. The Proposed Action would support fuel needs based on Eielson AFB's Operations Plan (OPLAN). The OPLAN requires a fuel off loading capability to support a daily delivery requirement in an austere arctic environment. In order to support the mission of Eielson AFB, a viable secondary means of fuel supply is necessary. Eielson AFB is currently only capable of receiving a limited amount of fuel by rail car and truck and both are currently inadequate to support the required delivery rate as outlined in the OPLAN. The affected rail line extends from the Central Heating and Power Plant (CHPP) to the off load fuel area (Mullins Pit Road) which has not been upgraded since 1950 and is severely degraded. The rail line in this area is a mixture of 70, 75, and 90 pound rail line joined by cpmpromising bars to splice the different lane weights. Over 300 Linear Meters (LM) of rail line south of E-11 has been ruled unserviceable, reducing the capacity to receive railcar shipments in large quantity. Additionally there is only one line near the E-2/E-11 fuel farms for receiving railcars. A second line, complete with switches and road crossings, is required to store and transfer railcars while shipments are being unloaded and delivered.