BER Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson NOTICE FOR EARLY PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY WITHIN WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Granting of a License to the Alaska Railroad Corporation for Temporary Access, Laydown, and Storage at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska The U.S. Air Force (USAF) invites public input on practicable alternatives for a proposed activity within wetlands and floodplains at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska. The Proposed Action involves granting of a license to the Alaska Railroad Corporation for temporary access, laydown, and storage related to their project to replace the Mile 127.5 Bridge over Eagle River. The granting of a license by JBER to ARRC is necessary for them to access the ARRC owned Right of Way. ARRC requires placement of temporary fill into wetlands within the floodplain of Eagle River on JBER owned land for access and to stage equipment necessary to complete their project. A total of 0.25 acres of fill will be temporarily placed below the ordinary high water mark of Eagle River on JBER owned property. Temporary work pads, access routes, and diversion berms will be constructed with clean rock fill along the banks of Eagle River and within the river basin for access to the ARRC owned construction site. These wetlands and floodplains have been determined to be Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). These actions will require appropriate best management practices (BMPS) to be employed to minimize on-site and downstream impacts. Wetland areas will be avoided to the extent practicable. Temporary fill placed below the Ordinary High Water Mark will be managed in accordance with the State of Alaska Fish Habitat Permit. ARRC will use a combination of separation fabric, timber mats, and clean fill to protect the impacted wetland and floodplain areas. 100-foot setbacks will be maintained on the south side of the river where clearing to the river edge is not necessary. Restoration of vegetation in all setback areas will be required. ARRC must obtain U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization prior to placement of any fill materials in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. ARRC will also be required to obtain authorization for activities in anadromous waters from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Construction will commence no earlier than fall 2024 and be completed no later than spring of 2027. The USAF is performing an Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 32 CFR Part 989, the Air Force Implementing Regulations, and Air Force Manual 32-7003 for actions proposed within wetlands and floodplains. This early public notice is required by Executive Order 11990, "Protection of Wetlands", Executive Order 11988 "Floodplain Management", and Executive Order 13690 "Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input". Written comments and inquiries can be directed to JBER Environmental Planning Office, 724 Quartermaster Road Door 5, JBER, AK 99505. Emailed comments can be submitted to 673CES.CEIEC.EnvPlanning@us.af.mil. Comments may also be submitted by phone at (907) 384-7526 (PLAN). BER Joint Base Elmendorf - Richardson NOTICE FOR EARLY PUBLIC REVIEW OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY WITHIN WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Granting of a License to the Alaska Railroad Corporation for Temporary Access , Laydown , and Storage at Joint Base Elmendorf - Richardson , Alaska The U.S. Air Force ( USAF ) invites public input on practicable alternatives for a proposed activity within wetlands and floodplains at Joint Base Elmendorf - Richardson ( JBER ) , Alaska . The Proposed Action involves granting of a license to the Alaska Railroad Corporation for temporary access , laydown , and storage related to their project to replace the Mile 127.5 Bridge over Eagle River . The granting of a license by JBER to ARRC is necessary for them to access the ARRC owned Right of Way . ARRC requires placement of temporary fill into wetlands within the floodplain of Eagle River on JBER owned land for access and to stage equipment necessary to complete their project . A total of 0.25 acres of fill will be temporarily placed below the ordinary high water mark of Eagle River on JBER owned property . Temporary work pads , access routes , and diversion berms will be constructed with clean rock fill along the banks of Eagle River and within the river basin for access to the ARRC owned construction site . These wetlands and floodplains have been determined to be Waters of the U.S. ( WOTUS ) . These actions will require appropriate best management practices ( BMPS ) to be employed to minimize on - site and downstream impacts . Wetland areas will be avoided to the extent practicable . Temporary fill placed below the Ordinary High Water Mark will be managed in accordance with the State of Alaska Fish Habitat Permit . ARRC will use a combination of separation fabric , timber mats , and clean fill to protect the impacted wetland and floodplain areas . 100 - foot setbacks will be maintained on the south side of the river where clearing to the river edge is not necessary . Restoration of vegetation in all setback areas will be required . ARRC must obtain U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization prior to placement of any fill materials in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act . ARRC will also be required to obtain authorization for activities in anadromous waters from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game . Construction will commence no earlier than fall 2024 and be completed no later than spring of 2027 . The USAF is performing an Environmental Impact Analysis Process ( EIAP ) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act ( NEPA ) , 32 CFR Part 989 , the Air Force Implementing Regulations , and Air Force Manual 32-7003 for actions proposed within wetlands and floodplains . This early public notice is required by Executive Order 11990 , " Protection of Wetlands " , Executive Order 11988 " Floodplain Management " , and Executive Order 13690 " Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input " . Written comments and inquiries can be directed to JBER Environmental Planning Office , 724 Quartermaster Road Door 5 , JBER , AK 99505. Emailed comments can be submitted to 673CES.CEIEC.EnvPlanning@us.af.mil . Comments may also be submitted by phone at ( 907 ) 384-7526 ( PLAN ) .