May 22, 2004
Saturday

Juneau, Alaska - Governor Frank Murkowski announced Friday that, in accordance with the regulations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) has started the pre-NOI (pre-Notice of Intent) scoping and planning phase. Three experienced Alaska firms have been selected to provide assistance in specific areas.

"It is gratifying to see the project move ahead in an expeditious manner," said Murkowski. "The work now underway will provide for public input, and all effected stakeholder groups and agencies will have an opportunity to participate. The results will help us chart a reasonable and prudent course for moving forward toward construction. The Alaskan companies involved are experienced and well qualified to provide the necessary services."

The three Alaska firms that have been selected though the state's competitive procurement process to perform the designated planning tasks are:

PERATROVICH, NOTTINGHAM AND DRAGE, INC. (PND) has been awarded a contract for $715,054 for conceptual engineering of a Knik Arm crossing. The work will include evaluation of various schemes, cost-estimates, materials and design considerations. Subcontractors for PND include:

Hatch Mott MacDonald, Pleasanton, CA;
Figg Engineering Group, Tallahassee, FL;
Veco Alaska, Inc. Anchorage, AK;
McClintock Land Assoc., Eagle River, AK;
Terra Surveys, Palmer, AK;
Orson Smith III, PE, Anchorage, AK;
URS Corp. Anchorage, AK office;
RISE Alaska, Anchorage, AK.

HDR ALASKA, INC. will work on environmental issues, which will influence location, design and project details. The initial contract is for $ 540,916. Subcontractors for HDR Alaska include:

T.Y. Lin International, San Francisco, CA;
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Seattle, WA;
Stephen R. Braund & Assoc., Anchorage, AK;
Kinnetic Laboratories, Anchorage, AK;
LGL Alaska Research Associates, Anchorage, AK;
Northern Ecological Services, Anchorage, AK;
Word Wrangling, Anchorage, AK;
The Glosten Associates, Seattle, WA.

URS Corporation has been chosen to provide information on regulatory specialist services in order to identify critical issues, develop an overall plan and strategy and to suggest management techniques. The contract amount is $ 251,348. Subcontractorsfor URS Corporation include:

North Wind, Inc. Anchorage, AK;
Canter Associates, Inc. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

All three contractors will coordinate work closely with each other and will maintain close contact with project staff.

It is anticipated that all work will be done by the end of this year. The public has been informed of the process through statewide advertising in the press.

The Council on Environmental Quality recognizes this first step as a useful tool in the permitting process, especially for complex and large projects.

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

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