The Haines Assembly is listening to your request for information on the Lutak Dock. In our last meeting, we voted to return the draft Environmental Assessment (draft EA) to the DOT federal marine agency MARAD. After a final review by MARAD, it will become public and you’ll be able learn how many designs are assessed for the historic, cultural and environmental impact of many of the designs. The draft EA does not consider economic or financial aspects of each design. A “proposed action” is evaluated along with other “alternatives”. The Assembly chose not to edit the draft EA; instead, it will be made public as written by the trained technicians fulfilling the federal mandate to assess the designs per the “Section 106” or “NEPA” process that you may have heard about. The draft EA will answer many questions we’ve been asked recently, and we hope you appreciate your assembly moving through the logjam on this project that has persisted through 2024.
Richard Clement, Haines Borough Assembly member