GSA completes environmental review, moving forward on new Alcan port of entry in Alaska

November 12, 2024

Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act will enable the project to expand commercial capacity, support economic growth

TACOMA, Wash. – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration released its Record of Decision [PDF - 479 KB] that accompanies the Final Environmental Impact Statement [PDF - 35 MB] for the expansion and modernization of the Alcan Land Port of Entry near Tok, Alaska. GSA is the lead agency for the Final Environmental Impact Statement, and the Native Village of Northway is a cooperating agency.

The Alcan port is the only year-round, full service, 24-hour port of entry serving personal vehicles and commercial truck traffic between Yukon Territory, Canada, and Interior Alaska. It is situated in a remote location along the Alaska Highway. The Alcan Land Port of Entry expansion and modernization project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, will enhance the port’s operational efficiency and capability, providing new, modern and energy efficient facilities to house port operations and processing functions. This project will strengthen the supply chain, create good-paying jobs, enhance safety and security, and serve as a model of sustainability. When completed, the port will be able to better address peak seasonal traffic volumes.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement describes the purpose and need for the project; alternatives considered; the existing environment that could be affected; the potential impacts resulting from each studied alternative; and proposed mitigation measures. GSA selected Alternative 1, Expansion and Modernization in Place, as its preferred alternative.

Under “Alternative 1, Expansion and Modernization in Place”, the existing port site will be expanded and modernized on the current port site. Alternative 1 will provide dual-purpose inspection lanes to allow for flexibility of inspection operations as well as enclosed spaces for secondary inspection of personal and commercial vehicles. A new main operations building will feature modernized technology that meets U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s stringent security standards. An updated residential campus will be separated from port operations to minimize risks to resident personnel and their families.

Under Alternative 1, an approximately 14,400 square-foot-area of previously cleared land on Airs Hill in the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge will be used as a dedicated helicopter landing zone. In addition, Alternative 1 will improve the existing hillside access road with safety features such as new guardrails on the hill’s steep sections.

All facility and infrastructure improvements proposed under Alternative 1 will incorporate a sustainable, climate-resilient and operationally efficient design. The Alcan Land Port of Entry modernization will seek to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the highest possible level within budget. The modernized facilities will be net zero emissions ready.

The Record of Decision documents the specific rationale for GSA’s decision. This decision is based on the Final Environmental Impact Statement that GSA issued in September 2024; associated technical reports; comments from federal and state agencies, members of the public and elected officials; and other documents contained in the administrative record.

“The Alcan Land Port of Entry is a vital gateway for travel and commerce for Interior Alaskan communities,” said Sukhee Kang, Regional Administrator for GSA’s Northwest/Arctic Region. “Now that we have completed our environmental review, we can begin the work of designing the new port. With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, GSA will deliver a state-of-the-art facility that will support economic vitality in Alaska while increasing border security. We are committed to delivering a modern, efficient and sustainable port at Alcan that will serve commercial and personal travel for years to come.”  

The expansion will significantly increase efficiency and security, improving the flow of commercial and passenger traffic at the port, enhancing border security measures and reducing wait times. The new infrastructure is designed to support the latest technology in U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection operations.

The upgraded facilities are expected to bolster economic activity by streamlining trade and travel between the U.S. and Canada. This project supports local businesses and Interior Alaska communities reliant on cross-border commerce.

GSA has balanced environmental priorities with operational needs in selecting this approach. Comprehensive evaluations and public feedback have guided this decision-making process.

The final decision was informed by consultations with elected officials, federal and state agencies, and members of the public. GSA has worked to align the government’s requirements with the needs of the community.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement & Record Of Decision are available for public access at www.gsa.gov/Alcan. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a total of $3.4 billion for GSA to build and modernize land ports of entry on the country’s northern and southern borders. The investments will improve commerce and trade, create good-paying construction jobs, and incorporate new and innovative sustainability features.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes $3.4 billion for GSA to build, modernize and maintain more sustainable and cost-efficient high-performance facilities. This IRA funding includes $2.15 billion specifically for low-embodied carbon construction materials. GSA’s IRA projects will implement new technologies and accelerate GSA’s efforts toward achieving a net-zero emissions federal building portfolio by 2045. Through these investments, GSA estimates a total greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 2.3 million metric tons, the same amount that 500,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles produce each year.

This announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, focused on growing the American economy from the bottom up and the middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

###

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov.