Public Notice: Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed NOAA - NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center Mukilteo Property Transfer in Mukilteo, Washington

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A for the above-mentioned project. The Draft EA was made available for public comment during a 30-day minimum public review period ending Wednesday November 27, 2024.

The Final EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed transfer of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Mukilteo Research Station
property at 802 Front Street (formerly 10 Park Avenue) in Mukilteo, Washington, to the Port of Everett. The NWFSC determined that the property is no longer needed to fulfil its mission, and in 2022 facilities at the site were demolished/removed. In accordance with The National Defense Authorization Act, NOAA is required to transfer the property to the Port of Everett, or to the General Services Administration for eventual disposal as excess property.

Two action alternatives to implement the proposed action and a no-action alternative are evaluated in the Final EA, which was prepared per Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A and its companion manual, Policy and Procedures for Compliance with NEPA and Related Authorities. The Preferred Alternative would transfer the property (approximately 1 acre of upland and 2 acres of tidelands) to the Port of Everett.

The Final EA did not identify a significant effect resulting from the implementation of either the Preferred Alternative or the Excess Property Alternative. No public or agency comments were received on the Draft EA during the public comment period. NOAA has concluded that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is warranted.

In conformance with Executive Order 11988, “Floodplain Management” NOAA hereby gives final notice of its decision to proceed with the proposed action, which is partially located within a floodplain. However, NOAA has determined that no adverse effects to the floodplain or impacts to future flooding events would occur. NOAA intends to follow the eight-step process required by Executive Order 11988.