Interior Alaska Veterans Cemetery
Statewide Public Facilities are working together with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to plan, design, and construct a cemetery in the interior region of Alaska to serve veterans...
Statewide Public Facilities are working together with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to plan, design, and construct a cemetery in the interior region of Alaska to serve veterans across the State of Alaska, including the estimated 11,000 veterans who reside within 75 miles of the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Location & Scope of Work
In 2022, the State identified and purchased a site in Salcha, Alaska about 30 miles south of Fairbanks off the Richardson Highway. The 257-acre hilltop site near Eielson Air Force Base was a former agricultural homestead and features sweeping views of the Tanana River Valley and the Alaska Range.
The cemetery will feature a maintenance and administration building with a public information center, a flag assembly area, memorial wall, 350 crypts, 250 in-ground burials, and 600 columbarium niches. Design of a committal shelter for use during funeral services is underway and will be constructed under the grant if funding allows or will be constructed during a future phase.
Project Timeline
Additional Information
The project masterplan and design are under development by R&M Consultants, Inc, in partnership with specialty cemetery development subconsultant, G Brown and Associates, and several other Alaskan-based design firms.
Development of the state cemetery will be through the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, issued through the National Cemetery Administration. In preparation for receipt of the grant, the State conducted permafrost, cultural, land, and wetland studies, and in January 2025, the State accepted a $15M grant opportunity, greenlighting design development.
The project is currently advertised and will be awarded in September. See the State of Alaska Construction Bid Calendar for more information: https://dot.alaska.gov/procurement/awp/bids.html.
Contact Information:
If you have questions, please email us at: dot.salchacemetery@alaska.gov for more information on this project.
Environmental Assessment Notice of Availability
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed construction and operation of the Interior Alaska Veterans Cemetery (IAVC) in Salcha, Alaska. The Proposed Action evaluated in the EA incudes the full Master Plan developed for the IAVC which is comprised of two Phases. Phase I activities include:
construction of entrance road, parking areas, and pathways,installation of 600 columbarium niches (two walls), 358 pre-placed crypts, and space for 294 in-ground cremains,widening and paving of Westerlund Street, within the existing right-of-way, to provide primary access to the cemetery from Johnson Road,grading and resurfacing De Halden Lane,construction of an administration / maintenance building with garage,construction of an entry monument and gate, committal shelter, memorial wall, flag assembly area, cremated remains scattering garden, and public information center,the existing well will be improved and a septic system will be installed along with fencing, gate(s), lights, fuel storage, signage, and drainage structures as appropriate.
Phase II components represent the remaining build out of the IAVC through 2076 based on anticipated internment needs. These components include the installation of 1,000 columbarium niches (five walls), 2,272 pre-placed crypts, and 798 in-ground cremain plots.
The EA also covers long term operation of the cemetery. Operations would include administration activities, custodial services, and regularly scheduled landscaping and maintenance to ensure the upkeep of the grounds and associated physical infrastructure such as roads and buildings.
After development of the Draft EA, the DMVA concludes that the project will have no significant impact on the human and natural environment. Therefore, the DMVA has proposed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which incorporates findings of the Draft EA and concludes that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The Draft EA and FONSI are available for review electronically below, at Welcome - Alaska Online Public Notices and available in print upon request.
Please provide any comments on the Draft EA and FONSI by July 25, 2025 to be included in the Final EA and FONSI. The final FONSI completes the NEPA review process for this Proposed Action. Comments should be sent to Kristi McLean at kmclean@rmconsult.com. For additional information, contact Verdie Bowen at Verdie.bowen@alaska.gov or 907-334-0874.
