[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3621]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 

Availability of Environmental Document and Public Hearing; 
Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice to hold a public hearing and accept additional scoping 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Document has been 
prepared for proposed development at Greater Rockford Airport, 
Rockford, Illinois. In addition, it is the intent of this notice to 
also inform the public that the Airport will be conducting a Public 
Hearing. Major development items, proposed to be completed over the 
next 5 to 10 years, are depicted on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Wishy, Community Planner, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Airports District Office, 2300 
East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, (708) 294-7524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA issued a Federal Register Notice on 
April 22, 1993 announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Document (possible Environmental Impact Statement) and to hold a May 
26, 1993 scoping meeting. At the scoping meeting no significant impacts 
were identified. Some concerns were expressed over possible noise, 
floodplain and wetland impacts. The airport sponsor indicated that any 
impacts would be mitigated below the level of significance as an 
integral part of the development. Recently, United Parcel Service (UPS) 
announced their intention to initiate a cargo hub at the airport in an 
area not covered by the previous scoping meeting. Below is a refined 
listing of the major associated and indirect development projects, 
incorporating items scoped originally and those newly identified as 
part of the UPS project.
    1. Develop the midfield area for aviation-related industrial users. 
(scoped originally)
    2. Expand the existing cargo apron and buildings west of the 
existing terminal building to accommodate a minimum of 26 cargo 
aircraft. (expansion scoped originally; to accommodate 26 aircraft--
new)
    3. Extend Runway 7/25 to a length of 10,000 feet by constructing a 
3,500-foot southwesterly extension with parallel and connecting 
taxiways and associated lighting and navigation aids. This would 
include the installation of a CAT II Instrument Landing System (ILS) 
for Runway 7. (scoped originally)
    4. Relocate approximately 12,000 feet of Belt Line Road and 9,300 
feet of Kishwaukee Road. (scoped originally)
    5. Expand the existing terminal building and auto parking lot and 
upgrade the existing airport entrance roadway. (scoped originally)
    6. Construct a general aviation apron and T-hangars. (scoped 
originally)
    7. Remove miscellaneous support buildings. (scoped originally)
    8. Construct a new 4,000-foot general aviation visual approach 
runway, parallel to and 5,100 feet southeast of existing Runway 7/25, 
with associated taxiways and instrumentation. (scoped originally)
    9. Construct and realign various taxiways parallel to Runway 1/19. 
The majority of the realignment work proposed is adjacent to and west 
of the approach end of Runway 19. (scoped originally)
    10. Implement actions recommended in the 1993 Master Drainage/
Stormwater Management Plan. (scoped originally)
    11. Implement actions recommended in the updated Noise 
Compatibility Plan. (scoped originally)
    12. Acquire approximately 1,100 acres of land for airfield 
development and noise and floodway mitigation. Included in this 
acquisition is the relocation of approximately 28 residential 
dwellings, of which only eleven are considered to be noise impacted and 
must be acquired and residents relocated prior to the start of any 
operation resulting from the Proposed Action Alternative. The remaining 
residential dwellings would be acquired for purposes of airfield 
development and floodway mitigation. (land acquisition scoped 
originally; new noise impacted homes)
    13. Compensate for wetland impacts caused by the development of the 
Proposed Action Alternative through the creation of approximately 25 
acres of new wetlands. (scoped originally)
    14. An additional 1,500 flights annually beyond those originally 
forecasted but with a greater number of stage three aircraft. This is 
based on UPS's proposal to initiate an air cargo operation at Greater 
Rockford Airport. (new)
    An informational workshop and Public Hearing will be held from 3 
p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 1994 in the Auditorium and 
Classroom of the Operations & Public Safety Center at Greater Rockford 
Airport, 60 Airport Drive, Rockford, Illinois. Comments on the Draft 
Environmental Assessment are invited from Federal, State, and local 
agencies, and all other interested parties to provide additional 
opportunity for scoping comments and to insure that a full range of 
issues and alternatives related to the proposed projects and actions 
are addressed and all issues identified. Comments may be provided in 
writing and/or orally at the Public Hearing or submitted in writing 
either to the FAA at the address provided above or to Mr. Frederick C. 
Ford, Executive Director, Greater Rockford Airport, 3600 Airport Drive, 
P.O. Box 5063, Rockford, Illinois 61125-0063. All comments received by 
April 6, 1994 will be considered in preparation of the Airport 
Sponsor's Final Environmental Assessment. Comments received after the 
close of the comment period, but prior to the FAA's environmental 
fining will be considered by the FAA to the extent practical. The FAA 
will issue a Final Environmental Document that includes corrections, 
clarifications and responses to comments on the Draft Environmental 
Assessment.
    Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment are available for 
review at the following locations:

Airport Manager's Office, Greater Rockford Airport Authority, 3600 
Airport Drive, Rockford, Illinois 61125-0063
Rockford City Clerk's Office, Rockford City Hall, 1201 Broadway, 
Rockford, Illinois
Winnebago County Courthouse, County Clerk's Office, 400 West State, 
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford Public Library, 215 North Wyman, Rockford, Illinois
Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, One 
Langhorne Drive, Capitol Airport, Springfield, Illinois
Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Airports District Office, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on February 9, 1994.
Louis H. Yates,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 94-3621 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M