[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10386]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Availability of Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) and
Draft Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Record of
Decision (ROD); Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, IL
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of documents and soliciting comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this
notice to advise the public of the availability of a Final EA and a
Draft of a Mitigated FONSI/ROD. Interested parties are invited to
submit comments on the proposed Mitigated FONSI/ROD. Based on the
information received, the FAA will make a determination whether to
approve the proposed Mitigated FONSI/ROD or prepare an EIS on the
proposed development at Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, Illinois.
Major development items, proposed to be completed over the next 5 to 10
years, are depicted on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Comments are
solicited before the FAA makes its final determination whether to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
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, in cooperation with the Illinois
Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, and the Greater
Rockford Airport Authority have agreed to prepare a Final Environmental
Assessment (Final EA) for proposed development at Greater Rockford
Airport. Below is a listing of major, associated and indirect
development projects. This listing includes United Parcel Service's
(UPS) recent announcement to initiate a cargo hub facility at the
airport.
1. Develop the midfield area for aviation-related industrial users.
2. Expand the existing cargo apron and buildings west of the
existing terminal building to accommodate a minimum of 26 cargo
aircraft.
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.
4. Relocate approximately 12,000 feet of Belt Line Road and 9,300
feet of Kishwaukee Road.
5. Expand the existing terminal building and auto parking lot and
upgrade the existing airport entrance roadway.
6. Construct a general aviation apron and T-hangars.
7. Close Runway 13/31.
8. Remove miscellaneous support buildings.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Implement actions recommended in the 1993 Master Drainage/
Stormwater Management Plan.
12. Implement actions recommended in the updated Noise
Compatibility Plan.
13. Acquire approximately 1,100 acres of land for airfield
development. In addition to this acquisition, is the relocation of up
to 28 residential dwellings (for noise and floodway mitigation), 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. Those dwellings identified as
floodway mitigation can be acquired either in fee-simple or through
restrictive covenant. (Updated)
14. Compensate for wetland impacts caused by the development of the
Proposed Action Alternative through the creation of approximately 25
acres of new wetlands.
15. 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.
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.
The FAA issued a subsequent Federal Register Notice on February 17,
1994 announcing the availability of the Draft Environmental Document
and provided additional opportunity for scoping comments for the
refined listing of the major, associated and indirect development
projects, incorporating items scoped originally and those newly
identified as part of the UPS proposed development. Notice was also
given for a March 22, 1994 public hearing with written comments being
received until April 6, 1994.
Public involvement and the Final Environmental Assessment indicates
that this development would not result in any potentially significant
impacts on the human environment and that a Mitigation FONSI/ROD is
appropriate. Additionally, this information indicates that an EIS is
not warranted based on the findings made under each specific impact
category. The Mitigated FONSI/ROD will incorporate specific mitigation
measures as an integral part of the project. The purpose of this notice
is to provide the public an opportunity to submit information to the
FAA prior to its reaching a decision on this matter.
In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.4(e) of the Council on Environmental
Quality regulations, there will be a thirty (30) day comment period
before the FAA makes its final determination on the Mitigated FONSI.
Interested individuals, Government agencies, and private organizations
are invited to send comments on the proposed Mitigated FONSI/ROD to the
address set forth above. Absent receipt of information showing that an
EIS is needed, the FAA anticipates that it will sign the Mitigated
FONSI/ROD thirty days after this notice appears in the Federal
Register. The Final EA and its supporting documentation may be viewed
during normal business hours 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.
A copy of the Draft Mitigated FONSI/ROD is available for review at
the FAA--Chicago Airports District Office (address identified above).
Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 21, 1994.
Louis H. Yates,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 94-10386 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
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