[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M