[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 112 (Monday, June 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14291]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 13, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 

Approval of Record of Decision (ROD) for a Mitigated Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI); Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that on 
June 3, 1994, it approved the Mitigated FONSI/ROD 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).

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Mitigated FONSI/ROD is June 3, 1994.

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 approved the Mitigated FONSI/ROD 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 an 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. Based on the analysis found in the Final 
Environmental Assessment and the results of the public hearing, the FAA 
published a May 2, 1994 Federal Register Notice that it intended to 
issue a Mitigated FONSI/ROD for the proposed development depicted on 
the Airport Layout Plan. The FAA received a letter from the Illinois 
Department of Agriculture (IDOA) stating their concerns with respect to 
farmland impacts. The FAA addressed IDOA's concerns in a June 2, 1994 
letter. On June 3, 1994, the FAA approved the Record of Decision (ROD).
    A copy of the Mitigated FONSI/ROD is available for review at the 
FAA-Chicago Airports District Office (address identified above). Copies 
of these documents will also be available for review locally at 
locations which have not yet been determined. These locations will be 
specified in a Public Notice or upon request of the Chicago Airports 
District Office (telephone number identified above).
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on June 6, 1994.
Louis H. Yates,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 94-14291 Filed 6-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M