[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]
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