[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 25259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11674]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and To Hold 
an Environmental Scoping Meeting for Detroit City Airport, Detroit, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice to Hold a Public Scoping Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that environmental documentation, including 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), will be developed concurrently 
with the preparation of a Master Plan for Detroit City Airport. The 
purpose of this plan is to determine the facilities that will be 
required to meet future (a 20-year time period) demand for airport 
operations and develop methods for providing noise compatibility with 
surrounding land uses. Forecasts indicate a need for a primary runway 
length of 6,000 feet in this densely developed urban location. To 
ensure that all significant issues related to the proposed action are 
identified, a public scoping meeting will be held.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ernest Gubry, Federal Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports 
District Office, Willow Run Airport, East 8820 Beck Road, Belleville, 
Michigan 48111, 313-487-7280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA, in cooperation with the Bureau of 
Aeronautics, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and with the assistance of the 
City of Detroit, will prepare an EIS concurrently with the preparation 
of a Master Plan for Detroit City Airport. The purpose of this Master 
Plan is to determine the facilities that will be required to meet 
future (a 20-year time period) demand for airport operations and 
develop methods for providing noise compatibility with surrounding land 
uses. Forecasts indicate a need for a primary runway length of 6,000 
feet.

    Due to the densely developed urban location of the airport and the 
potential for significant environmental impacts associated with any 
proposed expansion, a decision has been made to prepare an EIS 
concurrently with the preparation of the Master Plan so that decision-
makers will have an early and complete understanding of the 
consequences of any action proposed by the plan. The Joint Lead 
Agencies for the EIS will be the FAA and MDOT. The FHWA will be a 
cooperating agency.
    Two cemeteries are located immediately north and south of the 
airport's existing primary runway (15/33). It is the desire of the 
people of Detroit, expressed during past airport improvement programs, 
to not disturb these cemeteries. Therefore, an extension of Runway 15/
33 beyond its present length of 5,090 feet is not being considered as 
one of the EIS alternatives. Instead, a new runway is envisioned; based 
on previous planning efforts, a new 6,000-foot primary runway located 
west of the current runway is being proposed. The ``no action'' 
alternative also will be investigated by the EIS. In addition to 
concerns generated by the construction and operation of airport 
facilities, potentially significant issues are: the relocation of Van 
Dyke Avenue; the closure of Six Mile Road; and the relocation of 
residents, businesses, roads, and utilities. Due to the relocation of 
Van Dyke Avenue, the FHWA will be a cooperating agency for this EIS.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from federal, state, and local 
agencies, and other interested parties to ensure that the full range of 
issues related to these proposed projects are addressed and all 
significant issues identified. Copies of materials to be evaluated can 
be obtained by contacting the FAA informational contact listed above. 
Comments and suggestions may be mailed to the same address.

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: To facilitate receipt of comments, two public 
scoping meetings will be held on Thursday, June 15, 1995. A technical 
meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Cobo Hall (One Washington Blvd., 
Detroit, Michigan). A community workshop will be held at 6:00 p.m. at 
Davis Aerospace Technical High School (10200 Erwin St., Detroit, 
Michigan), to solicit comments and input from the general public on the 
environmental analysis process. If you plan on attending either 
meeting, please contact Mr. Ernest Gubry. Written comments and 
recommendations may be sent to Mr. Gubry's office at the above noted 
address prior to June 30, 1995.

    Issued in Belleville, Michigan, on May 3, 1995.
Dean C. Nitz,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, FAA, Great Lakes Region,
[FR Doc. 95-11674 Filed 5-10-95; 8:45 am]
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