[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 27804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12901]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and to 
Conduct Second Phase Scoping on Airport Alternatives to Accommodate the 
Long-term Air Transportation Needs of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Region, 
MN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and to conduct second phase public scoping.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared on the potential effects of alternatives to 
accommodate the long-term air transportation needs of the Minneapolis-
St. Paul region, including a new major airport site and a comprehensive 
plan for expansion and improvements to the existing Minneapolis-St. 
Paul International Airport. To ensure that all significant issues 
related to the proposed action are identified, the FAA is soliciting 
information and comments from the public concerning this project and is 
advising Federal, State and local agencies and the public of the 
scoping process and scheduled meetings that will be conducted as part 
of this process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Glen Orcutt, Airports District Office, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 6020--28th Avenue South, Room 102, Minneapolis, 
Minnesota 55450-2706 (612) 725-4221.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposes to prepare an EIS on the 
potential consequences and possible alternatives of a new major airport 
site selection that would allow construction of a replacement airport 
for the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, a comprehensive plan for the 
expansion at the existing Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, 
other reasonable alternatives and the no action alternative. A First 
Phase Scoping Report describing the Dual Track Planning Process was 
prepared and made available for public and agency review on March 30, 
1992. Three public meetings were held in April 1992 for public and 
agency comment. Responses to substantive comments were published in 
March 1993.

    A Second Phase Scoping Document has been prepared by the 
Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a cooperating agency in the 
environmental process. This Scoping Document will be circulated to 
Federal, State and local agencies and will be available to the public 
for their review and comment. The Second Phase Scoping Document 
describes the results of the Dual Track Planning process which was 
described in the First Phase Scoping Report. A state and federal 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Dual Track Planning is being 
prepared by the MAC and the FAA, respectively, The EIS will compare all 
reasonable alternatives required to meet the Minneapolis-St. Paul 
region year 2020 aviation demand, disclose their environmental 
consequences and ensure that mitigating measures are considered to 
minimize adverse environmental effects.
    To ensure a full cooperative effort, the FAA as lead agency on the 
federal EIS, recognizes the magnitude of this proposal and extends an 
invitation to affected Federal, State and local agencies to participate 
as a cooperating agency on this project. In accepting the duties and 
role of a cooperating agency, the agency shall participate in the NEPA 
process at the earliest point, shall participate in the scoping 
process, shall assist in preparing those portions of the EIS in which 
it has the greatest technical expertise and shall make available staff 
support to enhance interdisciplinary capability. Agencies interested in 
participating as a cooperating agency are requested to respond to the 
FAA at the address listed at the beginning of this notice.
    The environmental review of the project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amendment (42 U.S.C. 4371, et seq.), CEQ regulations 
(40 CFR 1500-1508), FAA Orders 5050.4A and 1050.1D and all applicable 
Federal and State regulations and local ordinances.

PUBLIC SCOPING: A scoping meeting will be conducted on June 27, 1995, 
at the Metropolitan Airports Commission General Offices, 6040--28th 
Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, beginning at 2:00 p.m. for 
Federal, State and local agencies. Scoping meetings for the public will 
be held on June 26, 1995, at the Metropolitan Airports Commission 
General Offices 6040--28th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 
beginning at 7:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. on June 27, 1995, at the 
Hastings Middle School Auditorium, 9th and Vermillion Streets, 
Hastings, Minnesota to allow for public input. Agencies and the public 
will be notified of subsequent meetings as they are scheduled. Written 
comments will be accepted until July 5, 1995, and may be directed to 
the FAA at the following address: Federal Aviation Administration, 
Airports District Office, MSP-ADO-600, 6020--28th Avenue South, Room 
102, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450-2706.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, on May 18, 1995.
Benito De Leon,
Manager, Planning/Programming Branch, Airports Division, FAA, Great 
Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 95-12901 Filed 5-24-95; 8:45 am]
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