[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 10056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5831]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Palm Beach International Airport,
West Palm Beach, Florida
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this
notice to advertise to the public that an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) is planned to be prepared and considered for the
proposed extension of Runway 9L-27R to 10,000' at Palm Beach
International Airport. It is proposed to displace the landing
thresholds of the improved runway to their current physical locations.
The FAA plans to hold a scoping meeting to obtain input from the public
regarding the EIS. If it is determined during the course of the study
that the environmental impacts are not significant, FAA will terminate
the EIS process, complete the study as an Environmental Assessment (EA)
and issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Bart Vernace, Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports
District Office, 9677 Tradeport Drive, Suite 130, Orlando, Florida
32827-5397, (407) 648-6583.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA, in
cooperation with Palm Beach County, Florida, will prepare an EIS for a
proposed project to lengthen Runway 9L-27R at the Palm Beach
International Airport (PBI) to 10,000' x 150' for air carrier aircraft
use. The existing runway (7,989') accommodates all aircraft currently
using the airport, but the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) approved December
28, 1995, indicates that a runway extension is needed to allow the
existing fleet to serve longer stage domestic markets and international
markets (Europe). The proposed extension will be 1,200' to the west and
811' to the east. It is proposed to displace the landing thresholds of
the improved runway to their current physical locations.
Extension of the existing parallel and connecting taxiways is also
proposed. The proposed project would entail construction activity on
airport property (i.e., site preparation, drainage, paving, marking,
lighting, fencing, NAVAIDS, obstruction clearing, environmental
mitigation], and other associated work required for the runway
extension). Some additional property interests may be required for
runway protection zones and/or NAVAID relocations.
The extended runway is planned as a precision instrument runway
(PIR) with a CAT I approach to Runway 9L and a CAT I approach to Runway
27R. The runway will have approach slopes of 50:1 to Runway 9L and 50:1
to Runway 27R with a primary surface width of 1,000 feet.
The EIS will include evaluation of a no-build alternative and other
reasonable alternatives that may be identified during the public
scoping meeting. The proposed runway extension would provide sufficient
airfield capacity and versatility at PBI to accommodate expected
aircraft demand through the year 2015. The increased runway length
provided by the proposed project would result in aircraft operations
with longer non-stop stage lengths to domestic and international
markets.
The fleet mix of aircraft at PBIA could change with the proposed
runway extension. The airport will be more desirable to the airlines
for the more frequent operation of aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and
767 because of the greater departure stage lengths possible with the
longer runway. The EIS will determine any noise impacts associated with
the operation of the proposed runway. Recently approved noise studies
at PBIA have indicated that the proposed development will have the
effect of reducing cumulative noise levels in noise sensitive areas.
This is anticipated to occur because the extended runway will enable
departing aircraft to be higher, and quieter, over sensitive areas when
compared to the present conditions. The displaced landing thresholds
proposed to be implemented with the extended runway will result in
aircraft arrivals occurring at the same altitudes and noise levels as
the present condition. In addition to noise impacts, the EIS will
determine any impacts on air and water quality, wetlands, ecological
resources, floodplains, historic resources, hazardous wastes and
coastal zone management.
PUBLIC SCOPING: To ensure that the full range of issues related to the
proposed project are addressed and that all significant issues are
identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
parties. A public scoping meeting to identify significant issues will
be held in West Palm Beach, Florida. For this meeting we are inviting
the public as well as the local, State and Federal agencies.
Written comments may be mailed to the Informational contact listed
above within 30 days from publication of this Notice.
Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Issued in Orlando, Florida, March 5, 1996.
Charles E. Blair,
Manager, Orlando Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 96-5831 Filed 3-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M