[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