[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29055-29058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13998]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Opportunity To Participate, Criteria Requirements and 
Change of Application Procedure for Participation in the Fiscal Year 
1998 Military Airport Program (MAP)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of criteria for application and designation, 
redesignation, or continued participation, in the Fiscal Year 1998 
Military Airport Program (MAP).

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the criteria, application procedures and 
schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in 
designating, redesignating, and funding capital development for up to 
12 airports in the 1998 MAP.
    The 1998 MAP allows the Secretary to consider current or former 
military airports: (1) that were realigned or closed under Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) procedures or 10 USC 2687 (property 
normally reported to the General Services Administration for disposal); 
or (2) current or former military airports at which grants would reduce 
delays at airports that have 20,000 hours of annual delay in passenger 
aircraft takeoffs and landings; or (3) at current or former military 
airports which grants would enhance airport and air traffic control 
system capacity in a metropolitan area.

DATES: Airport sponsors should address written applications for 
designation, redesignation, or continued participation, in the fiscal 
year 1998 Military Airport Program to the Federal Aviation 
Administration Regional Airports Division or Airports District Office 
that serves the airport. Applications must be received by that office 
of the FAA on or before June 26, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and two copies of Standard Form 424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' and supporting and justifying 
documentation, specifically requesting to be considered for 
designation, redesignation to participate, or continue, in the fiscal 
year 1998 Military Airport Program, to the Regional FAA Airports 
Division or Airports District Office that serves the airport.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James V. Mottley or Leonard C. 
Sandelli, Military Airport Program Branch (APP-420), Office of Airport 
Planning and Programming, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591, (202) 267-8780, or (202) 
267-8785, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Description of the Program

    The Military Airport Program provides assistance to current or 
former military airports in converting them to civil use, thereby 
contributing to the capacity of the national air transportation system 
and/or reducing congestion. Airports designated under the program may 
obtain funds from a set-aside of four percent of Airport Improvement 
Program (AIP) discretionary funds to undertake eligible airport 
development, including certain types of projects not otherwise eligible 
for AIP assistance.

Number of Airports

    A maximum of 12 airports can participate in the 1998 MAP. There are 
eight airports currently designated and the Secretary can designate up 
to four more. The current participating airports are: Millington 
Municipal Airport, Millington, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach International 
Airport, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williams Gateway Airport, 
Chandler, Arizona; Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin, 
Texas; Homestead Regional Airport, Homestead, Florida; Rickenbacker 
Airport, Columbus, Ohio; San Bernardino International Airport, San 
Bernardino, California; Saywer Airport, Marquette, Michigan; and 
Alexandria International Airport, Alexandria, Louisana.

Amount of MAP funds

    The Secretary of Transportation shall allocate at least 4.0 percent 
of the Discretionary Airport Improvement Program grant funds available 
to airports designated under the 1998 MAP. However, for FY 1998 the 
amount is limited to $26,000,000.

Term of Designation

    Five years is the maximum period of eligibility for any airport to 
participate in the MAP unless an airport sponsor reapplies and is 
redesignated for another five year period.

Reapplication

    Section 124 of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 
permits previously designated airports to apply for an additional five-
year period. The airport must have satisfactory MAP eligible projects 
and must continue to satisfy the designation criteria for the MAP.

Eligible Projects

    In addition to other eligible AIP projects, terminals, fuel farms 
and utility systems and surface parking lots and hangars are eligible 
to be funded from the MAP.

New Designation and Redesignation Considerations

    In making designations of new candidate airports, the Secretary of 
Transportation will consider the following general requirements:
    1. The airport is a Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) 
or 10 USC 2687 closure or realignment, classified as a commercial 
service or reliever airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport 
Systems (NPIAS); or
    2. The airport and grants issued for projects at the airport would 
reduce delays at an airport with more than

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20,000 hours of annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs 
and landings. Airports with 20,000 or more hours of delay and their 
associated metropolitan areas are identified in the FAA's Aviation 
Capacity Enhancement Plan DOT/FAA, Office of System Capacity, 1997 
Aviation Capacity Enhancement Plan; or
    3. The airport would enhance airport and air traffic control system 
capacity in a metropolitan area or reduce current or projected flight 
delays.
    The application will be evaluated on how the proposed airport and 
associated projects would make these contributions to conversion and 
congestion relief and/or how the airport would enhance air traffic or 
airport system capacity.

Project Evaluation

    The FAA will evaluate the need for the projects in the candidate 
airport's five year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and whether these 
projects are related to conversion or capacity of that airport or the 
airport and/or air traffic system. It is the intent of the Secretary of 
Transportation to fund those airports that have the greatest conversion 
needs and/or where the benefits to the capacity of the air traffic 
control or airport system can be maximized, and/or the contribution to 
reducing congestion can be maximized. Generally, the recently approved 
BRAC or Title 10 Section 2678 closing or realigned bases or active 
bases with new joint use agreements will be the locations with the 
greatest conversion needs.
    1. The FAA will evaluate the candidate airports and/or the airports 
such candidates would relieve based on the following factors:
     Compatibility of airport roles;
     The capability of the candidate airport and its airside 
and landside complex to serve aircraft that otherwise must use the 
relieved airport;
     Landside surface access;
     Airport operational capability, including peak hour and 
annual throughput capacities of the candidate airport;
     Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve 
the congested airport;
     Ability to satisfy or meet air cargo demand within the 
metropolitan area;
     Forecasted aircraft and passenger levels, type of air 
carrier service anticipated, i.e., scheduled and/or charter air carrier 
service;
     Type of aircraft projected to serve the airport and level 
of operation at the relieved airport and the candidate airport;
     The potential for the candidate airport to be served by 
aircraft or users, including the airlines, serving the congested 
airport;
     Ability to replace an existing commercial service or 
reliever airport serving the area; and
     Any other documentation to support the FAA designation of 
the candidate airport.
    2. The FAA will evaluate the conversion and capacity related needs 
which, if funded would make the airport a more viable civil airport.
    This procedure conforms with FAA procedures for administering the 
Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 47118, 
as amended by Section 116 of Public Law 103-305 (August 23, 1994), and 
the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996.

Application Procedures

    Airport sponsors applying for consideration for inclusion 
(``candidate airports'' or ``Redesignation'') or continuation in the 
MAP (``current airports applying for continuation'') must complete a 
Standard Form 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' and submit 
documentation to the appropriate FAA office as outlined below. Each 
sponsor must specifically state in the Standard Form 424, or in its 
transmittal, that the airport is: (1) applying in response to this 
notice for consideration as a new candidate for the MAP; (2) if 
designated in 1994 or thereafter, that the airport is applying as a 
continuing participant in the MAP; or (3) applying for redesignation. 
The additional information and data required to support the MAP 
criteria must be attached to the Application.

Application Procedures and Required Documentation

New Candidate Airports and Airports Applying for Redesignation for 
Another Five-Year Term

    Submit an Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424, 
along with the documentation and justification indicated below to 
request designation by the Secretary of Transportation to participate 
in the Military Airport Program. This should identify the airport as 
either a current or former military airport and identify whether it was 
closed or realigned under Public Law 100-526, Public Law 101-510 
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and 
Closure Commissions), 10 U.S.C. 2687 (bases closed by DOD and reported 
to the General Services Administration) or a joint use of an active 
military airfield.

A. Qualifications for Additional Candidates

    For (1) through (6) below the applicant does not need to resubmit 
any documentation that has been previously submitted to the regional 
Airports division or Airports district office. There is no need to 
submit duplicate information in response to this notice.
    (1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a 
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. Section 47102(16).
    (2) Documentation that the required environmental review process 
for civil reuse or joint-use of the military airfield has been 
completed. (This is not the environmental review for the projects under 
this program, but the environmental review necessary for title 
transfer, a long term lease, or a joint use agreement). The 
environmental reviews and approvals must indicate that the airport 
would be able to receive grants during the five years in the program.
    (3) In the case of a former military airport, documentation that 
the local or State airport sponsor holds or will hold satisfactory 
title, a long term lease in furtherance of conveyance of property for 
airport purposes, or a long term interim lease for 22 years or more, to 
the property on which the civil airport is being located. The capital 
development project needs to be in place for 20 years. In the case of a 
current military airport, documentation that the airport sponsor has an 
existing joint-use agreement with the military department having 
jurisdiction over the airport. This is necessary so the FAA can legally 
issue grants to the sponsor.
    (4) Documentation that the service level the airport is expected to 
provide is a ``commercial service airport'' or a ``reliever airport'' 
as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(7) and 47102(18), respectively, and is 
included in the current National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.
    (5) Documentation that the airport has an eligible airport 
``sponsor'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(19).
    (6) Documentation that the airport has an approved airport layout 
plan (ALP) and a five year capital improvement plan indicating all 
eligible grant projects either seeking to be funded from the MAP or 
other portions of the Airport Improvement Program. The five year plan 
must also specifically identify the capacity and conversion related 
projects, associated costs and projected five year schedule of project 
construction, including those requested for consideration for 1998 MAP 
funding.
    (7) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of 
visual or

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instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the current or 
former military airport and, if applicable, the relieved airport. Also, 
if applicable, information on how the airport contributes to air 
traffic system or airport system capacity. If served by commercial air 
carriers, the revenue passenger and cargo levels should be provided.
    (8) A description of the projected civil role and development needs 
for transitioning from use as a military airfield to a civil airport, 
as appropriate, and how development projects would serve to convert the 
airport to civil use and/or reduce delays at an airport with more than 
20,000 hours of annual delay in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs 
and landings and/or how the projects would contribute to the airport 
and air traffic control system capacity in a metropolitan area or 
reduce current or projected flight delays.
    (9) A description of the existing airspace capacity. Describe how 
anticipated new operations would affect the surrounding airspace and 
air traffic flow patterns in the metropolitan area in or near which a 
current or former military airport is located. Include a discussion of 
the level to which operations at this airport create airspace conflicts 
that may cause congestion or whether air traffic works into the flow of 
other air traffic in the area.
    (10) A description of the five year capital improvement plan (CIP), 
including a discussion of major projects, their priorities, projected 
schedule for project accomplishment, and estimated costs. Capacity 
related and/or conversion related projects should be specifically 
identified, especially those that the airport sponsor proposes to fund 
under the MAP. A copy of the CIP should also be submitted.
    (11) A description of projects that are consistent with the role of 
the airport and effectively contribute to converting the airfield to a 
civil airport. Projects can be related to various improvement 
categories depending on the need to convert from military to civil 
airport use, to meet required civil airport standards, and/or required 
to provide capacity to the airport and/or airport system. The projects 
selected, i.e., safety related, conversion-related, and capacity-
related, must be identified and fully explained based on the airport's 
planned use. The sponsor needs to submit the airport layout plan (ALP) 
and other maps or charts that clearly identify and help clarify the 
eligible projects and designate them as conversion-related, or 
capacity-related. It should be cross referenced with the project costs 
and project descriptions. Projects that could be eligible under MAP if 
needed for conversion-related or capacity-related purposes include:
Airside
     Modification of airport or military airfield for safety 
purposes or airport pavements (including widths), marking, lighting or 
strengthening, and of structures or other features in the airport 
environs to meet civil standards for airport imaginary surfaces.
     Facilities or support facilities such as passenger 
terminal gates, aprons for passenger terminals, taxiways to new 
terminal facilities, aircraft parking, and cargo facilities to 
accommodate civil use.
     Modification of airport or military utilities (electrical 
distribution systems, communications lines, water, sewer, drainage) to 
meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow civil airport 
utilities to operate independently if other portions of the base are to 
parties other than the airport. (This is important where portions of 
the base are being transferred to an entity different from the airport 
sponsor.)
     Purchase, rehabilitation, or modification of airport and 
support facilities, including aircraft rescue and fire fighting 
buildings and equipment, airport security requirements, lighting 
vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation of buildings for more 
efficient civil airport operations, and snow removal equipment.
     Modification of airport or military airfield fuel systems 
and fuel farms to accommodate civil aviation activities.
     Acquisition of additional land for runway protection 
zones, other approach protection, or airport development.
Landside
     Construction of surface parking areas and access roads to 
accommodate automobiles in the airport terminal area and provide an 
adequate level of access to the airport.
     Construction or relocation of access roads to provide 
efficient and convenient movement of vehicular traffic to, on and from 
the airport, including access to passenger, air cargo, fixed base 
operations, and aircraft maintenance areas.
     Modification or construction of facilities such as 
passenger terminals, surface automobile parking, hangars, and access to 
cargo facilities to accommodate civil use.
    (12) An evaluation of the ability of surface transportation 
facilities (road, rail, high speed rail, maritime) to provide 
intermodal connections.
    (13) A description of the type and level of aviation and community 
interest in the civil use of a current or former military airport.
    (14) One copy of the FAA approved ALP for each copy of the 
application. The ALP or supporting information should clearly show 
capacity and conversion related projects. Also, other information such 
as project costs, schedule, project justification, other maps and 
drawings showing the project locations, and any other supporting 
documentation that would make the application easier to understand 
should be included.

Current Airports Applying for Continuation

    B. Airports with less than five years in the MAP need to submit the 
following in order to respond to this notice and remain in the program.
    (1) An Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424, along 
with the documentation and justification indicated below to request 
participation in the Military Airport Program. Identify the airport as 
one with less than five years in the MAP applying for continuation.
    (2) Identify the existing and potential levels of visual or 
instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the current or 
former military airport and the relieved airport if there is any change 
from the previous information submitted.
    (3) Provide a detailed discussion of the projected civil role and 
continuing development needs for converting a military airfield to a 
civil airport, and/or how development projects would reduce delays at 
an airport with more than 20,000 hours of annual delay in commercial 
passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings, if applicable.
    (4) Describe the five year CIP, including a discussion of major 
projects, their priorities, projected schedule for project 
accomplishment, and estimated costs, annotated and identified as 
capacity related, and/or conversion related purposes.
    (5) Submit one copy of the FAA approved ALP for each copy of the 
application. The ALP should clearly show the CIP projects. Also include 
any other information or drawings that would show and/or clarify the 
five year plan identifying capacity, and conversion related projects, 
associated costs, schedule, and project justification.
    Airports that have already submitted this information for the 1997 
Military Airport Program and have been continued only need to submit 
updated information and changes in order to continue receiving grants 
under this program.

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Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for 
Another Five-Year Term in the Program

    C. Airports applying for another five years in the Military Airport 
Program need to submit the information required by new candidate 
airports applying for a new designation. They need to explain in their 
application why another five-year term is needed to accomplish the 
conversion to the civil role of the airport.
    This notice is issued pursuant to section 49 U.S.C. 47118.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on May 20, 1998.
Paul L. Galis,
Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 98-13998 Filed 5-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P