[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 189 (Thursday, September 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 58305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24935]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Atlantic City International Airport, NJ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare and consider an environmental 
impact statement and to conduct agency and public scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared and considered for proposed improvements at 
Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey. In addition, to ensure 
that all major project-related issues are identified, agency scoping 
and public scoping meetings will be held. The New Jersey Pinelands 
Commission will be a cooperating agency on the EIS.
    Scoping meetings will be held to determine the scope of the EIS and 
to identify the major project-related issues to be addressed and 
emphasized in the EIS. The FAA hereby invites the participation of 
Federal, State and local agencies, any affected Indian tribe, the 
proponent of the action, and any other interested parties.
    Two scoping meetings are planned: The first is an agency scoping 
meeting intended for organizations having jurisdiction by law or 
specific expertise with respect to any environmental impacts associated 
with the action; the second is a public meeting intended for other 
interested parties (including those who may not be in accord with the 
action on environmental grounds). However, both are open to the public.
    The FAA further invites agencies, organizations, and the general 
public to provide written comments relative to the action and the 
issues to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping comments should clearly 
describe specific issues or topics that the commentator believes the 
EIS should address.

DATES: The scoping meetings are scheduled for Wednesday November 1st, 
2000. The agency scoping meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the public 
scoping meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The meetings will be held at 
the Egg Harbor Township Municipal Building Court Room, 3515 Bargantown 
Road, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234. Written comments will be 
accepted through November 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be included on a mailing 
list of persons interested in the EIS should be send to Daisy Mather, 
Federal Aviation Administration Eastern Region, Airports Division, AEA-
610, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, New York 11434.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daisy Mather, Federal Aviation 
Administration Eastern Region, Airports Division, AEA-610, 1 Aviation 
Plaza, Jamaica, New York 11434; telephone (718) 553-2511; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Jersey Transportation Authority 
(SJTA) has completed a master plan update and an environmental 
assessment (EA) for the proposed future development projects at 
Atlantic City International Airport. Because the potential for 
significant environmental impacts was determined during the EA process, 
the EA was not approved and the FAA determined that preparation of an 
EIS was necessary.
    The proposed airport development actions involve numerous airside 
and landside improvements to be developed over several years, such that 
some projects will be implemented upon completion of the EIS, while 
others will be implemented as demand necessitates. Major airside 
projects identified for analysis include, but are not limited to, the 
following: Runway and taxiway extension, taxiway relocation, high-speed 
taxiway exits, runway and taxiway pavement rehabilitation, airfield 
lighting electrical improvements, a deicing facility, and a Category II 
Instrument Landing System (CAT II ILS).
    Major landside projects identified for analysis include, but are 
not limited to, the following: Passenger terminal and terminal apron 
expansion, a multi-level parking garage, surface parking improvements, 
a new access roadway, a rent-a-car service center, a hotel/conference 
facility, general aviation hangars with apron, a snow-removal equipment 
storage building, and an aircraft cargo/maintenance complex.
    The airport is located in the Pinelands National Reserve, an 
internationally important ecological region that is 1.1 million acres 
in size and occupies 22 percent of New Jersey's land area. The 
environmental issues of concern for evaluation in the EIS are 
anticipated to be very similar to those evaluated in the EA process, 
including water quality, threatened and endangered species, biotic 
communities, wetlands, air quality, secondary impacts and cumulative 
impacts. Other issues that will be addressed in the EIS include 
potential impacts to flood plains, noise, cultural resources, 
utilities, hazardous materials, and environmental justice.
    With regard to project alternatives, the EIS will include an 
analysis of a variety of alternatives considered during project 
planning. In addition to the proposed action and the no action 
alternatives, the analysis will include individual project site 
locations, mitigation alternatives, and other alternatives that may 
arise from the scoping process.

    Issued on September 22, 2000, in Jamaica, New York.
Robert B. Mendez,
Manager, Airports Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 00-24935 Filed 9-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M