[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 56371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27992]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment; Panama City-Bay 
County International Airport; Panama City, FL

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 Assessment (EA) 
will be prepared to consider alternatives to meet forecast growth in 
aviation demand in the Panama City-Bay County region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Virginia Lane, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950 Hazeltine 
National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32822-5024, 407/812-6331, 
Extension 29.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA intends to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to address environmental and related impacts expected 
to be associated with meeting forecast growth in aviation demand in the 
Panama City-Bay County region.
    The EA will be developed, prepared, and processed such that it can 
be converted to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in a timely 
fashion, should the EA indicate that the project will likely result in 
significant environmental impacts and that a Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) is not appropriate.
    The Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN), owned and 
operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District, 
is located approximately five miles northwest of he central business 
district of Panama City, Florida. PFN has two 150-foot wide runways, 
Runway 5-23 and Runway 14-32. Runway 5-23 measures 4,888 feet in length 
and is primarily used by general aviation aircraft. Runway 14-32, with 
a length of 6,304 feet, serves as the primary runway for commercial 
airline service at PFN.
    During the 1990's, an Environmental Assessment was initiated to 
consider alternatives to provide an 8,000-foot runway at PFN. This 
study recommended an extension of Runway 14-32 to the northwest into 
Goose Bayou to provide additional runway length. However, the proposed 
runway extension would have environmental impacts to Class II waters 
that are protected under state law. Due to opposition to the runway 
extension, the Environmental Assessment was deferred in 1998.
    With support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the 
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)), the Panama City-Bay 
County International Airport Authority initiated an effort to study the 
feasibility of relocating or expanding the airport facilities in 1999. 
The Airport Feasibility Study resulted in a determination that 
relocation of the airport was technically feasible.
    This Environmental Assessment (EA) will include evaluation of a no 
action alternative and other reasonable alternatives that may be 
identified during the agency and public scoping meetings.
    Public Scoping: Although formal scoping is not required for an EA, 
public and agency scoping sessions will be conducted at the initiation 
of the EA. This action is being conducted to help to identify the scope 
of issues to be addressed, assist in the identification of 
alternatives, and aid in the identification of any potentially 
significant issues related to the proposed action.
    The FAA will hold a scoping meeting to solicit input from Federal, 
State, and local agencies which have jurisdiction by law or have a 
specific expertise with respect to any environmental impacts associated 
with the project. In addition, a public scoping meeting will be held 
and the public may submit written comments on the scope of the 
environmental study to the address identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph. A separate Public Notice will be issued 
to provide the date, time and place of the scoping meetings and the 
period for written comments.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Orlando, Florida, October 30, 2001.
John W. Reynolds,
Acting Manager, Orlando Airports Districts Office.
[FR Doc. 01-27992 Filed 11-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-M