[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56369-56370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28003]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
To Conduct Environmental Scoping for Improvements to the Gary/Chicago 
Airport in Gary, IN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and to hold 
a public scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement or 
other appropriate environmental documentation will be prepared to 
assess certain improvements to the Gary/Chicago Airport. The 
environmental review will assess improvements associated with the 
existing air carrier Runway 12-30, including railroad relocation and 
improved runway safety areas; an extension of the existing air carrier 
Runway 12-30; expansion of the existing terminal site; and analysis of 
sites for new passenger terminal and air cargo areas. A public scoping 
process will be held in order that all significant issues related to 
the proposed actions are identified.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael W. MacMullen, Airports 
Environmental Program Manager, Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago 
Airports District Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 
60018. Mr. MacMullen can be contacted at (847) 294-7522 (voice), (847) 
294-7046 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the request of the Gary/Chicago Airport 
Authority, the FAA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement or 
other appropriate environmental documentation. The review will address 
specific improvements of Gary/Chicago Airport as identified during the 
2001 Airport Master Plan process and shown on the 2001 Airport Layout 
Plan. The following improvements have been grouped in four categories 
and are identified as ripe for review and decision: Improvements 
associated with Existing Runway 12-30, the primary air carrier runway 
at the airport, relocate E.J. & E Railroad, acquire land northwest of 
airport to allow for modifications to runway safety area, relocate 
airside perimeter roadway, relocate Runway 12-30 navaids, improve 
Runway Safety Area for Runway 12, relocate Runway 12 threshold to 
remove prior displacement, and acquire land southeast of airport, 
located within or immediately adjacent to runway protection zone; 
Extension of Runway 12-30, including acquire land or rights northwest 
of existing runway, relocate/bury power lines, relocate airside 
perimeter roadway, extend Runway 12-30 (1,900 feet by 150 feet), 
relocate Runway 12-30 navaids, displace Runway 30 threshold using 
declared distance standards, extend parallel taxiway A to new end of 
Runway 12, construct deicing hold pads on Taxiway A at Runway 12 and 
Runway 30, and develop two high-speed exit taxiways; Expansion of 
existing passenger terminal to accommodate projected demands; taxiways; 
Expansion of existing passenger terminal to accommodate projected 
demands; and analysis of sites adjacent to extended runway for aviation 
related development, including new passenger terminal and air cargo 
areas.
    The purpose and need for these improvements will be reviewed in the 
environmental documentation. All reasonable alternatives will be 
considered including the no-action alternative.
    Copies of a scoping document with additional detail can be obtained 
by contacting the FAA informational contact person identified above. 
Federal, State, and local agencies and

[[Page 56370]]

other interested parties are invited to make comments and suggestions 
to ensure that the full range of issues related to these proposed 
actions are addressed and all significant issues identified. The FAA 
informational contact person identified above should receive these 
comments and suggestions by December 19, 2001.
    Public Scoping Meeting: To facilitate receipt of comments, two 
public scoping meetings will be held on December 5, 2001 at the Gary/
Chicago Airport, 6001 Industrial Highway, Gary, Indiana. The first 
meeting will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for Federal, State, and 
local agencies in the administrative offices. The second meeting will 
be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for other interested parties in the 
passenger terminal facility.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on October 30, 2001.
Philip M. Smithmeyer,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 01-28003 Filed 11-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M