[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60239-60240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29888]


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

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: Corrected notice to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and to hold a public scoping meeting.

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

SUMMARY: Previous notices to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and to conduct a public scoping meting for the Gary/Chicago Airport 
were published in the Federal Register on November 07, 2001 (page 
56369) and on November 16, 2001 (page 57770). Due both to the 
anticipated high level of interest in matters pertaining to the Gary/
Chicago Airport, and a desire to fully accommodate persons, agencies 
and other potentially interested entities, the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) is issuing this corrected 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. This corrected notice changes 
the comment receipt date from December 27, 2001 to January 29, 2002 and 
also changes the scoping meeting date from December 13, 2001 to January 
15, 2002. The environmental review will assess various 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; 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 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 
January 29, 2002.
    Public Scoping Meeting: To facilitate receipt of comments, two 
public scoping meetings will be held on January 15,

[[Page 60240]]

2002 at the Gary/Chicago Airport, 6001 Industrial Highway, Gary, 
Indiana. The first meeting will be held between 10 am and 2 pm Central 
Standard Time for Federal, State, and local agencies in the 
administrative offices. The second meeting will be held from 3 PM to 7 
PM Central Standard Time for other interested parties in the passenger 
terminal facility.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on November 19, 2001.
Philip M. Smithmeyer,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 01-29888 Filed 11-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-33-M