[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66703-66706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27726]


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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 Military 
Airport Program (MAP)

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

ACTION: Notice of criteria and application procedure for designation or 
redesignation, for the fiscal year 2003 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 or redesignating, and funding capital development annually 
for 15 current (joint-use) or former military airports seeking 
designation or redesignation to participate in the MAP. This Notice 
reflects and incorporates changes made to MAP in the Wendell H. Ford 
Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century.
    The MAP allows the Secretary to designate current (joint-use) or 
former military airports for which grants may be made under the Airport 
Improvement Program (AIP). The Secretary is authorized to designate an 
airport (other than an airport so designated before August 24, 1994) 
if: (1) The airport is a former military installation closed or 
realigned under the Title 10 U.S.C. 2687 announcement of closures of 
large Department of Defense installations after September 30, 1977, or 
under section 201 or 2905 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and 
Base Closure and Realignment Acts; or (2) the airport is a military 
installation with both military and civil aircraft operations. The 
Secretary shall consider for designation only those current or former 
military airports, at least partly converted to civilian airports as 
part of the national air transportation system, that will reduce delays 
at airports with more than 20,000 hours of annual delays in commercial 
passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings, or will enhance

[[Page 66704]]

airport and air traffic control system capacity in metropolitan areas 
or reduce current and projected flight delays (49 U.S.C. 47118(c)).

DATES: Airport sponsors should address written applications for new 
designation and redesignation in the MAP to the FAA Regional Airports 
Division or Airports District Office that serves the airport. That 
office of the FAA must receive applications on or before December 6, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit an original and two copies of Standard Form (SF) 424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' prescribed by the Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-102, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/index.html, along with any supporting and 
justifying documentation. Applicant should specifically request to be 
considered for designation or redesignation to participate in the 
fiscal year 2003 MAP. Submission should be sent to the Regional FAA 
Airports Division or Airports District Office that serves the airport. 
Applicants may find the proper office on the FAA web site http://www.faa.gov/arp/arphome.htm or may contact the office below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Murdock ([email protected]) 
or Leonard C. Sandelli ([email protected]), Military Airport Program 
Branch (APP-420), Office of Airport Planning and Programming, Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC, 20591, (202) 267-8244, or (202) 267-8785, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Description of the Program

    The MAP provides capital development assistance to civil airport 
sponsors of designated current (joint-use) military airfields or former 
military airports that are included in the FAA's National Plan of 
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Airports designated under the 
program may obtain funds from a set-aside (currently four percent) of 
AIP discretionary funds to undertake eligible airport development, 
including certain types of projects not otherwise eligible for AIP 
assistance. Such airports may also be eligible to receive grants from 
other categories of AIP funding.

Number of Airports

    A maximum of 15 airports per fiscal year may participate in the MAP 
at any time. There are 5 slots available for designation or 
redesignation in FY 2003. One airport may be designated as a general 
aviation airport.

Term of Designation

    The maximum period of eligibility for any airport to participate in 
the MAP is five fiscal years following designation. An airport sponsor 
having previously been in the program may apply for redesignation and, 
if found to satisfy the designation criteria upon reapplication, may 
have the opportunity to participate for subsequent periods, each not to 
exceed five fiscal years. The FAA can designate airports for a period 
less than five years. The FAA will evaluate the conversion needs of the 
airport in its five-year capital development plan to determine the 
appropriate length of designation.

Redesignation

    Title 49 of the United States Code 47118(d), permits previously 
designated airports to apply for redesignation. Applicants reapplying 
need to meet current eligibility criteria set forth at 49 U.S.C. 
47118(a). Redesignation will be considered largely in terms of 
warranted projects fundable under AIP solely through the MAP, such as 
utility systems, surface parking, hangars, fuel farms, and air cargo 
terminals up to 50,000 square feet. The airport must have MAP eligible 
projects and the airport must continue to satisfy the designation 
criteria for the MAP. The FAA will carefully scrutinize applications 
for redesignation, since redesignation candidates tend to have lesser 
conversion needs than new candidates. The FAA desires that MAP airports 
graduate to regular AIP participation.

Eligible Projects

    In addition to other eligible AIP projects, passenger terminal 
facilities, fuel farms, utility systems, surface automobile parking 
lots, hangars, and air cargo terminals up to 50,000 square feet of 
floor space are all eligible to be funded from the MAP. Designated or 
redesignated military airports can receive not more than $7,000,000 
each fiscal year for projects to construct, improve, or repair terminal 
building facilities. Also, designated or redesignated military airports 
can receive not more than a total of $7,000,000 for MAP eligible 
projects that include hangars, cargo facilities, fuel farms, automobile 
surface parking, and utility work.

Designation Considerations

    In making designations of new candidate airports, the Secretary of 
Transportation may only designate an airport (other than an airport so 
designated before August 24, 1994) if it meets the following general 
requirements:
    (I)(1) The airport is a former military installation closed or 
realigned under--
    (A) Section 2687 of title 10;
    (B) Section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base 
Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
    (C) Section 2905 of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 
1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
    (2) The airport is a military installation with both military and 
civil aircraft operations.
    (II) The airport is classified as a commercial service or reliever 
airport in the NPIAS. One of the designated airports, if included in 
the NPIAS, may be a general aviation (GA) airport (public airport other 
than an air carrier airport, 14 CFR 152.3) that was a former military 
installation closed or realigned under BRAC, as amended, or 10 U.S.C. 
2687 (49 U.S.C. 47118(g)). A general aviation airport must qualify 
under (1) above.
    (III) In designating new candidate airports, the Secretary shall 
consider if a grant would:
    (1) Reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of 
annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings; 
or
    (2) Enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in a 
metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight delays.
    The application for new designations will be evaluated in terms of 
how the proposed airport and associated projects would contribute to 
congestion relief and/or how the airport would enhance air traffic or 
airport system capacity and provide adequate user services.

Project Evaluation

    Recently approved Base Realignment and Closure Acts or Title 10 
U.S.C. 2678 military airports as well as active military airfields with 
new joint use agreements will be in the greatest need of funding to 
convert to or to incorporate civil airport operations successfully. 
Newly converted airports and new joint-use locations frequently have 
minimal capital development resources and will therefore receive 
priority consideration for designation and MAP funding. The FAA will 
evaluate the need for eligible projects based upon information in the 
candidate airport's five year Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP). 
Of particular concern is whether these projects are related to 
development of that airport and/or the air traffic control system. It 
is the intent of the Secretary of Transportation to fund those airport

[[Page 66705]]

projects where the benefits to the capacity of the air traffic control 
or airport systems can be maximized, and/or where the contribution to 
reducing congestion can be maximized.
    1. The FAA will evaluate the candidate airports and/or the airports 
such candidate airports would relieve based on the following specific 
factors:
    [sbull] Compatibility of airport roles and the ability of the 
airport to provide an adequate airport facility;
    [sbull] The capability of the candidate airport and its airside and 
landside complex to serve aircraft that otherwise must use the relieved 
airport;
    [sbull] Landside surface access;
    [sbull] Airport operational capability, including peak hour and 
annual capacities of the candidate airport;
    [sbull] Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve 
the congested airport;
    [sbull] Ability to satisfy, relieve or meet air cargo demand within 
the metropolitan area;
    [sbull] Forecasted aircraft and passenger levels, type of 
commercial service anticipated, i.e., scheduled and/or charter 
commercial service;
    [sbull] Type and capacity of aircraft projected to serve the 
airport and level of operations at the relieved airport and the 
candidate airport;
    [sbull] The potential for the candidate airport to be served by 
aircraft or users, including the airlines, serving the congested 
airport;
    [sbull] Ability to replace an existing commercial service or 
reliever airport serving the area; and
    [sbull] Any other documentation to support the FAA designation of 
the candidate airport.
    2. The FAA will evaluate the development needs that, if funded, 
would make the airport a viable civil airport that will enhance system 
capacity or reduce delays. Newly closed installations or airport 
sponsors with new joint-use agreements with existing military aviation 
facilities will be strongly considered for designation since they tend 
to have the greatest conversion needs.

Application Procedures and Required Documentation

    Airport sponsors applying for designation or redesignation must 
complete and submit an SF 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' 
and supporting documentation to the appropriate FAA office serving that 
airport. In Item 15a of the SF 424, the applicant must indicate the 
total amount of funding requested from the MAP during the entire term 
for which it is applying. The SF 424 must indicate whether it is an 
initial application or reapplication for the MAP, and must be 
accompanied by the documentation and justification listed below:

(A) Identification as Current or Former Military Airport

    The application must identify the airport as either a current or 
former military airport and indicate whether it was:
    (1) Closed or realigned under section 201 of the Defense 
Authorization Amendments and Base Realignment and Closure Act, and/or 
section 2905 of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990 
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and 
Closure Commissions), or
    (2) Closed or realigned pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2687 as excess 
property (bases announced for closure by DOD pursuant to this title 
after September 30, 1977 (this is the date of announcement for closure 
and not the date of the deed to the airport sponsor)), or
    (3) A military installation with both military and civil aircraft 
operations. The general aviation airport may be joint use but must 
qualify under (1) or (2) above.

(B) Qualifications for MAP

    For (1) through (7) below the applicant does not need to resubmit 
any unchanged documentation that has been previously submitted to the 
Regional Airports Division or Airports District Office.
    (1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a 
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(16).
    (2) Documentation indicating that the required environmental review 
process for civil reuse or joint-use of the military airfield has been 
completed. This environmental review need not include review of the 
individual projects to be funded by the MAP. Rather, the documentation 
should reflect that the environmental review necessary to convey the 
property, enter into a long-term lease, or sign a joint use agreement 
has been completed. The military department conveying or leasing the 
property, or entering into a joint use agreement, generally has the 
lead responsibility for this environmental review. The environmental 
review and approvals must indicate that the operator or owner of the 
airport has good title, satisfactory to the Secretary, or gives 
assurance that good title will be acquired, to meet AIP requirements.
    (3) In the case of a former military airport, documentation that 
the eligible 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 25 years or more, to the 
property on which the civil airport is being located. Documentation 
that an application for surplus or BRAC airport property has been 
accepted by the Government is sufficient to indicate the eligible 
airport sponsor holds or will hold adequate title or a long-term lease.
    (4) 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. In (3) 
and (4) above, the airport must possess the necessary property rights 
in order to accept a grant for its proposed projects during FY 2003.
    (5) Documentation that the airport is classified as a ``commercial 
service airport'' or a ``reliever airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 
47102(7) and 47102(18), unless it is applying for the general aviation 
slot.
    (6) Documentation that the airport owner is an eligible airport 
``sponsor'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(19).
    (7) Documentation that the airport has an approved airport layout 
plan (ALP) and a five-year Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP) 
indicating all eligible grant projects proposed to be funded either 
from the MAP or other portions of the AIP.
    (8) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of 
visual or 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.
    (9) A description of the airport's projected civil role and 
development needs for transitioning from use as a military airfield to 
a civil airport, including how development projects would serve to 
reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of annual 
delays by commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings or 
enhance capacity in a metropolitan area.
    (10) 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

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whether air traffic works into the flow of other air traffic in the 
area.
    (11) A description of the airport's five-year ACIP, including a 
discussion of major projects, their priorities, projected schedule for 
project accomplishment, and estimated costs. The ACIP must specifically 
identify the safety, capacity and conversion related projects, 
associated costs, and projected five-year schedule of project 
construction, including those requested for consideration for MAP 
funding.
    (12) A description of those projects that are consistent with the 
role of the airport and effectively contribute to the joint use or 
conversion of the airfield to a civil airport. The projects can be 
related to various improvement categories depending on what is needed 
to convert from military to civil airport use, to meet required civil 
airport standards, and/or to provide capacity to the airport and/or 
airport system. The projects selected; i.e., safety-related, 
conversion-related, and/or capacity-related, must be identified and 
fully explained based on the airport's planned use. Those projects that 
may be eligible under MAP, if needed for conversion or capacity-related 
purposes, must be clearly indicated, and include the following 
information:
Airside
    [sbull] Modification of airport or military airfield for safety 
purposes, including airport pavement modifications (i.e. widening), 
marking, lighting, strengthening, drainage or modifying other 
structures or features in the airport environs to meet civil standards 
for airport imaginary surfaces as described in 14 CFR part 77.
    [sbull] Construction of 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.
    [sbull] Modification of airport or military utilities (electrical 
distribution systems, communications lines, water, sewer, storm 
drainage) to meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow 
utilities on the civil airport to operate independently, where other 
portions of the base are conveyed to entities other than the airport 
sponsor or retained by the Government.
    [sbull] Purchase, rehabilitation, or modification of airport and 
airport support facilities and equipment, including snow removal, 
aircraft rescue, fire fighting buildings and equipment, airport 
security, lighting vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation of 
eligible buildings for more efficient civil airport operations.
    [sbull] Modification of airport or military airfield fuel systems 
and fuel farms to accommodate civil aviation use.
    [sbull] Acquisition of additional land for runway protection zones, 
other approach protection, or airport development.
    [sbull] Cargo facility requirements.
    [sbull] Modifications which will permit the airfield to accommodate 
general aviation users.
Landside
    [sbull] Construction of surface parking areas and access roads to 
accommodate automobiles in the airport terminal and air cargo areas and 
provide an adequate level of access to the airport.
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] Modification or construction of facilities such as 
passenger terminals, surface automobile parking lots, hangars, air 
cargo terminal buildings, and access roads to cargo facilities to 
accommodate civil use.
    (13) An evaluation of the ability of surface transportation 
facilities (road, rail, high-speed rail, maritime) to provide 
intermodal connections.
    (14) A description of the type and level of aviation and community 
interest in the civil use of a current or former military airport.
    (15) 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. These maps and ALP's should be cross-referenced 
with the project costs and project descriptions.

Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for up to 
an Additional Five Years in the Program

    Airports applying for redesignation to the Military Airport Program 
should submit the same information required by new candidate airports 
applying for a new designation. On the SF 424, Application for Federal 
Assistance, prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget Circular 
A-102, airports must indicate their application is for redesignation to 
the MAP. In addition to the above information, they must explain:
    (1) Why a redesignation and additional MAP eligible project funding 
is needed to accomplish the conversion to meet the civil role of the 
airport and the preferred time period for redesignation;
    (2) Why funding of eligible work under other categories of AIP or 
other sources of funding would not accomplish the development needs of 
the airport;
    (3) Why, based on the previously funded MAP projects, the projects 
and/or funding level were insufficient to accomplish the airport 
conversion needs and development goals; and
    (4) The term of the redesignation, not to exceed five years, for 
which the airport is applying.
    This notice is issued pursuant to Title 49 U.S.C. 47118.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2002.
Benito De Leon,
Deputy Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 02-27726 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P