[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7646-7647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3599]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Intent To Provide an O'Hare International Airport 
Environmental Impact Statement Public Information Meeting in Schiller 
Park, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Issuance of a Notice 
of Intent (NOI) to Conduct an Informational Meeting with Regard to the 
Ongoing Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Modernization 
Program for O'Hare International Airport.

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

SUMMARY: This NOI announces the FAA's intention to conduct a Public 
Information Meeting on behalf of the FAA's ongoing Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the proposed Modernization Program for O'Hare 
International Airport. The Airport is located in Chicago, Illinois. Due 
both to the anticipated high level of interest in matters pertaining to 
O'Hare International Airport, and FAA's desire to more fully involve 
and accommodate potentially interested persons, agencies, and other 
entities, the FAA has decided to conduct a Public Information Meeting 
focused on the status of the ongoing EIS, with special emphasis on 
project purpose and need matters. The information meeting will be co-
hosted

[[Page 7647]]

with the Chicago Department of Aviation (DOA), and it will be conducted 
as follows: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the 
Mirage Banquets facility at the Four Points Sheraton O'Hare hotel 
located at 10249 West Irving Park Road in Schiller Park, Illinois. A 
number of display boards illustrating the current status of the ongoing 
EIS and describing FAA's conceptualization of key project purpose and 
need criteria (as well as a number of the Airport's key present and 
projected operational problems) will be available for inspection. Staff 
of FAA and its Third Party EIS Contractor will be available at the 
Public Information Meeting to answer questions. Forms for providing 
written comments to FAA by interested parties on the matters presented 
by FAA in the Public Information Meeting will also be provided. FAA is 
requesting that comments be submitted by the close of business on 
Monday, April 21, 2003.
    Representatives of the DOA will be available to offer information 
on its Airport Layout Plan (ALP), on its analysis of runway options, on 
its facility requirements, and on its concept for development of the 
Airport.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA previously decided to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing specific improvements 
at and adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. As presently 
conceived, the runway construction component of the O'Hare 
Modernization Program would involve: a new North Runway 9-27, a 
relocation of existing Runway 18-36 (Arrival Runway 9R-27L), a 
relocation of existing Runway 14L-32R (arrival Runway 9L-27R), a 
relocation of existing Runway 14R-32L (South Runway 9-27), an extension 
of existing Runway 9R-27L, and an extension of existing Runway 9L-27R. 
Overall, the proposed project as presently conceived would result in 
O'Hare International Airport ultimately having a total of eight 
runways: six parallel east-west runways, and two parallel runways 
oriented in the northeast-southwest direction. In addition, the O'Hare 
Modernization Program could also potentially involve relocation of some 
or all existing navigation aids, placement of new navigation aids, 
revision to existing air traffic control procedures, provision of a new 
western access to the Airport, additional terminal facilities, and 
various roadway and rail line relocations. Finally, the potential 
acquisition of approximately 539 housing units, 109 businesses, and 433 
acres of property outside of the Airport's present boundaries is also 
envisioned. The purpose and need for the above-identified improvements 
will be presented and reviewed in detail within FAA's forthcoming EIS. 
In addition, reasonable alternatives, including the ``no-build,'' will 
be considered, as appropriate.
    Interested parties are invited to attend the Public Information 
Meeting and also to provide written comments to FAA. The FAA 
informational contact person identified above should receive any 
written comments by no later than the close of business on Monday, 
April 21, 2003.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on February 6, 2003.
Philip M. Smithmeyer,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 03-3599 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M