[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 56 (Thursday, March 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15156-15157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision (ROD) on Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Master Plan Development 
Including Runway Safety Area Enhancement/Extension of Runway 12-30 and 
Other Improvements at Gary/Chicago International Airport Located in 
Gary, IN

AGENCY: , Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION:  Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a Record of Decision (ROD) has been 
approved and issued for the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS)--Master Plan Development Including Runway Safety Area 
Enhancement/Extension of Runway 12-30 and Other Improvements, Gary/
Chicago International Airport. Written requests for the ROD can be 
submitted to the individual listed in the section FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. The Record of Decision was approved on March 17, 
2005.
    Public Availability: Copies of the Record of Decision and the Final 
Environemtnal Impact Statement (the environmental document on which the 
decision is based) are available for public information review during 
regular business hours at the following locations:
    1. Gary/Chicago International Airport, 6001 West Industrial 
Highway, Gary, Indiana 46406.
    2. Chicago Airports District Office, Room 312, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.
    3. Gary Public Library, 220 West 5th Avenue, Gary, Indiana 46402.
    4. Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond, Indiana 
46320.
    5. East Chicago Main Library, 2401 East Columbus Drive, East 
Chicago, Indiana 46312.
    6. IU Northwest Library, 3400 Broadway, Gary Indiana 46408.
    7. Lake County Main Library, 1919 West 81st Avenue, Merrillville, 
Indiana 46410-5382.
    8. Purdue Calumet Library, 2200 169th Street, Hammond, Indiana 
46323-2094.
    9. Whiting Library, 1735 Oliver Street, Whiting, Indiana 46394.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Prescott C. Snyder, Airports 
Environmental Program Manager, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Airports Division, Room 315, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018. Mr. Snyder can be contacted at (847) 294-7538 (voice), 
(847) 294-7036 (facsimile) or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the request of the Gary/Chicago Airport 
Authority, the FAA prepared an Environemtnal Impact Statement, which 
has now culminated in FAA issuing a Record of Decision. The 
environmental process summarized in the Record of Decision addressed 
specific improvements at the Gary/Chicago International Airport as 
identified during the 2001 Airport Master Plan process and the 2003 
Railroad Relocation Study, and shown on the 2001 Airport Layout Plan. 
The following improvements have been grouped into four categories and 
are identified as ripe for review and decision: (1) Improvements 
associated with the existing Runway 12-30, the primary air carrier 
runway at the airport, relocate the E.J. & E. Railroad, acquire land 
northwest of the airport to allow for modifications to the runway 
safety area, relocate the airside perimeter roadway (including 
providing a southwest access roadway), relocate the Runway 12-30 
navaids, improve the Runway Safety Area for Runway 12, relocate the 
Runway 12 threshold to remove prior displacement, and acquire land 
southeast of the airport, located within or immediately adjacent to the 
runway protection zone; (2) Extension of Runway 12-30, (1356 feet), 
relocate the Runway 12-30 navaids, extend parallel taxiway A to the 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; (3) Expansion 
of the existing passenger terminal to accommodate current needs and 
forecast growth; and (4) acquisition/ reservation and remediation as 
necessary site areas for potential aviation related development, but 
not including approval of construction new passenger terminal and air 
cargo facilities, which would be subject to separate environmental 
analysis and approval.
    The purpose and need for these improvements is found in the FEIS 
and summarized in the Record of Decision. All reasonable alternatives 
have been considered including the no-action alternative. The Federal 
Aviation Administration's proposed actions in addition to the issuance 
of an environmental finding are:
    A. Environmental approval under existing or future FAA criteria of 
project eligibility for Federal grant-in-aid funds (49 U.S.C. 47101 et. 
seq.) and/or Passenger Facility Charges (49 U.S.C. 40117), that include 
the elements as set forth in the FEIS, subject to the conditions set 
forth under ``FAA Determination'' in Chapter 1 of the Record of 
Decision as well as the restrictions set forth in Paragraph 583.b of 
FAA Order 5100.38B (``the AIP Handbook''):
    B. Unconditional approval of a revised ALP, based on determinations 
through the aeronautical study process regarding obstructions to 
navigable airspace, and no FAA objection to the airport development 
proposal from an airspace perspective. Not included in this approval of 
the revised ALP are the following airport improvements shown on the ALP 
that require future environmental processing:
    1. Construction of the south parallel taxiway to Runway 12-30
    2. Future cargo area development (aprons, taxiways, auto parking 
lots, buildings, etc.) south of the end of extended Runway 12

[[Page 15157]]

    3. Future passenger terminal area development (aprons, taxiways, 
auto parking lots, buildings, etc.) north of the end of extended Runway 
12
    4. Partial dual taxiway north of extended Taxiway A from Taxiway A 
to the proposed passenger terminal area
    5. Proposed maintenance facility (Boeing Hangar) expansion
    C. Approval for relocation and/or upgrade of various navigational 
aids. Also, the establishment or modification of existing instrument 
approach procedures by the National Flight Procedures Office for 
aircraft using instrument procedures to Runway 30.
    D. Review and subsequent approval of an amended Airport 
Certification Manual for Gary/Chicago International Airport (per 14 CFR 
part 139).

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, on March 17, 2005.
Larry H. Ladendorf,
Assistant Manager, Airports Division, FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 05-5840 Filed 3-23-05; 8:45 am]
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