[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 28595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9921]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the Proposed New Air Traffic Control Tower at the St. Louis Downtown 
Airport in Cahokia, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the proposed new Air Traffic Control Tower at the St. Louis Downtown 
Airport in Cahokia, Illinois.

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SUMMARY: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prepared and is 
making available the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the 
following proposed action at the St. Louis Downtown Airport: The 
construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower, associated support 
building, parking lot, and access road.
    The Draft EA is being prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, FAA Order 1050.1E 
``Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures'', and FAA Order 
5050.4A, ``Airport Environmental Handbook.'' The proposed development 
action is consistent with the National Airspace System Plan prepared by 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA).
    A Draft Environmental Assessment will be available for public 
review and comment at the following locations:

St. Louis Downtown Airport, Administration Office, 1680 Sauget 
Industrial Parkway, Sauget, IL 62206-1449.
Cahokia Public Library, 140 Cahokia Park Drive, Cahokia, IL 62206.

ADDRESSES: Written comments are encouraged from persons or interested 
parties. Written comments concerning the Draft EA will be accepted 
until 5 p.m. c.s.t., Tuesday, June 15, 2005. Written comments may be 
sent to: Ms. Virginia Marcks, ANI-430, Federal Aviation Administration, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Virginia Marcks, Environmental 
Engineer, ANI-430, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon 
Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. Telephone number: (847) 294-7494.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The existing ATCT at the St. Louis Downtown Airport was built in 
1973 and soon after was expanded by the addition of a mobile office 
trailer to house administrative personnel. The current tower stands 
approximately 52 feet in height with a controller's eye height of 
approximately 41 feet. Continual visibility problems, due to existing 
trees in an adjacent residential development, impeded the controller's 
line of sight for airfield movement areas and runway approaches. The 
visibility problem, due to trees obscuring significant portions of two 
runway ends, 4 and 30L, is ongoing and worsening. The proposed ATCT, 
with a total elevation of 138' Above Ground Level (AGL) and a 
controller eye height of 116' 4'' AGL would significantly improve 
visual capabilities.
    Air traffic controller equipment in the existing tower has not been 
significantly upgraded since the ATCT was constructed in 1973, although 
there has been nearly a 50 percent increase in airport operations over 
the past 30 years. In the nearly 1970s, when the existing ATCT was 
constructed, annual aircraft operations recorded during operating hours 
of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. totaled approximately 115,000. In 2001, the total 
number of operations recorded between the 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. timeframe 
was nearly 170,000. The proposed ATCT would allow for modernized 
equipment, enhancing the level of safety for the current number of 
aircraft operations at the St. Louis Downtown Airport.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois May 13, 2005.
Art V. Schultz,
Acting Manager, Chicago NAS Implementation Center, ANI-400 Great Lakes 
Region.
[FR Doc. 05-9921 Filed 5-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M