[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6944-6945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3005]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of a Draft Final Environmental Assessment 
for the Proposed Airport Development at the Sawyer County Airport in 
Hayward, WI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Final Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Airport Development at the Sawyer County 
Airport in Hayward, Wisconsin.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in conjunction with 
the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation (WisDOT 
BOA), have prepared a joint Federal and State Draft Final Environmental 
Assessment (DFEA) for the Proposed Airport Development at the Sawyer 
County Airport in Hayward, Wisconsin. The FAA and WisDOT BOA are making 
available the DFEA for the following proposed airport improvement 
projects: installation of an instrument landing system (ILS) for Runway 
20 with medium approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator 
lights; construction of a parallel taxiway/ramp expansion for Runway 2/
20; land acquisition; removal of airspace obstructions, including 
removal/relocation of a town road; and relocation of precision approach 
path indicator, localizer, and distance measuring equipment at Runway 
20.
    The proposed airport improvement projects include both state block 
program actions and FAA actions. Actions for the proposed airport 
improvement project would be divided between FAA and WisDOT BOA. Agency 
approvals are required to proceed. Proposed FAA actions include: 
provide Federal environmental approval to establish eligibility to 
participate in Federal funding for eligible projects not included in 
the state block grant program which are assessed in the EA; issue an 
environmental finding for FAA actions; provide ILS equipment, assist in 
the design of the proposed ILS; perform the flight check, 
certification, and operation of the proposed ILS; and provide long-term 
maintenance of the proposed ILS.
    Proposed WisDOT BOA actions for the airport improvement projects 
include: issue an environmental finding for WisDOT BOA's actions; 
determine eligibility of Airport Improvement Program funds for the 
proposed ILS project; approve the necessary funding for the proposed 
ILS project; assist in design of the proposed ILS; purchase land for 
the proposed ILS; install the proposed ILS; construct necessary airport 
facilities to support proposed ILS and airport operations; develop, 
implement, and monitor required mitigation for unavoidable impacts due 
to the proposed ILS project.
    The DFEA has been prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, FAA Order 1050.1E, 
``Policies and Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts,''

[[Page 6945]]

and FAA Order 5050.4B, ``NEPA Implementing Instructions for Airport 
Actions.'' The proposed action is consistent with the National Airspace 
System Plan prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation, FAA.
    The DFEA will be available for public review for 30 days at the 
following locations:

Sherman and Ruth Weise Community Library, 10788 Hwy 27/77, Hayward, WI;
Sawyer County Airport Manager's Office, 10930 N. Airport Road, Hayward, 
WI;
Sawyer County Clerk's Office, 10610 Main Street, Hayward, WI;
WisDOT, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 701, Madison, WI.

ADDRESSES: Written comments are encouraged from persons or interested 
parties. Written comments concerning the DFEA will be accepted until 5 
p.m. CST, Monday, March 16, 2009. Written comments may be sent to: Ms. 
Virginia Marcks, Manager, Infrastructure Engineering Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Virginia Marcks, Manager, 
Infrastructure Engineering Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. Telephone number: 
847-294-7494. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Sawyer County Airport currently has non-precision instrument 
approach capabilities. During inclement weather with low visibility and 
low ceilings, aircraft pilots may not be able to land because they are 
unable to see the landing runway as they approach to land. Instrument 
flight rules (IFR) regulate aircraft operations during inclement 
weather under low visibility and cloud ceilings. Under IFR conditions, 
aircraft must use an instrument approach to initiate the landing 
process. The proposed ILS would provide instrumentation that would 
allow landings under IFR conditions.
    Medical transport pilots from several companies use the Sawyer 
County Airport on a regular basis. Medical flights are not scheduled 
events; they occur whenever a medical emergency arises, good weather or 
bad. When medical transports cannot land, it is more than an 
inconvenience; it's typically a life-threatening situation. An ILS at 
the Sawyer County Airport would serve the purpose of increasing the 
probability that those medical transports could land whenever they were 
needed.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, February 6, 2009.
Joe Dillon,
Acting Manager, Infrastructure Engineering Center, Chicago, AJW-C14D, 
Central Service Area.
 [FR Doc. E9-3005 Filed 2-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P