[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 53 (Friday, March 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11986-11987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6169]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (Final EIS) for the Replacement of Runway 10R/28L, 
Development of a New Passenger Terminal, and Other Associated Airport 
Projects at Port Columbus International Airport (CMH)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and notice of 30-day public comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this Notice of Availability to advise the 
public that a Final EIS will be available for public review beginning 
March 20, 2009. The document was prepared pursuant to major 
environmental directives to comply with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (Pub. L. 91-190); Section 106 consultation for impacts to 
historic structures, as identified in 36 CFR Section 800.8, 
Coordination with the National Environmental Policy Act; U.S. 
Department of Transportation Section 303(c), formerly referred to as 
Section 4(f); and other applicable Federal and State environmental 
laws, regulations, and Executive Orders.
    The Final EIS was prepared in response to a proposal presented to 
the FAA by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA), the owner 
and operator of CMH and identified in the Final EIS as the Airport 
Sponsor, for environmental review.
    The FAA prepared this Final EIS to analyze and disclose potential 
environmental impacts related to possible future Federal Actions at 
CMH. Numerous Federal actions would be necessary if airfield 
development were to be implemented. Proposed improvements include 
replacement of Runway 10R/28L, development of a new passenger terminal, 
and other airfield projects (see below).
    The Final EIS presents the purpose and need for the proposed 
Federal action, analysis of reasonable alternatives, including the No 
Action Alternative, discussion of impacts for each reasonable 
alternative, the selection of the FAA's preferred alternative, proposed 
mitigation, and supporting appendices. The FAA will consider all 
information contained in the Final EIS and additional information that 
may be provided during the public comment period before issuing the 
Agency's Final Decision.
    The Airport Sponsor proposes to replace existing Runway 10R/28L at 
CMH, approximately 700 feet south of the existing Runway 10R/28L; to 
develop new terminal facilities in the midfield area; to provide 
ancillary facilities in support of the replacement runway and midfield 
terminal; and to implement noise abatement air traffic procedures 
developed for the replacement runway.
    The replacement runway would be 10,113 feet long. This length would 
maintain CMH's ability to accommodate current and projected airport 
operations. Existing Runway 10R/28L would be decommissioned as a runway 
and converted to a taxiway upon commissioning of the replacement 
runway. In addition, a south taxiway and north parallel taxiway to 
proposed Runway 10R/28L would be constructed.
    To meet future aircraft parking and passenger processing 
requirements, new midfield terminal facilities are needed. The Final 
EIS assesses a development envelope that is defined as an area large 
enough to encompass Phase I and II of the CRAA terminal development 
program. The Final EIS discusses the number of gates, approximate 
square footage, approximate curb frontage, and the number of passengers 
that the terminal would accommodate.
    Ancillary facilities in support of the replacement runway and 
midfield terminal would be constructed. The facilities include roadway 
relocations and construction; parking improvements; property 
acquisition; and relocation of residences, as necessary. The CRAA 
prepared a 14 CFR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study Update (Part 150 
Update) to address the current and future noise conditions. The Part 
150 Update includes an analysis of the potential noise and land use 
impacts resulting from the proposed development of relocating Runway 
10R/28L to the south, as well as possible mitigation options. The noise 
abatement air traffic options recommended through the Part 150 Update 
are included in the Final EIS as part of the proposed project. In 
addition, land use mitigation CRAA recommended in the Part 150 Update 
is included in the Final EIS as mitigation for the impacts resulting 
from the proposed project. The FAA issued its Record of Availability on 
May 19, 2008 and its approval of the Noise Compatibility Program on May 
19, 2008 [FR Doc. E8-12591 Filed 6-6-08: 8:45 am].
    Public Comment: The public comment period on the Final EIS starts 
on March 20, 2009 and closes on April 20, 2009.
    Comments can only be accepted with the full name and address of the 
individual commenting. Mail and fax

[[Page 11987]]

comments are to be submitted to Ms. Katherine S. Delaney of the FAA, at 
the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. E-mailed comments 
should be sent to [email protected]. All comments must be postmarked or 
faxed no later than midnight, April 20, 2009. The Final EIS may be 
reviewed for comment during regular business hours at the following 
locations:
    1. Federal Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports District 
Office, 11677 S. Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, MI 48174 (Phone: 734-
229-2900).
    2. Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Port Columbus International 
Airport, Administrative Offices, 4600 International Gateway, Columbus, 
OH 43219 (Phone: 614-239-4063).
    3. City of Gahanna, 200 South Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH 43230 
(Phone: 614-342-4000).
    4. City of Whitehall, 360 South Yearling Road, Whitehall, OH 43213 
(Phone: 614-338-3106).
    5. Jefferson Township, 6545 Havens Road, Blacklick, OH 43004 
(Phone: 614-855-4260).
    6. City of Bexley, 2242 East Main Street, Bexley, OH 43209 (Phone: 
614-327-6200).
    7. City of Reynoldsburg, 7232 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 
43068 (Phone: 614-322-6800).
    8. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch, 96 South Grant 
Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215 (Phone: 614-645-2275).
    9. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Gahanna Branch, 310 Granville 
Street, Gahanna, OH 43230 (Phone: 614-645-2275).
    10. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Shepard Branch, 790 North Nelson 
Road, Columbus, OH 43219 (Phone: 614-645-2275).
    11. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Linden Branch, 2432 Cleveland 
Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211 (Phone: 614-645-2275).
    12. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Whitehall Branch, 4371 East 
Broad Street, Whitehall, OH 43213 (Phone: 614-645-2275).
    13. Columbus Metropolitan Library, Reynoldsburg Branch, 1402 Brice 
Road, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 (Phone: 614-645-2275).
    14. Bexley Public Library, 2411 East Main Street, Bexley, OH 43209 
(Phone: 614-231-2793).
    15. CMH EIS Web site, http://www.airportsites.net/cmh-eis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The comments should be as specific as 
possible. Comments should address the contents of the Final EIS, such 
as the analysis of potential environmental impacts, the adequacy of the 
proposed action to meet the stated need, or the merits of the various 
alternatives. This commenting procedure is intended to ensure that 
substantive comments and concerns are made available to the FAA in a 
timely manner, so that the FAA has an opportunity to address them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katherine S. Delaney, FAA Detroit 
Airports District Office, 11677 S. Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, MI 
48174. Telephone: (734) 229-2900, Fax: (734) 229-2950.

    Issued in Romulus, Michigan on March 9, 2009.
Matthew J. Thys,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. E9-6169 Filed 3-19-09; 8:45 am]
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