[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7231-7232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3148]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Public Notice for Release of Aeronautical Property at New Castle 
Airport (ILG), New Castle, DE

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public 
comment on the Delaware River and Bay Authority's (DRBA) request to 
grant the Delaware Department of Transportation a permanent easement on 
2.424 +/- acres of airport property along portions of Old Churchman's 
Road bordering a portion of the Airport property perimeter for roadway 
improvements. The 2.424 +/- acres land covered by the purposed easement 
will no longer be dedicated for aviation use by the New Castle Airport.
    The DRBA, as operator of the New Castle Airport (ILG), has proposed 
the extension of Taxiway ``H'' and the development of an approximate 
thirty-eight (38) acre parcel of airport property on the southeasterly 
side of Old Churchman's Road for aviation related purposes. The Thirty-
Eight Acre Parcel is currently undeveloped and separated from the main 
airport property by Old Churchman's Road. In order to gain connectivity 
and access to the Thirty-Eight Acre Parcel and allow for the extension 
of Taxiway ``H'' and future development, 0.610 +/- acres of Old 
Churchman's Road must be vacated by the Delaware Department of 
Transportation and returned to New Castle County as fee owner for 
aeronautical use. Once the 0.610+/- acres of Old Churchman's Road is 
vacated, future road improvements to include, but not limited to, the 
upgrade of Old Churchman's Road from Route 13 to the easterly boundary 
of the Thirty-Eight Acre Parcel, the construction of a public road 
connecting Old Churchman's Road and New Churchman's Road at the eastern 
boundary of the Thirty-Eight Acre Parcel, and the construction of 
certain improvements along New Churchman's Road can be made on the 
proposed 2.424 +/- acre easement area. This will allow Delaware 
Department of Transportation to bring portions of Old Churchman's Road 
up to standards and accommodate a new connector from Old Churchman's 
Road to New Churchman's Road.
    The 2.424 +/- acre parcel is located at New Castle Airport (ILG), 
New Castle, DE, situated northwesterly of Dupont Highway, U.S. Route 13 
and northeasterly of New Churchman's Road, Delaware State Road 58, New 
Castle Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. The parcel is comprised of 
several small, narrow, Right-of-Way easement ``strips'' totaling 2.424 
+/- acres in aggregate and is generally located along Old Churchman's 
Road commencing at Route 13 and running in a westerly direction to the 
easterly property line of the Thirty-Eight Acre Parcel. The property is 
currently depicted on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) of record as 
airport property and consists of five sections of narrow strips of land 
varying 1.272 acres to 0.054 acres. The strips of land are parts of Tax 
Parcel No. 10-018.00-006. These areas, totaling 2.424 +/-, acres are 
not required for aeronautical use and can be used for road 
improvements.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 12, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Documents are available for review, by appointment, at the 
Airport Manager's office: Stephen Williams, Airport Executive Director, 
Delaware River and Bay Authority, New Castle Airport, 151 Dupont 
Highway, New Castle, DE 19720-5124, 302-325-5124; and at the FAA 
Harrisburg Airports District Office: James M. Fels, Program Manager, 
Harrisburg Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Dr., Suite 508, 
Camp Hill, PA 17011, (717) 730-2830.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James M. Fels, Program Manager, 
Harrisburg Airports District Office (location listed above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Levy Court of New Castle County acquired 
the property that constitutes the Airport through a conveyance from the 
United States of America, acting through and by the War Assets 
Administration on October 27, 1947. This conveyance transferred to New 
Castle County land to be used for aviation related purposes. Over the 
years, portions of the original land have been released by New Castle 
County and Federal Aviation Administration actions. In 1995, under 
agreement with New Castle County, the Delaware River and Bay Authority 
assumed sponsorship and operational control of the airport. There are 
no known adverse impacts to the operation of the airport and the 2.424 
+/- acre area of land is not needed for any foreseeable future 
aeronautical development as shown on the approved New Castle ALP. 
Ownership will be retained by New Castle County.
    Section 22.16 of FAA Order 5190.6B, FAA Airport Compliance Manual, 
requires fair market value be received

[[Page 7232]]

for all deletions from the airport's federally obligated real property. 
Intangible benefits received by the airport may be used as an offset 
against any such fair market value in determining the monetary 
consideration, if any, to be exchanged. The fee simple property value 
of the 2.424 +/- acre area is estimated at $55,000.00+/- per acre, or 
$133,320.00. The value of an easement would be substantially less. The 
ability to expand Taxiway ``H'' and to develop the Thirty-Eight Acre 
Parcel for aviation purposes has the potential to generate an estimated 
$885,000.00 per year in lease revenue based on a 71.3 percent lease 
ratio of the property per the current Airport Layout Plan. Since the 
intangible benefits to the airport would far exceed the fee simple fair 
market value of the property, no monetary payment for the easement 
would be required.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed change in 
use of the property. All comments will be considered by the FAA to the 
extent practicable.

    Issued in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania on February 1, 2012.
Lori K. Pagnanelli,
Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-3148 Filed 2-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P