[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19409-19410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7741]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Public Availability of the final Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision 
(FONSI/ROD) Signed March 20, 2012, for the Evaluation of the Potential 
Environmental Impacts Associated With the Dual Track Airport Project 
for the Brookings Regional Airport in Brookings, SD

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a final EA and FONSI/ROD for the 
evaluation of the potential environmental impacts associated with the 
Dual Track Airport Project for Brookings Regional Airport, Brookings, 
South Dakota.

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SUMMARY: The FAA has issued the final EA and FONSI/ROD for the Dual 
Track Airport Project for Brookings Regional Airport. The EA was 
prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, FAA Orders 1050.1E, ``Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures'' and FAA Order 5050.4B, ``NEPA 
Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions''.

POINT OF CONTACT: Ms. Patricia Dressler, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, FAA Bismarck Airports District Office (ADO), 2301 
University Drive, Building 23B, Bismarck, North Dakota 58504. Telephone 
number (701) 323-7380.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA is issuing a final EA and FONSI/ROD 
that evaluated the potential environmental impacts associated with the 
Dual Track Airport Project proposed Brookings Regional Airport 
Expansion at Brookings Regional Airport, Brookings, South Dakota. Based 
on the analysis contained in the final EA, the FAA has determined the 
selected alternative has no associated significant impacts to resources 
identified in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures and FAA Order 5054.4B, National Environmental 
Policy Act Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions. Therefore, no 
environmental impact statement will be prepared. The Brookings 
Expansion project will provide an airport layout that achieves the 
project purpose, specifically, control over the Runway Protection 
Zones, sufficient runway length for the existing and anticipated future 
aircraft fleets, and a standard runway intersection for the two 
runways.
    Sixteen alternatives (9 on site and 7 new airport locations) were 
studied for meeting the purpose and need. Thirteen of these 
alternatives were reviewed, analyzed, and discarded due to the degree 
of environmental impacts and/or not meeting purpose and need. A 
detailed discussion is in the FONSI/ROD Section entitled V. 
Alternatives Considered and Discarded. The selected alternative is one 
of three alternatives considered in the final EA. The selected 
alternative consists of addressing the identified needs.
    The selected alternative includes the:
    (1) Unconditional approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the 
development listed in the EA and the decision document. (2) Issue final 
airspace determinations for the development listed on the ALP. (3) 
Eligibility for Federal grants-in-aid funds for eligible items. (4) 
Approval for the development or revision, implementation, and use of 
air traffic/flight procedures to implement the proposed action. (5) FAA 
finding of ``No Historic Properties Affected'' for the Proposed Action. 
(6) FAA finding of ``may affect, not likely to adversely affect'' the 
American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) and the Western 
prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara). (7) FAA Finding of 
``may affect, likely to adversely affect'' the Topeka shiner (Notropis 
topeka) an endangered species, however, in Formal Section 7 
Consultation on the Endangered Species Act with the USFWS concluded 
that the action, as proposed, is not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of the Topeka shiner. (8) FAA floodplain finding that there 
is no prudent and practicable alternative to this impact and the 
propose action includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to 
floodplains. (9) FAA wetland finding that there is no practicable 
alternatives to such construction and the proposed action includes all 
practicable measure to minimize harm to wetlands.
    These documents will be available for public review during normal 
business hours at:

Federal Aviation Administration Bismarck ADO, 2301 University

[[Page 19410]]

Drive, Building 23B, Bismarck, North Dakota 58504;
Brookings City Hall, Engineering Department, 311 3rd Avenue, Brookings, 
South Dakota 57706;
Brookings Public Library, 515 3rd Street, Brookings, South Dakota 
57706.

    Issued in Bismarck North Dakota, March 20, 2012.
Thomas T. Schauer,
Manager, Bismarck Airport District Office FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-7741 Filed 3-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P