[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 31684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12947]



[[Page 31684]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Withdrawal of Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise federal, state, and 
local government agencies and the public that the FAA is withdrawing 
its Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for proposed capacity improvements at the George Bush Intercontinental 
Airport (IAH). The Houston Airport System (HAS), the sponsor of the 
proposed improvements, has requested that the EIS be terminated because 
the need for the proposed capacity improvements no longer exists. The 
HAS noted that arrival and departure delays at IAH have been decreasing 
and stated that IAH is currently one of the least delayed large hub 
airports in the United States.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Blackford, by mail at Federal 
Aviation Administration, Airports Division, Attn: Paul Blackford, ASW-
650, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, email at 
[email protected], or by telephone (817) 222-5607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 2009, the FAA issued a Notice of 
Intent in the Federal Register [74 FR 16255-16256] to prepare an EIS 
for proposed airfield improvements at IAH. The Airport Master Plan 
(AMP) prepared by the HAS documented that improvements were needed to 
increase airfield capacity and reduce projected delays. The FAA 
proceeded with preparing the EIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
    On July 30, 2010, the FAA received a letter from the HAS requesting 
that the preparation of the EIS be delayed. The HAS indicated that 
additional planning work was necessary to ensure that the assumptions 
used to develop the AMP remained valid. The HAS cited several reasons 
that contributed to their decision to conduct additional planning 
including the potential merger of United and Continental Airlines, the 
economic downturn, potential changes to aircraft fleet mix due to the 
airline merger, and the need to update the existing terminal concept. 
Therefore, the FAA suspended the preparation of the EIS and published a 
notice in the Federal Register stating such on September 16, 2010 [75 
FR 56653].
    On January 3, 2012, the HAS sent a letter to the FAA requesting 
that the EIS be terminated. The HAS cited statistics that show delays 
at IAH have been decreasing, stated that they do not expect significant 
increases in the number of aircraft operations at IAH, and did not wish 
to pursue a new runway at this time. In response to the HAS letter, the 
FAA is terminating the EIS.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 16, 2012.
Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-12947 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
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