[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 59703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23830]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Taos Regional Airport, Taos, NM

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that we 
have prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) for the ``Taos Regional 
Airport, Airport Layout Plan Improvements'' Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS). The Town of Taos, owner and operator of Taos Regional 
Airport located in Taos, New Mexico, has requested the FAA to approve 
revisions to its Airport Layout Plan (ALP) to reflect and allow 
construction of a new runway and other associated airport projects; the 
Town is requesting Federal funding for the project. This ROD sets forth 
FAA's final determination and environmental approvals for the federal 
actions necessary to implement the proposed airport improvements under 
Alternative 2D, the FAA's selected alternative, and the Airport Sponsor 
to proceed with processing an application for federal funding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Dean McMath, 
Regional Environmental Programs, Manager, ASW613, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5617.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Town of Taos, as owner and operator of 
SKX requested FAA to approve revisions to its Airport Layout Plan (ALP) 
and provide funding for a proposed new Runway 12/30 measuring 8,600-
foot by 100-foot, a full length parallel taxiway, runway lighting, 
navigational aids, runway safety areas (RSA), runway protection zones, 
associated grading, drainage, utility relocations, installation of a 
Remote Transmitter/Receiver, shortening of the existing Runway 4/22 by 
420 feet to the northeast with an associated shift of the RSA Runway 
Object Free Area (ROFA), and Runway Protection Zone (RPZ), 
establishment of new flight procedures for both runways, construction 
of a new airport access road, and extension of the existing airport 
access road from the existing automobile parking lot to the Fixed Base 
Operator hangar/terminal. The purpose of the proposed improvements is 
to correct the operational deficiencies of the existing runway system 
at SKX and improve safety of the operating environment at the airport.
    The Draft and Final EIS were prepared in compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), [42 U.S.C. 4321, et 
seq.], the implementing regulations of the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) [40 CFR parts 1500-15081, and FAA directives [Order 
1050.1E and Order 5050.4B]. The Taos Pueblo and National Park Service 
served as cooperating agencies in preparation of the EIS. The 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice of 
availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register on June 29, 2012.
    In accordance with CEQ regulations, the ROD discusses the 
alternatives considered for the project; the basis for selecting the 
Preferred Alternative, a summary of impacts; and mitigation measures 
for the Preferred Alternative. The ROD documents the final Agency 
decisions regarding the proposed project as described and analyzed in 
the EIS. The FAA is granting approval to amend the ALP with the 
conditions noted in Section 9.7 of the ROD and approval to proceed with 
processing an application for federal funding of those development 
items qualifying for financial aid under the Airports Improvement 
Program (AlP).
    The ROD is available for review during normal business hours at the 
following locations: FAA Southwest Regional Office, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298, Taos Regional Airport, Highway 
64 West, 1 Airport Road, Taos, New Mexico 87571, Taos Town Hall, 400 
Camino de la Placita, Taos, New Mexico 87571 and Taos Public Library, 
402 Camino de la Placita, Taos, New Mexico 87571.

    Issued on September 20, 2012.
Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-23830 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 am]
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