[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 76382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29981]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation of preparation of environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it 
has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the proposed construction of new Runway 5R/23L and associated 
development at Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia. The 
FAA's discontinued preparation of the EIS is based upon the length of 
time that has elapsed since the issuance of the Notice of Intent (NOI) 
in 2001 for the project and the need to consider results from 
additional planning efforts completed by the Norfolk Airport Authority 
(NAA), the owner and operator of the airport. The additional planning 
effort by NAA has modified the project purpose and need and refined 
various project elements, including the need to relocate the Very High 
Frequency Omni-directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 
facility. As a result of the additional planning studies, refinements 
to the project scope, and the time elapsed; the FAA has decided to 
discontinue the EIS as proposed in the NOI from 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Brooks, Environmental Program 
Manager, Airports Division AEA-610, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, New York 11434; Telephone 
(718) 553-2511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 28, 2001, the FAA, published in the 
Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) and hold a Public Scoping Meeting at Norfolk 
International Airport (Volume 66, Number 125, FR 34508-34509). The EIS 
and Public Scoping Meeting were to address the proposed construction of 
new Runway 5R/23L and associated development at the airport, including 
new taxiway construction, taxiway relocation, runway safety area 
construction, new airfield lighting, improvements to existing lighting, 
relocation of the VORTAC facility, installation of a Medium Intensity 
Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR) 
for the new Runway 23L, and a Category II Instrument Landing MALSR for 
new Runway 5R.
    In 2001, the FAA based its decision to prepare the EIS on the 
procedures described in FAA Order 5050.4A, Airport Environmental 
Handbook, and FAA Order 1050.1D, Policies and Procedures for 
Considering Environmental Impacts. FAA also based its decision to 
prepare a federal EIS primarily on NAA's proposal to construct a new 
Runway 5R/23L in parallel to the existing Runway 5/23, which would be 
re-designated as Runway 5L/23R. The new runway was proposed to be 8,000 
feet long and 150 feet wide and would have a runway centerline 
separation from the existing runway of 845 feet.
    Subsequently, NAA completed supplemental planning efforts that 
necessitated making changes to the proposed project's purpose and need. 
Therefore, the proposed project's purpose and need has recently been 
revised and various project components, including the relocation of the 
VORTAC, are no longer required. The NAA submitted an Airport Layout 
Plan revision to the FAA that depicted the refined project elements. 
The Airport Layout Plan was conditionally approved, subject to 
environmental review by the FAA on October 5, 2011. The FAA will 
determine the appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
documentation necessary to assess the environmental effects of the 
proposed improvements pursuant to FAA Order 5050.4B, National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport 
Actions, and FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures.

    Issued in Jamaica, New York, on December 5, 2013.
Debbie Roth,
Manager, Airports Division, Eastern Region, AEA-600.
[FR Doc. 2013-29981 Filed 12-16-13; 8:45 am]
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