[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88314-88317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29318]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No: FAA-2005-22842]


Notice of Opportunity To Participate: Criteria and Application 
Procedures for Participation in the Military Airport Program (MAP)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of criteria and application procedures.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the criteria, application procedures, 
and schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in 
designating or redesignating a maximum of 15 current joint-use or 
former military airports (at any one time), seeking a designation or 
redesignation to participate in the MAP for the purposes of capital 
development funding assistance.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before February 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit a signed original of Standard Form (SF) 424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' prescribed by the Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-102, available at http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/ along with all supporting and justifying documentation 
required by this notice. Applicant must specifically request to be 
considered for designation or redesignation to participate in the 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 MAP. Submission(s) should be sent to the Regional 
FAA Airports Division or Airports District Office that serves the 
airport. Applicants may find the proper office on the FAA Web site 
http://www.faa.gov/airports/news_information/contact_info/regional/ or 
may contact the office below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jonathan DiMartino 
([email protected]), Airports Financial Assistance Division 
(APP-500), Office of Airport Planning and Programming, Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20591, (202) 267-8744.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

General Description of the Program

    The MAP provides capital development assistance to civil airport 
sponsors of designated current joint-use military airfields or former 
military airports that are included in the FAA's National Plan of 
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Airports designated to the MAP may 
be able to receive grant funds from a set-aside (currently four percent 
of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) discretionary funds) for airport 
development, including certain projects not otherwise eligible for AIP 
assistance. These airports are also eligible to receive grants from 
other categories of AIP funding.
    The Secretary considers for designation only current joint-use or 
former military airports that meet the criteria set forth under 
``Designation Considerations,'' below.

Number of Airports

    A maximum of 15 airports per fiscal year may participate in the 
MAP, of which three may be General Aviation (GA) airports. There are 
twelve slots available in FY 2017. Of the twelve slots available, there 
are two GA slots available in FY 2017.

Term of Designation

    The maximum term is five fiscal years following designation. The 
FAA can designate airports for a period of less than five years. The 
FAA will evaluate the conversion needs of the airport in its capital 
development plan to determine the appropriate length of designation.

Redesignation

    Previously designated airports may apply for redesignation to an 
additional term or terms that may not exceed five years per each. Those 
airports must meet current eligibility requirements outlined in 49 
U.S.C. 47118(a) at the beginning of each grant period. The FAA will 
evaluate applications for redesignation primarily in terms of justified 
projects specifically fundable only under the MAP as redesignees 
generally tend to have fewer conversion needs than new candidates. The 
FAA's goal is to graduate MAP airports to regular AIP participation by 
successfully converting these airports to civilian airport operations.

Eligible Projects

    In addition to eligible AIP projects, the MAP can fund fuel farms, 
utility systems, surface automobile parking lots, hangars, and air 
cargo terminals up to 50,000 square feet. A designated or redesignated 
military airport can receive not more than $7,000,000 in each fiscal 
year to construct, improve, or repair terminal building facilities. In 
addition, a designated or redesignated military airport can receive not 
more than $7,000,000 each fiscal year for MAP eligible projects 
including hangars, cargo facilities, fuel farms, automobile surface 
parking, or utility work.

Designation Considerations

    The MAP allows the Secretary of Transportation to designate current 
joint-use or former military airports (other than an airport so 
designated before August 24, 1994) to receive grants from the AIP if 
they meet the following general requirements:
    (1) The airport is a former military installation closed or 
realigned under:
    (a) Section 2687 of title 10 (announcement of closures of large 
Department of Defense installations after September 30, 1977);
    (b) Section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base 
Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC) (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
    (c) Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 
1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
    (2) The airport is a military installation with both military and 
civil aircraft operations; and
    (3) The airport is classified as a commercial service or reliever 
airport in the NPIAS. (See 49 U.S.C. 47105(b)(2)). In addition, three 
of the designated airports, if included in the NPIAS, may be GA 
airports that were former military installations closed or realigned 
under BRAC, as amended, or 10 U.S.C. 2687. (See 49 U.S.C. 47118(g)). 
Therefore, a GA airport can only qualify under (1) above. ``General 
aviation airport'' means a public airport that is located in a State 
that, as determined by the Secretary: (A) does not have scheduled 
service; or (B) has scheduled service with fewer than 2,500 passenger 
boardings per year.
    In designating new candidate airports, the Secretary shall consider 
if a grant will:
    (1) Reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of 
annual

[[Page 88315]]

delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings; or
    (2) Enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in a 
metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight delays.

The application for new designations will be evaluated in terms of how 
the proposed projects will contribute to reducing delays and/or how the 
airport will enhance air traffic or airport system capacity and provide 
adequate user services.

Project Evaluation

    Recently realigned or closed military airports, as well as active 
military airfields with new joint-use agreements, generally have the 
greatest need of funding assistance for conversion to or incorporation 
of civil airport operations. Newly converted airports and new joint-use 
locations frequently have minimal capital development resources and 
will therefore receive priority consideration for designation and MAP 
funding. The FAA will evaluate the need for eligible projects based 
upon information in the candidate airport's five-year Capital 
Improvement Plan (CIP).
    (1) The FAA will evaluate candidate airports and any reliever role 
that they may perform for nearby airports based on the following 
specific factors:
     Compatibility of airport roles and the ability of the 
airport to provide an adequate airport facility;
     The capability of the candidate airport and its airside 
and landside complex to serve aircraft that otherwise must use a 
congested airport;
     Landside surface access;
     Airport operational capability, including peak hour and 
annual capacities of the candidate airport;
     Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve 
the congested airport;
     Ability to satisfy, relieve, or meet air cargo demand 
within the metropolitan area;
     Forecasted aircraft and passenger levels, type of 
commercial service anticipated, i.e. scheduled or chartered commercial 
service;
     Type and capacity of aircraft projected to serve the 
airport and level of operations at the congested airport and the 
candidate airport;
     The potential for the candidate airport to be served by 
aircraft or users, including the airlines, serving the congested 
airport;
     Ability to replace an existing commercial service or 
reliever airport serving the area; and
     Any other documentation to support the FAA designation of 
the candidate airport.
    (2) The FAA will evaluate the extent to which development needs 
funded through the MAP will make the airport a viable civilian airport 
that will enhance system capacity or reduce delays.

Application Procedures and Required Documentation

    Airport sponsors applying for designation or redesignation must 
complete and submit an SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, and 
provide supporting documentation to the appropriate FAA Airports 
regional or district office serving that airport. Sponsors may obtain 
this fillable form at http://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/.
    Applicants must fill out this form completely, including the 
following:
     Mark Item 1, Type of Submission as a ``pre-application'' 
and indicate it is for ``construction''.
     Mark item 8, Type of Application as ``new'', and in 
``other'', fill in ``Military Airport Program''.
     Fill in Item 11, Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project. 
``Designation (or redesignation) to the Military Airport Program''.
     Under Item 15a, Estimated Funding, indicate the total 
amount of funding requested from the MAP during the entire term for 
which you are applying.

Supporting Documentation

    A. Identification as a Current or Former Military Airport. The 
application must identify the airport as either a current or former 
military airport and indicate whether it was:
    (1) Closed or realigned under Section 201 of the Defense 
Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act, and/or 
Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and 
Closure Commissions), or
    (2) Closed or realigned pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Sec.  2687 as excess 
property (bases announced for closure by Department of Defense (DOD) 
pursuant to this title after September 30, 1977 (this is the date of 
announcement for closure)), or
    (3) A military installation with both military and civil aircraft 
operations. A general aviation airport applying for the MAP may be 
joint-use but must also qualify under (1) or (2) above.
    B. Qualifications for MAP. Submit documents for (1) through (8) 
below:
    (1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a 
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. Sec.  47102(20).
    (2) Documentation indicating the required environmental review for 
civil reuse or joint-use of the military airfield has been completed. 
This environmental review need not include review of the individual 
projects to be funded by the MAP. Rather, the documentation must 
reflect that the environmental review necessary to convey the property, 
enter into a long-term lease, or finalize a joint-use agreement has 
been completed. The military department conveying or leasing the 
property, or entering into a joint-use agreement, has the lead 
responsibility for this environmental review. To meet AIP requirements, 
the environmental reviews and approvals must indicate that the operator 
or owner of the airport has good title that is satisfactory to the 
Secretary or assures, to the FAA's satisfaction, that good title will 
be acquired.
    (3) For a former military airport, documentation that the eligible 
airport sponsor holds or will hold satisfactory title, a long-term 
lease in furtherance of conveyance of property for airport purposes, or 
a long-term interim lease for 25 years or longer to the property on 
which the civil airport is being located. Documentation that an 
application for surplus or BRAC airport property has been accepted by 
the Federal Government is sufficient to indicate the eligible airport 
sponsor holds or will hold satisfactory title or a long-term lease.
    (4) For a current military airport, documentation that the airport 
sponsor has an existing joint-use agreement with the military 
department having jurisdiction over the airport. For all first time 
applicants, a copy of the existing joint-use agreement must be 
submitted with the application. This is necessary so the FAA can 
legally issue grants to the sponsor. Here and in (3) directly above, 
the airport must possess the necessary property rights in order to 
accept a grant for its proposed projects during FY 2016.
    (5) Documentation that the airport is classified as a ``commercial 
service airport'' or a ``reliever airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 
47102(7) and 47102(23).
    (6) Documentation that the airport owner is an eligible airport 
``sponsor,'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(26).
    (7) Documentation that the airport has a five-year CIP indicating 
all eligible grant projects requested to be funded either from the MAP 
or other portions of the AIP and an FAA approved Airport Layout Plan 
(ALP).
    (8) For commercial service airports, a business/marketing plan or 
equivalent must be submitted with the application. For relievers or 
general aviation

[[Page 88316]]

airports, other planning documents may be submitted.
    C. Evaluation Factors. Submit information on the items below to 
assist in the FAA's evaluation:
    (1) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of 
visual or instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the 
current or former military airport and, if applicable, the congested 
airport. Also, if applicable, information on how the airport 
contributes to the air traffic system or airport system capacity. If 
served by commercial air carriers, the revenue passenger and cargo 
levels must be provided.
    (2) A description of the airport's projected civil role and 
development needs for transitioning from use as a military airfield to 
a civil airport. Include how development projects would serve to reduce 
delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of annual delays in 
commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings; or enhance 
capacity in a metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight 
delays.
    (3) A description of the existing airspace capacity. Describe how 
anticipated new operations would affect the surrounding airspace and 
air traffic flow patterns in the metropolitan area in or near the 
airport. Include a discussion of whether operations at this airport 
create airspace conflicts that may cause congestion or whether air 
traffic works into the flow of other air traffic in the area.
    (4) A description of the airport's five-year CIP, including a 
discussion of major projects, their priorities, projected schedule for 
project accomplishment, and estimated costs. The CIP must specifically 
identify the safety, capacity, and conversion related projects, 
associated costs, and projected five-year schedule of project 
construction, including those requested for consideration for MAP 
funding.
    (5) A description of those projects that are consistent with the 
role of the airport and effectively contribute to the joint-use or 
conversion of the airfield to a civil airport. The projects can be 
related to various improvement categories depending on what is needed 
to convert from military to civil airport use, to meet required civil 
airport standards, and/or to provide capacity to the airport and/or 
airport system. The projects selected (e.g., safety-related, 
conversion-related, and/or capacity-related) must be identified and 
fully explained based on the airport's planned use. Those projects that 
may be eligible under MAP, if needed for conversion or capacity-related 
purposes, must be clearly indicated and include the following 
information:

Airside

     Modification of airport or military airfield for safety 
purposes, including airport pavement modifications, marking, lighting, 
strengthening, drainage or modifying other structures or features in 
the airport environs to meet civil standards for approach, departure 
and other protected airport surfaces as described in 14 CFR part 77 or 
standards set forth in FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13.
     Construction of facilities or support facilities, such as 
passenger terminal gates, aprons for passenger terminals, taxiways to 
new terminal facilities, aircraft parking, and cargo facilities to 
accommodate civil use.
     Modification of airport or military utilities (electrical 
distribution systems, communications lines, water, sewer, storm 
drainage) to meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow 
utilities on the civil airport to operate independently, where other 
portions of the base are conveyed to entities other than the airport 
sponsor or retained by the Government.
     Purchase, rehabilitation, or modification of airport and 
airport support facilities and equipment, including snow removal, 
aircraft rescue, firefighting buildings and equipment, airport 
security, lighting vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation of 
eligible buildings for more efficient civil airport operations.
     Modification of airport or military airfield fuel systems 
and fuel farms to accommodate civil aviation use.
     Acquisition of additional land for runway protection 
zones, other approach protection, or airport development.
     Cargo facility requirements.
     Modifications which will permit the airfield to 
accommodate general aviation users.

Landside

     Construction of surface parking areas and access roads to 
accommodate automobiles in the airport terminal and air cargo areas and 
provide an adequate level of access to the airport.
     Construction or relocation of access roads to provide 
efficient and convenient movement of vehicular traffic to, on, and from 
the airport, including access to passenger, air cargo, fixed base 
operations, and aircraft maintenance areas.
     Modification or construction of facilities such as 
passenger terminals, surface automobile parking lots, hangars, air 
cargo terminal buildings, and access roads to cargo facilities to 
accommodate civil use.
    (6) An evaluation of the ability of surface transportation 
facilities (e.g., road, rail, high-speed rail, and/or maritime) to 
provide intermodal connections.
    (7) A description of the type and level of aviation and community 
interest in the civil use of a current or former military airport.
    (8) One copy of the FAA-approved ALP for each copy of the 
application. The ALP or supporting information must clearly show 
capacity and conversion related projects. Other information such as 
project costs, schedule, project justification, other maps and drawings 
showing the project locations, and any other supporting documentation 
that would make the application easier to understand should also be 
included. You may also provide photos, which would further describe the 
airport, projects, and otherwise clarify certain aspects of this 
application. These maps and ALPs should be cross-referenced with the 
project costs and project descriptions.

Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for up to 
an Additional Five Years in the Program

    Airports applying for redesignation to the MAP must submit the same 
information required by new candidate airports applying for a new 
designation. On the SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance, 
prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-102, 
airports must indicate their application is for redesignation to the 
MAP. In addition to the information required for new candidates, 
airports requesting redesignation must also explain:
    (1) Why a redesignation and additional MAP eligible project funding 
is needed to accomplish the conversion to meet the civilian role of the 
airport and the preferred time period for redesignation (not to exceed 
five years);
    (2) Why funding of eligible work under other categories of AIP or 
other sources of funding would not accomplish the development needs of 
the airport; and
    (3) Why, based on the previously funded MAP projects, the projects 
and/or funding levels were insufficient to accomplish the airport 
conversion needs and development goals.
    In addition to the information requested above, airports applying 
for redesignation must provide a reanalysis of their original business/
marketing plans (for example, a plan previously funded by the Office of 
Economic Adjustment or the original Master Plan

[[Page 88317]]

for the airport) and prepare a report. If there is not an existing 
business/marketing plan a business/marketing plan or strategy must be 
developed. The report must contain:
    (1) Whether the original business/marketing plan is still 
appropriate;
    (2) Is the airport continuing to work towards the goals established 
in the business/marketing plan;
    (3) Discuss how the MAP projects contained in the application 
contribute to the goals of the sponsor and their plans; and
    (4) If the business/marketing plan no longer applies to the current 
goals of the airport, how has the airport altered the business/
marketing plan to establish a new direction for the facility and how do 
the projects contained in the MAP application aid in the completion of 
the new direction and goals and by what date does the sponsor 
anticipate graduating from the MAP.
    This notice is issued pursuant to Title 49 U.S.C. 47118.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on November 14, 2016.
Elliott Black,
Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 2016-29318 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P