[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6462-6463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03434]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement for 
Proposed Capacity Enhancements and Other Improvements at Charlotte 
Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC

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

ACTION: Notice of Cancellation of Preparation of Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for 
proposed capacity enhancements and other improvements (Proposed Action) 
at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, NC.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it 
has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for proposed capacity enhancements and other improvements (Proposed 
Action) at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, 
NC. The Proposed Action initially presented to the FAA entailed: (1) A 
Fourth 12,000-foot Parallel Runway 1-19 and End-Around Taxiways; (2) 
Concourse B and Ramp Expansion; (3) Concourse C and Ramp Expansion; and 
(4) Daily North Parking Deck. Based on developments during the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA), review 
process, the project now subject to environmental review includes a 
fourth parallel runway of only 10,000 feet. The FAA determined that 
this was a sufficient change to one of the proposed capacity 
enhancements, as described in greater detail below in the Supplementary 
Information section of this Notice, to warrant cancellation of the EIS 
and conversion to an Environmental Assessment (EA).

DATES: Cancellation of this EIS is immediate.

ADDRESSES: Mail all comments, statements, or questions concerning this 
notice to: Mr. Tommy L. Dupree, Assistant Manager, Memphis Airports 
District Office, 2600 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 2250, Memphis, TN 
38118. You may also send comments to [email protected].
    In addition, one copy of any comment submitted to the FAA should be 
mailed or delivered to Mr. Jack Christine, Chief Operating Officer, 
City of Charlotte Aviation Department, 5601 Wilkinson Boulevard, 
Charlotte, NC 28208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 22, 2018, the FAA published in the 
Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS and to 
conduct public and agency scoping meetings (Volume 83, Number 05583, FR 
12369-12640). The FAA held two governmental agency scoping meetings for 
Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies in Raleigh, NC, on April 
24, 2018 and Charlotte, NC, on April 25, 2018, in addition to two 
public scoping meetings for the general public in Charlotte, NC, on 
April 24 and 26, 2018. FAA issued a Notice to Proceed for the EIS April 
24, 2017.
    In October 2018, FAA conducted an EIS runway length analysis for 
the proposed 12,000-foot runway, and the

[[Page 6463]]

analysis determined that only a 10,000-foot runway was required to meet 
the purpose and need. The analysis was coordinated with the City of 
Charlotte and its airline tenants. Given this change to a major element 
of the sponsor's Proposed Action, the FAA began a process of 
reevaluating the appropriate level of environmental documentation for 
compliance with NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal 
Regulations parts 1500-1508), FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures, and FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions. This 
evaluation focused on likely changes to environmental impacts 
anticipated to occur as a result of the runway length change.
    In determining the appropriate level of environmental review going 
forward, the sponsor, at the request of the FAA, has performed a 
preliminary noise analysis of the revised Proposed Action. In addition, 
the FAA has evaluated potential changes in other anticipated 
environmental impact categories. The FAA has also considered potential 
mitigation for such impacts. In light of this review, the FAA 
anticipates that compliance with NEPA can adequately be achieved by 
preparation of an EA. The City of Charlotte will be responsible for the 
development of the EA in accordance with NEPA, all applicable federal 
regulations, and FAA guidance. In addition, the FAA will work with the 
City of Charlotte to ensure an appropriate level of public involvement 
is provided as part of the EA process. Once completed, the City will 
forward the environmental document to the FAA. The FAA remains the 
responsible Federal agency for compliance with the requirements of 
NEPA. In this capacity, FAA will make its own independent evaluation of 
the environmental issues and take responsibility for the scope and 
content of the EA. The FAA also will make a final decision on whether 
it can issue a satisfactory environmental finding based upon the EA. 
The FAA will thereafter determine whether it may take the federal 
actions necessary to allow implementation of the project. All questions 
concerning the development, commencement, and public notices related to 
the EA, should be directed to The City of Charlotte Aviation 
Department, Mr. Jack Christine, Chief Operating Officer, 5601 Wilkinson 
Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208.
    More information on the Proposed Action and the NEPA process is 
available on the project website at: www.clteis.com.

    Issued in Memphis, Tennessee on February 21, 2019.
Phillip J. Braden,
Manager, Memphis Airports District Office, Southern Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-03434 Filed 2-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P