[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9859-9861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05001]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No: FAA-2019-0170]


Notice of Opportunity: Criteria and Application Procedures for 
the Military Airport Program (MAP) for Fiscal Year 2019

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is announcing the criteria, application procedures, 
and schedule for the Military Airport Program (MAP), to enable the 
Secretary of Transportation to designate a maximum of 15 joint-use, or 
former military airports, to participate in the MAP for the purposes of 
capital development funding assistance.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before May 2, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Airport sponsors must submit applications for the Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2019 MAP to the appropriate Airports District Office (ADO) or 
Regional Office (RO) if there is no ADO. Applicants can find the 
address for their local office on the FAA website.\1\
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    \1\ http://www.faa.gov/airports/news_information/contact_info/regional/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this 
notice, contact Terri A.R. Kett, Airport Improvement Program (AIP) 
Branch; Airports Financial Assistance Division; Office of Airport 
Planning and Programming. Telephone: 202-267-4374. Email: 
_____________________________________-
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General Description of the Program

    49 U.S.C. 47117 designates a 4% set-aside of AIP discretionary 
funds that the FAA may use toward specific projects at

[[Page 9860]]

MAP designated airports to successfully transition from military to 
civilian use. For FY19, approximately $8 million will be available to 
the MAP program. The MAP is open to civil airport sponsors of joint-use 
military airfields or former military airports that are included in the 
FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The FAA 
administers the AIP, including MAP, in accordance with FAA Order 
5100.38D Change 1, Airport Improvement Program Handbook.\2\
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    \2\ Available online at: https://www.faa.gov/airporfts/aip/aip_handbook/.
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Consideration

    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 47118(c), the Secretary may consider only 
current or former military airports for designation if a grant will:
    1. Reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of 
annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings;
    2. Enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in a 
metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight delays; or
    3. Preserve or enhance minimum airfield infrastructure facilities 
at former military airports to support emergency diversionary 
operations for transoceanic flights in locations--
     within U.S. jurisdiction or control; and
     where there is a demonstrable lack of diversionary 
airports within the distance or flight-time required by regulations 
governing transoceanic flights.

Designation Authority

    Under 49 U.S.C. 47118, the FAA may designate up to 15 current of 
former military airports to participate in the MAP in a fiscal year. 
Three of the 15 airports may be general aviation (GA) airports and the 
remaining 12 must be commercial service or reliever airports. In FY 
2019, there are two GA slots and 10 commercial service/reliever slots 
available in the program.

Designation Duration

    The FAA has the option to designate an airport in the MAP for one 
to five fiscal years. The FAA will evaluate the conversion needs of the 
airport, in the sponsor's capital development plan, to determine the 
appropriate length of designation.

Redesignation

    Previously designated airports may apply for redesignation for 
subsequent terms not to exceed five fiscal years. Airports must still 
meet MAP eligibility requirements and have remaining MAP eligible 
projects not previously funded by the FAA. Applications a evaluated in 
terms of the remaining projects, specifically fundable only under the 
MAP, because redesignated airports generally have fewer conversion 
needs than new candidates do. The FAA's goal is to graduate MAP 
airports to regular AIP participation by successfully converting 
participating airports to civilian airport operations.

MAP Funding Limitations

    The amount of annual funding is limited to the 4% set-aside of AIP 
discretionary funds. Designated airports may receive up to $7 million 
per fiscal year for terminal building projects and up to $7 million to 
preserve or enhance minimum airfield infrastructure or, construct 
parking lots, fuel farms, utilities, hangars, and air cargo terminals. 
Hangars and air cargo terminals may not be larger than 50,000 square 
feet. MAP designated airport projects are not limited to MAP funding; 
they may also qualify for other AIP funding if all AIP associated 
project eligibility and justification requirements are met.

Designation Requirements

    Current of former military airports are eligible for designation if 
they meet the following statutory requirements:
    1. The airport is a former military installation closed or 
realigned under--
     10 U.S.C 2687 as excess property. These are bases 
announced for closure by the Department of Defense after September 30, 
1977;
     Section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and 
Base Closure and Realignment Act; or
     Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687, note);
    2. The airport is a military installation with both military and 
civil aircraft operations as a commercial service or reliever airport 
(also called a joint-use airport); or
    3. The airport is a former military installation that, at any time 
after December 31, 1965, was owned and operated by the Department of 
Defense and is a nonhub primary airport.
    General aviation airports can only qualify under requirement 1 of 
this section.

Candidate Evaluation Criteria

    The airport must meet all of the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 47118 as 
well as the MAP requirements listed in FAA Order 5100.38D Change 1, 
Airport Improvement Program (Table 6-14, MAP Requirements).
    The FAA will evaluate applications based on (but not limited to) 
the following criteria:
     The potential of the airport to become a viable civilian 
airport that will enhance system capacity or reduce delays.
     Compatibility of airport roles and the ability of the 
airport to provide an adequate airport facility;
     Level of operations at the congested airport and the 
candidate airport;
     The capability of the airport to serve aircraft that 
otherwise must use a congested airport;
     Landside surface access;
     Airport operational capability, including peak hour and 
annual capacities;
     Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve 
the congested airport;
     Ability to satisfy, relieve, or meet air cargo demand 
within the metropolitan area;
     Forecast 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 ;
     The potential for the 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

Application Procedures and Required Documentation

     Airport sponsors applying for designation, or 
redesignation, must complete and submit a Standard Form (SF) 424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance'',\3\ along with any supporting 
documentation. A fillable SF 424 form can be downloaded at https://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/forms/?sect=aip,-payments. The SF 424 
form must be filled out completely and include the following: Item 1. 
Type of Submission--Mark as a ``Preapplication'';
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    \3\ Available online at: https://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/forms/?sect=aip,payments.
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     Item 2. Type of Application--Mark as ``New'';
     Item 15. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project--Enter 
``Designation (or Redesignation) to the Military Airport Program''; and
     Item 18. Estimated Funding--Enter the total amount of MAP 
funding requests anticipated over the entire term in the application.

Supporting Documentation

    1. Identification as a joint-use or former military airport. The 
application

[[Page 9861]]

must identify the airport as either a joint-use or former military 
airport. For former military airports, indicate which designation 
requirement the airport meets under 49 U.S.C. 47118(a).
    2. Qualifications for the MAP. The application must answer the 
following questions:
    a. Does the airport meet the definition of a ``public airport'' as 
defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(21)?
    b. Is the airport sponsor an eligible airport ``sponsor,'' as 
defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(26)?
    c. Is the required environmental review for civil reuse or joint-
use of the military airfield completed?
     The environmental review is necessary to convey the 
property, enter into a long-term lease, or finalize a joint-use 
agreement.
     The military department conveying or leasing the property, 
or entering into a joint-use agreement, has the lead responsibility for 
this environmental review.
     Environmental reviews for each specific MAP project are 
separate processes. These environmental reviews must meet the normal 
AIP requirements and timeframes.
     Does the sponsor have good title? For former military 
airports, the sponsor must hold or will hold satisfactory title, a 
long-term lease in furtherance of conveyance of property for airport 
purposes, or a long-term interim lease more than 20 years or longer.
     Documentation that the Federal government has accepted an 
application for surplus or BRAC airport property is sufficient to meet 
this requirement.
    d. For current military airports, does the sponsor have an existing 
joint-use agreement with the military department having jurisdiction 
over the airport?
     A copy of the existing joint-use agreement must be 
submitted with the application.
    e. Does the sponsor have a five-year capital improvement plan that 
includes all AIP eligible projects that can be funded with MAP or AIP?
    f. Does the airport have an FAA-approved airport layout plan (ALP)?
    g. For commercial service airports, does the sponsor have a current 
business/marketing plan or strategy report?
    3. Other Factors. The application should include information on the 
items below:
    a. Identify the existing and potential levels of visual or extra 
instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the current or 
former military airport and, if applicable, the congested airport.
    b. Explain how the airport contributes to the air traffic system or 
airport system capacity.
    c. Provide the revenue passenger and air cargo levels (if 
commercial air carriers serve the airport).
    d. Describe the airport's projected role and development needs for 
transitioning from military to civilian use. Explain how development 
projects would either reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 
hours of annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and 
landings; enhance capacity in a metropolitan area, or reduce current 
and projected flight delays.
    e. Describe the existing airspace capacity. Explain how anticipated 
new operations would affect the surrounding airspace, congestion, and 
air traffic flow patterns in the metropolitan area in or near the 
airport.
    f. Describe the airport sponsor's 5-year CIP. The CIP must identify 
the safety, capacity, and conversion related projects, estimated costs, 
and projected construction schedule.
    g. Describe projects that are consistent with the role of the 
airport and effectively contribute to the joint-use or civil conversion 
of the airfield. The projects (e.g., safety-related, conversion-
related, and/or capacity-related) must be identified and fully 
explained based on the sponsor's planned airport use. Each project that 
may be eligible under MAP must be clearly indicated and include the 
following information:

Airside

     Planned safety modifications including pavement, marking, 
lighting, drainage, or other structures or features to meet civil 
standards for approach, departure, and other protected airport surfaces 
as described in title 14 CFR part 77, or airport design standards set 
forth in FAA Advisory Circular 150/5300-13A;
     Planned construction of facilities, such as passenger 
terminal gates, aprons for passenger terminals, taxiways to new 
terminal facilities, aircraft parking, and cargo facilities to 
accommodate civil use;
     Planned utility upgrades serving the civilian function and 
independent operation including: Electrical, mechanical, communications 
lines, water, gas, sewer, storm drainage;
     Planned acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or 
modification of facilities and equipment including: Snow removal 
equipment, aircraft rescue and fire fighting buildings and equipment, 
security equipment, lighting vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation 
of eligible buildings for more efficient civil airport operations;
     Planned modifications of fuel farms to accommodate civil 
aviation use;
     Planned land acquisition for runway protection zones, 
other approach protection, or airport development; and
     Planned modifications, which will permit the airfield to 
accommodate GA users.

Landside

     Planned construction, improvement, or repair of surface 
parking areas;
     Planned construction, improvement, or repair of access 
roads;
     Planned construction, improvement, or repair of 
facilities, such as passenger and/or cargo terminals buildings and 
hangars.
    h. Evaluate the ability of surface transportation facilities (e.g., 
road, rail, high-speed rail, and/or maritime) to provide intermodal 
connections.
    i. Describe the type and level of aviation (and community) interest 
in the civil use of the current or former military airport.
    j. Provide one copy of the FAA-approved ALP with each application. 
The ALP must clearly describe capacity and conversion-related projects. 
Airport sponsors should also include other information, such as project 
cost(s), schedule, project justification(s), other project related maps 
and drawings showing the project location(s), and any other supporting 
documentation that would make the airport sponsor's application easier 
to understand. Airport sponsors may also include photos that further 
describe the airport, projects, and otherwise clarify certain aspects 
of the application. These maps and ALPs should be cross-referenced with 
the project costs and descriptions noted elsewhere in the application.

Redesignation Applications

    Airport sponsors applying for redesignation to the MAP must submit 
the same information required of new candidates and must answer the 
following questions:
    1. Why is redesignation needed to accomplish the transition from 
military to civilian use?
    2. Why funding of eligible projects under other categories of AIP, 
or other sources of funding, would not accomplish the development needs 
of the airport?

    This notice is issued pursuant to title 49 U.S.C. 47118. Issued 
from Washington, DC, on March 13, 2019.
James A. Johnson,
Acting Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 2019-05001 Filed 3-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P