Air Traffic Facilities
The Air Traffic Organization ensures the safe and effective lifecycle management of the facilities infrastructure of the National Airspace System (NAS). One component of facilities management is conducting environmental reviews for the construction, replacement, removal, and site restoration for these facilities.
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What's Happening Now
NOTICE:
FAA Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Airport Traffic Control Tower Replacement Program
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the issuance of a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)-funded Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Replacement Program. The Draft PEA considers the conditions and potential environmental impacts from the Proposed Action to replace numerous FAA-owned ATCTs under the BIL-funded ATCT Replacement Program. Many existing ATCTs at municipal or general aviation airports are outdated and operating past their design life. The purpose and need for the proposed program is to replace select FAA-owned ATCTs across the nation with modern ATCTs while providing uninterrupted air traffic control services. The Draft PEA analyzes the potential environmental impacts that may result from construction and operation of the proposed new ATCTs and decommissioning and removal of the existing ATCTs (Proposed Action), as well as the No Action Alternative (i.e., not constructing and operating the proposed new ATCTs). The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures.
The Proposed Action would provide for modern, operationally efficient ATCTs, designed to meet FAA’s energy and sustainability requirements while adhering to the CEQ’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions. The proposed replacement ATCTs would enable the installation of modern air traffic control equipment, provide adequate space and an enhanced work environment for FAA personnel, lower operating costs, and improve environmental performance resulting in energy savings, water efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and improved indoor air quality while meeting applicable FAA requirements. To learn more, visit the FAA’s Sustainable Tower Design Initiative website.
A public comment period for the Draft PEA ends on July 31, 2023. The Draft PEA (PDF) is available for download here and via the Federal Regulations portal with Docket ID: FAA-2023-1368. Comments on the Draft PEA may be provided via the Federal Regulations portal.
The FAA expects to issue an environmental determination in late 2023, after the agency considers and reviews all substantive comments received during the comment period. The FAA will address comments received on the Draft PEA within the Final PEA.
FAA Draft EA for Greensboro Mobile Asset Staging Area in Greensboro, North Carolina
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the issuance of a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed construction at the Greensboro (GSO) Mobile Asset Staging Area (MASA) in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Draft EA considers the conditions and potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action to construct a 10,000-square foot MASA near the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The purpose and need is to provide a facility near a major commercial airport within the eastern United States that is suitable to support the staging, maintenance, and rapid deployment of mobile National Airspace System (NAS) equipment. The Proposed Action is needed because if no action is taken the FAA would lack the capability to stage mobile NAS equipment in a centralized location within the eastern United States. Such an alternative would compromise the FAA’s ability to provide rapid restoration of air traffic services during periods of extended equipment outages. The FAA has prepared the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures.
The public is invited to review and comment on the draft EA until August 9, 2023. A physical copy is available at the Greensboro Central Library, 219 N. Church St., Greensboro, NC 27401. The draft EA (PDF) is also available for download here.
All inquiries, information requests and/or written comments with respect to this EA must be provided to: Ankit Patel, FAA National Headquarters, 800 Independence Ave SW, Orville Wright Bldg (FOB10A), Washington, DC 20591. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
The FAA expects to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), after the agency considers and reviews all substantive comments received during the comment period. The FAA will address comments received on the Draft EA within the Final EA.
FAA Draft EA for Soil Treatment at Tanana, Alaska
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the impacts of implementing thermal conductive heating (TCH) to treat hydrocarbon-contaminated soil at the former FAA housing facility in Tanana, Alaska. Soil contamination exceeding Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) is present in five areas of concern at the former housing facility, resulting in site conditions that are not protective of human health and exceed ADEC migration to groundwater pathway criteria. TCH treatment would be accomplished by installing vertical heating elements in a grid across the contaminated areas to achieve a target soil temperature of approximately 200 degrees Celsius (390 degrees Fahrenheit), which would effectively remove all hydrocarbon contaminants from the treatment area. Due to the location of the site and Proposed Action, encroachment on a floodplain is anticipated.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce contaminant concentrations in soil at the site, thereby mitigating the risk to human health and environment. The agency conducted the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F.
A public comment period for the Draft EA ends on June 21, 2023. The Draft EA is available for review at the following locations:
North Pole Branch Library - Fairbanks North Star Borough
656 NPHS Blvd
North Pole, AK 99705
(907) 488-6101
Tanana Commercial, Co.
100 1st Ave
Tanana, AK 99777
(907) 750-9123
The agency expects to issue an environmental determination in July 2023, after it considers and reviews all substantive comments received during the comment period.
DECISION:
FAA FONSI/ROD and Errata for the LGA MALSR Replacement Project
The FAA, Eastern Service Area, EOSH Center, is issuing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FAA’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) / Record of Decision (ROD) and Environmental Assessment (EA) Errata to implement the Runway 4 Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR) Replacement Project at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens, New York. The FONSI/ROD (PDF) documents the FAA’s decision to implement the Proposed Action alternative and the Errata Sheet is provided in lieu of a Final EA in compliance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Paragraph 6-2.2i.