2015 Re-Evaluation of the O'Hare Modernization Environmental Impact Statement

The City of Chicago (City) has undertaken a program to modernize Chicago O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare) as approved in the O'Hare Modernization Environmental Impact Statement issued by FAA in July 2005. Designed to facilitate a primarily east and west traffic flow, the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) Build-Out is depicted on the FAA-approved Airport Layout Plan for O'Hare. The OMP runway projects completed include: new Runway 9L/27R on the north airfield and the extension to Runway 10L/28R on the south airfield, both of which were commissioned in 2008; and new Runway 10C/28C that was commissioned on October 17, 2013.

In January 2011, both United and American Airlines filed a state court lawsuit against the City regarding the timing and funding for the Completion Phase of the OMP. In March 2011, following negotiations with signatory airlines, it was announced there would be a construction schedule modification to the remaining airfield projects included in the OMP. The negotiations led to an agreement on a schedule to construct portions of the Completion Phase (Phase 2A) and an agreement to reconvene in March 2013 to begin to negotiate construction of the remaining portions of the Program (Phase 2B). Phase 2A includes the southern Runway 10R/28L and associated projects, plus North Airfield enabling projects (see diagram). Specifically, the commissioning of new Runway 10R/28L, new Runway 9C/27C and the extension of Runway 9R/27L would not occur within a single year, 2013, as previously documented in the EIS. Instead, Runway 10R/28L will be commissioned on October 15, 2015, new Runway 9C/27C is planned to be commissioned in November 2020, and the extension of Runway 9R/27L is planned to be commissioned in November 2021.

Substantial steps have been taken, and continue to occur, to construct Runway 9C/27C and the extension to Runway 9R/27L, including site preparation and construction of enabling projects. The current Re-Evaluation of the O'Hare Modernization Environmental Impact Statement will enable the FAA to consider and disclose any temporary impacts associated with the modified construction schedule. As noted above, the final airfield project – the extension of Runway 9R/27L just north of the terminal complex – is planned to be commissioned by November 2021, and when open, will represent the full completion of the Build Out presented in the original Environmental Impact Statement.

This Re-Evaluation was conducted to evaluate changes associated with the airfield construction schedule modifications that alter the timing for commissioning new Runway 10R/28L, new Runway 9C/27C, and the extension of 9R/27L, all of which were included in the original EIS but at different completion dates than those above. As such, the two interim conditions evaluated in this Re-Evaluation are:

• Airfield present after the October 15, 2015 commissioning of Runway 10R/28L, and
• Airfield present after the November 2020 commissioning of Runway 9C/27C.

A Re-Evaluation is a document the responsible FAA official prepares to document the validity of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement. Conversely, a Re-Evaluation may conclude that substantial changes to the project or new information pertaining to affected environmental resources require preparation of a new Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement (FAA Order 5050.4b Para. 5(v)). This Re-Evaluation of the Environmental Impact Statement was being prepared to determine the validity of the Environmental Impact Statement by demonstrating if the data and analyses of the original Environmental Impact Statement are still substantially valid and if there are no new circumstances bearing on the original Proposed Action or its impacts. It also was conducted to determine if pertinent conditions of the prior Environmental Impact Statement approval have been shown to have been met or that they still will be.

Final Re-Evaluation

The Final Re-Evaluation of the O'Hare Modernization Environmental Impact Statement is available online to the public through the following links. For ease of accessing the document, FAA has divided the document into the chapters and appendices listed below. It is recommended that the reader download the document to their computer rather than attempt opening the files on the FAA website.

• Final Re-Evaluation Cover (PDF)
• Table of Contents (PDF)
• Chapter 1 – Executive Summary (PDF)
• Chapter 2 – Focus of the Written Re-Eval (PDF)
• Chapter 3 – Impact Re-Evaluation (PDF)
• Chapter 4 – Public Outreach (PDF)
• Chapter 5 – List of Preparers (PDF)
• Chapter 6 – Determination and Findings (PDFF)
• Appendix A – TAAM Version Evaluation (PDF)
• Appendix B – Aviation Activity Forecast Review (PDF)
• Appendix C – Noise and Land Use (PDF)
• Appendix D – Surface Transportation (PDF)
• Appendix E – Air Quality (PDF)
• Appendix F – Climate Change (PDF)
• Appendix G – Cumulative Impacts (PDF)
• Appendix H – Public Outreach (PDF)
• Appendix I – Response to Comments
  Individuals who elected to have their names and addresses included in the Final Re-Evaluation can electronically search the Appendix I files below for responses to their comments on the Draft Re-Evaluation.
  • Section I.1 – Introduction and Section I.2 – Agency, Municipalities & Other Entity Comments (PDF)
  • Section I.3.1 – August 10 Workshop (PDF)
  • Section I.3.2 – August 11 Workshop (PDF)
  • Section I.3.3 – August 12 Workshop (PDF)
  • Section I.3.4 – August 13 Workshop (PDF)
  • Section I.4 – Postal, Email & Fax (PDF)

The Final Re-Evaluation was provided to the following libraries for public viewing to start on October 14, 2015:

Libraries

Draft Re-Evaluation

The Draft Re-Evaluation of the O'Hare Modernization Environmental Impact Statement is available online to the public through the following links. For ease of accessing the document, FAA has divided the document into the chapters and appendices listed below. It is recommended that the reader download the document to their computer rather than attempt opening the files on the FAA website. Information on Public Workshops and commenting on the Draft Re-Evaluation is also provided at the bottom of this page.

• Draft Re-Evaluation Cover (PDF)
• Table of Contents (PDF)
• Chapter 1 – Executive Summary (PDF)
• Chapter 2 – Focus of the Written Re-Eval (PDF)
• Chapter 3 – Impact Re-Evaluation (PDF)
• Chapter 4 – Public Outreach (PDF)
• Chapter 5 – List of Preparers (PDF)
• Appendix A – TAAM Version Evaluation (PDF)
• Appendix B – Aviation Activity Forecast Review (PDF)
• Appendix C – Noise and Land Use (PDF)
• Appendix D – Surface Transportation (PDF)
• Appendix E – Air Quality (PDF)
• Appendix F – Climate Change (PDF)
• Appendix G – Cumulative Impacts (PDF)
• Appendix H – Public Outreach (PDF)

The Draft Re-Evaluation was provided to the following libraries to be available for review through August 26, 2015:

Libraries

Public Workshops

The FAA sought comments from Federal, State, local entities, and the public on the Draft Re-Evaluation. The FAA conducted four public workshops on:

• Monday, August 10, 2015, from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at White Eagle Banquets, 6839 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, Illinois 60714
• Tuesday, August 11, 2015, from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Taft High School, 6530 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60631
• Wednesday, August 12, 2015, from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Monty's Elegant Banquets, 703 South York Road, Bensenville, Illinois 60106
• Thursday, August 13, 2015, from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Belvedere Events and Banquets, 1170 West Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007

The meetings were workshop style with a room for the public to ask questions to the FAA and its consultants directly, with presentation boards depicting information contained in the Draft Re-Evaluation. There also were separate rooms with multiple court reporter stations for the public to provide verbal comments, on the record, after participating in the workshop. Comment forms were also available for use at the workshops.

Commenting on the Draft Re-Evaluation of the O'Hare Modernization EIS

The comment period on the Draft Re-Evaluation was from July 27, 2015 through August 26, 2015. Comments were directed to Ms. Amy Hanson, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; (847) 294-7046 (facsimile); or via email: omre-eval@faa.gov. Comments must have been postmarked and emails sent by no later than by midnight on August 26, 2015.

If you have any problems accessing any of the information presented on this website, please e-mail cmp@faa.gov.