EIS Information
4. Q: Are there independent environment analysis agencies available for hire to review the EIS instead of the FAA and EPA?
3. Q: Where can I find the EIS?
2. Q: Was the OMP analyzed for environmental impacts?
1. Q: Was there public outreach during the EIS process that Park Ridge residents could participate in?
4. Q: Are there independent environment analysis agencies available for hire to review the EIS instead of the FAA and EPA?
FAA Response: The Federal Aviation Administration is the agency authorized and required by Federal law to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with respect to major airport projects. The FAA conducted the EIS in full compliance with NEPA and in coordination with all relevant Federal, state, and local agencies.
3. Q: Where can I find the EIS?
FAA Response: The EIS can be found on the web or you can send an email to cmp@faa.gov or call (847) 294-7131 to obtain a copy on electronic media format.
2. Q: Was the OMP analyzed for environmental impacts?
FAA Response: Yes. The FAA analyzed the OMP’s and the Master Plan Projects’ potential environmental impacts for approximately three years, from 2002 to 2005. Public scoping meetings for the FAA EIS were held on August 21-22, 2002. An information meeting was held on August 29, 2002, specifically for the mayors of municipalities surrounding O’Hare. In March 2003, the FAA conducted a public meeting introducing the preliminary purpose and need statement for the EIS. In October 2003, the FAA conducted a working session with invited members of local government to discuss the alternatives for consideration during the EIS process. In order to inform the public of the development of the EIS, the FAA made public on its website the environmental modeling data and other documentation related to the EIS.
The FAA issued the Draft EIS in January 2005, public meetings on the Draft EIS were held on February 22-24, 2005, and the Final EIS was issued in July 2005. On September 30, 2005, the FAA issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for O’Hare Modernization. Information on the FAA’s analysis of the OMP and Master Plan Projects.
In addition, the FAA gave briefings on the development of the EIS for OMP to the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) at ONCC meetings on February 7, 2003, June 4, 2004, January 25, 2005, and June 3, 2005.
1. Q: Was there public outreach during the EIS process that Park Ridge residents could participate in?
FAA Response: For the FAA’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) processes, Public Scoping Meetings were held on August 21-22, 2002. They were held from 4-8 PM. Park Ridge Mayor Wietecha and a number of Park Ridge residents attended the Scoping Meetings, and the City of Park Ridge submitted comments on the materials presented at this meeting. In March 2003, the FAA conducted a public meeting introducing the preliminary purpose and need statement for the EIS. The City of Park Ridge submitted comments on the materials presented at this meeting, and the FAA responses are contained in Appendix U of the Final EIS, pages U.4-12 through U.4-34. In October 2003, the FAA conducted a working session with invited members of local government to discuss the alternatives for consideration during the EIS process. Aldermen Jeff Cox and Dawn Disher attended this meeting.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was issued in January 2005, and public meetings on the Draft EIS were held on February 22-24, 2005. Notice of the publication of the Draft EIS and the public meetings was issued in local newspapers, the Federal Register, the local TV media, and the FAA’s O’Hare Modernization EIS website. The public meeting located closest to Park Ridge was held on February 24th in Niles. The FAA provided, via email on April 28, 2005, an information package on the potential noise impacts to Park Ridge presented in the EIS, requested by Alderman Disher in March 2005 (the material is enclosed). The Final EIS was issued in July 2005. Notice of the publication of the Final EIS was issued in local newspapers, the Federal Register, and the FAA’s O’Hare Modernization EIS website.
The Park Ridge Public Library was provided copies of the Draft and Final EIS documents, in January and July 2005 respectively. The FAA requested that the documents remain available for public review during the documents’ public review and comment periods. Within the EIS process hundreds of pages of comments were submitted on the Draft and Final EIS and responded to by the FAA.
In order to inform the public of the development of the EIS, the FAA published environmental modeling data and other documentation on its website related to the EIS. The Park Ridge Public Library was also one of the 4 libraries immediately surrounding O’Hare that had copies of all of the modeling data starting on March 4, 2005. The FAA requested that the CDs and DVDs be available for public use.
If you cannot read a PDF file, please call (847) 294-7131, or email cmp@faa.gov.