[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27612-27613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12742]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Final Environmental Impact Statement; Colorado Airspace
Initiative (CAI)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation.
ACTION: Extension of the time period during which the FAA will receive
public comment on its Notice of Availability and Intent to Adopt the
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado Airspace
Initiative.
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SUMMARY: On Tuesday, April 27, 1999, the Federal Aviation
Administration provided notice that is was recirculating and intended
to adopt the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared by
the Air National Guard (ANG) for the modification of existing, and the
establishment of new military training airspace areas in Colorado,
hereinafter known as the Colorado Airspace Initiative (CAI). The
proposed actions assessed in the FEIS are substantially the same a the
new military training airspace that the ANG has asked the FAA to
designate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Gaffin, Environmental
Specialist, Environmental Programs Division (ATA-300), Office of Air
Traffic Airspace Management, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20591 (202) 267-3075.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As provided in 40 CFR 1506.3 and FAA Order
1050.1D, Policies and Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts,
the FEIS of another Federal Agency may be adopted in accordance with
the procedures in 40 CFR 1506.3. Under 40 CFR 1506.3(b), if the actions
covered by an EIS and the actions proposed by another Federal agency
are substantially the same, the agency adopting another agency's
statement is not required to recirculate it except as a final
statement. The FAA has determined that the proposed action of modifying
existing and establishing new military training airspace areas over the
State of Colorado is substantially the same as the actions considered
in the ANG's FEIS. FAA staff has independency reviewed the ANG FEIS to
determine if it is current and that the FAA NEPA procedures have been
satisfied. FAA has determined that the FEIS adequately assesses and
discloses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action.
FAA staff concluded that, after mitigation measures are taken into
consideration, the existing airspace can be modified and new military
training airspace can be established with no significant impacts on
environmental resources.
The proposal will modify existing and establish new military
training airspace areas over the State of Colorado. The ANG has
requested this action to respond to changes in readiness training
requirements. The requirements are reflected in specific United States
Air Force regulations for military aircraft and personnel operating in
the affected airspace. Additionally, this action responds to the
changes in commercial
[[Page 27613]]
aircraft arrival and departure corridors required for operation of the
Denver International Airport.
The ANG evaluated the environmental impacts of the CAI in its
document, Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado
Airspace Initiative, (FEIS) dated August 1997. The preferred
alternative was also the environmentally preferred alternative in the
FEIS. The preferred alternative was modified in response to concerns
raised by private citizens, government agencies, and various public
interest groups. The ANG changed its proposal to narrow the widths of
portions of corridors of four military training routes and withdrew one
route. Subsequently, the ANG issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on
October 28, 1997, approving the preferred alternative as modified. The
ANG then submitted the FEIS to the FAA with its application for
airspace approval.
In furtherance of CEQ regulations, in addition to the executive
summary of the ANG FEIS, the FAA is recirculating the following
information: (1) the ANG's ROD; (2) a summary of public comments
submitted during the aeronautical review and responses to the comments;
and (3) a summary of the refinements the ANG made in the ROD to the
preferred alternative after the ANG FEIS was issued.
Any person may obtain a copy of the ANG FEIS, ROD and the above-
referenced information by submitting a request to: Air National Guard
Readiness Center, Program Manager, CAI EIS, ANGRC/CEVP, 3500 Fetchet
Avenue, Andrews Air Force Base, MD 20762-5157.
Written comments may be sent to the address below, and are due by
June 21, 1999:
Federal Aviation Administration, Environmental Programs Division, Air
Traffic Airspace Management Program, Attn.: Elizabeth Gaffin, rm. 422,
800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 14, 1999.
William J. Marx,
Manager, Environmental Programs Division.
[FR Doc. 99-12742 Filed 5-19-99; 8:45 am]
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