[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29055-29058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13998]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Opportunity To Participate, Criteria Requirements and
Change of Application Procedure for Participation in the Fiscal Year
1998 Military Airport Program (MAP)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of criteria for application and designation,
redesignation, or continued participation, in the Fiscal Year 1998
Military Airport Program (MAP).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the criteria, application procedures and
schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in
designating, redesignating, and funding capital development for up to
12 airports in the 1998 MAP.
The 1998 MAP allows the Secretary to consider current or former
military airports: (1) that were realigned or closed under Base
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) procedures or 10 USC 2687 (property
normally reported to the General Services Administration for disposal);
or (2) current or former military airports at which grants would reduce
delays at airports that have 20,000 hours of annual delay in passenger
aircraft takeoffs and landings; or (3) at current or former military
airports which grants would enhance airport and air traffic control
system capacity in a metropolitan area.
DATES: Airport sponsors should address written applications for
designation, redesignation, or continued participation, in the fiscal
year 1998 Military Airport Program to the Federal Aviation
Administration Regional Airports Division or Airports District Office
that serves the airport. Applications must be received by that office
of the FAA on or before June 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and two copies of Standard Form 424,
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' and supporting and justifying
documentation, specifically requesting to be considered for
designation, redesignation to participate, or continue, in the fiscal
year 1998 Military Airport Program, to the Regional FAA Airports
Division or Airports District Office that serves the airport.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James V. Mottley or Leonard C.
Sandelli, Military Airport Program Branch (APP-420), Office of Airport
Planning and Programming, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591, (202) 267-8780, or (202)
267-8785, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Description of the Program
The Military Airport Program provides assistance to current or
former military airports in converting them to civil use, thereby
contributing to the capacity of the national air transportation system
and/or reducing congestion. Airports designated under the program may
obtain funds from a set-aside of four percent of Airport Improvement
Program (AIP) discretionary funds to undertake eligible airport
development, including certain types of projects not otherwise eligible
for AIP assistance.
Number of Airports
A maximum of 12 airports can participate in the 1998 MAP. There are
eight airports currently designated and the Secretary can designate up
to four more. The current participating airports are: Millington
Municipal Airport, Millington, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach International
Airport, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williams Gateway Airport,
Chandler, Arizona; Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin,
Texas; Homestead Regional Airport, Homestead, Florida; Rickenbacker
Airport, Columbus, Ohio; San Bernardino International Airport, San
Bernardino, California; Saywer Airport, Marquette, Michigan; and
Alexandria International Airport, Alexandria, Louisana.
Amount of MAP funds
The Secretary of Transportation shall allocate at least 4.0 percent
of the Discretionary Airport Improvement Program grant funds available
to airports designated under the 1998 MAP. However, for FY 1998 the
amount is limited to $26,000,000.
Term of Designation
Five years is the maximum period of eligibility for any airport to
participate in the MAP unless an airport sponsor reapplies and is
redesignated for another five year period.
Reapplication
Section 124 of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996
permits previously designated airports to apply for an additional five-
year period. The airport must have satisfactory MAP eligible projects
and must continue to satisfy the designation criteria for the MAP.
Eligible Projects
In addition to other eligible AIP projects, terminals, fuel farms
and utility systems and surface parking lots and hangars are eligible
to be funded from the MAP.
New Designation and Redesignation Considerations
In making designations of new candidate airports, the Secretary of
Transportation will consider the following general requirements:
1. The airport is a Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC)
or 10 USC 2687 closure or realignment, classified as a commercial
service or reliever airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport
Systems (NPIAS); or
2. The airport and grants issued for projects at the airport would
reduce delays at an airport with more than
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20,000 hours of annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs
and landings. Airports with 20,000 or more hours of delay and their
associated metropolitan areas are identified in the FAA's Aviation
Capacity Enhancement Plan DOT/FAA, Office of System Capacity, 1997
Aviation Capacity Enhancement Plan; or
3. The airport would enhance airport and air traffic control system
capacity in a metropolitan area or reduce current or projected flight
delays.
The application will be evaluated on how the proposed airport and
associated projects would make these contributions to conversion and
congestion relief and/or how the airport would enhance air traffic or
airport system capacity.
Project Evaluation
The FAA will evaluate the need for the projects in the candidate
airport's five year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and whether these
projects are related to conversion or capacity of that airport or the
airport and/or air traffic system. It is the intent of the Secretary of
Transportation to fund those airports that have the greatest conversion
needs and/or where the benefits to the capacity of the air traffic
control or airport system can be maximized, and/or the contribution to
reducing congestion can be maximized. Generally, the recently approved
BRAC or Title 10 Section 2678 closing or realigned bases or active
bases with new joint use agreements will be the locations with the
greatest conversion needs.
1. The FAA will evaluate the candidate airports and/or the airports
such candidates would relieve based on the following factors:
Compatibility of airport roles;
The capability of the candidate airport and its airside
and landside complex to serve aircraft that otherwise must use the
relieved airport;
Landside surface access;
Airport operational capability, including peak hour and
annual throughput capacities of the candidate airport;
Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve
the congested airport;
Ability to satisfy or meet air cargo demand within the
metropolitan area;
Forecasted aircraft and passenger levels, type of air
carrier service anticipated, i.e., scheduled and/or charter air carrier
service;
Type of aircraft projected to serve the airport and level
of operation at the relieved airport and the candidate airport;
The potential for the candidate 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
Any other documentation to support the FAA designation of
the candidate airport.
2. The FAA will evaluate the conversion and capacity related needs
which, if funded would make the airport a more viable civil airport.
This procedure conforms with FAA procedures for administering the
Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 47118,
as amended by Section 116 of Public Law 103-305 (August 23, 1994), and
the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996.
Application Procedures
Airport sponsors applying for consideration for inclusion
(``candidate airports'' or ``Redesignation'') or continuation in the
MAP (``current airports applying for continuation'') must complete a
Standard Form 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' and submit
documentation to the appropriate FAA office as outlined below. Each
sponsor must specifically state in the Standard Form 424, or in its
transmittal, that the airport is: (1) applying in response to this
notice for consideration as a new candidate for the MAP; (2) if
designated in 1994 or thereafter, that the airport is applying as a
continuing participant in the MAP; or (3) applying for redesignation.
The additional information and data required to support the MAP
criteria must be attached to the Application.
Application Procedures and Required Documentation
New Candidate Airports and Airports Applying for Redesignation for
Another Five-Year Term
Submit an Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424,
along with the documentation and justification indicated below to
request designation by the Secretary of Transportation to participate
in the Military Airport Program. This should identify the airport as
either a current or former military airport and identify whether it was
closed or realigned under Public Law 100-526, Public Law 101-510
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and
Closure Commissions), 10 U.S.C. 2687 (bases closed by DOD and reported
to the General Services Administration) or a joint use of an active
military airfield.
A. Qualifications for Additional Candidates
For (1) through (6) below the applicant does not need to resubmit
any documentation that has been previously submitted to the regional
Airports division or Airports district office. There is no need to
submit duplicate information in response to this notice.
(1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. Section 47102(16).
(2) Documentation that the required environmental review process
for civil reuse or joint-use of the military airfield has been
completed. (This is not the environmental review for the projects under
this program, but the environmental review necessary for title
transfer, a long term lease, or a joint use agreement). The
environmental reviews and approvals must indicate that the airport
would be able to receive grants during the five years in the program.
(3) In the case of a former military airport, documentation that
the local or State airport sponsor holds or will hold satisfactory
title, a long term lease in furtherance of conveyance of property for
airport purposes, or a long term interim lease for 22 years or more, to
the property on which the civil airport is being located. The capital
development project needs to be in place for 20 years. In the case of a
current military airport, documentation that the airport sponsor has an
existing joint-use agreement with the military department having
jurisdiction over the airport. This is necessary so the FAA can legally
issue grants to the sponsor.
(4) Documentation that the service level the airport is expected to
provide is a ``commercial service airport'' or a ``reliever airport''
as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(7) and 47102(18), respectively, and is
included in the current National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.
(5) Documentation that the airport has an eligible airport
``sponsor'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(19).
(6) Documentation that the airport has an approved airport layout
plan (ALP) and a five year capital improvement plan indicating all
eligible grant projects either seeking to be funded from the MAP or
other portions of the Airport Improvement Program. The five year plan
must also specifically identify the capacity and conversion related
projects, associated costs and projected five year schedule of project
construction, including those requested for consideration for 1998 MAP
funding.
(7) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of
visual or
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instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the current or
former military airport and, if applicable, the relieved airport. Also,
if applicable, information on how the airport contributes to air
traffic system or airport system capacity. If served by commercial air
carriers, the revenue passenger and cargo levels should be provided.
(8) A description of the projected civil role and development needs
for transitioning from use as a military airfield to a civil airport,
as appropriate, and how development projects would serve to convert the
airport to civil use and/or reduce delays at an airport with more than
20,000 hours of annual delay in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs
and landings and/or how the projects would contribute to the airport
and air traffic control system capacity in a metropolitan area or
reduce current or projected flight delays.
(9) A description of the existing airspace capacity. Describe how
anticipated new operations would affect the surrounding airspace and
air traffic flow patterns in the metropolitan area in or near which a
current or former military airport is located. Include a discussion of
the level to which operations at this airport create airspace conflicts
that may cause congestion or whether air traffic works into the flow of
other air traffic in the area.
(10) A description of the five year capital improvement plan (CIP),
including a discussion of major projects, their priorities, projected
schedule for project accomplishment, and estimated costs. Capacity
related and/or conversion related projects should be specifically
identified, especially those that the airport sponsor proposes to fund
under the MAP. A copy of the CIP should also be submitted.
(11) A description of projects that are consistent with the role of
the airport and effectively contribute to converting the airfield to a
civil airport. Projects can be related to various improvement
categories depending on the need to convert from military to civil
airport use, to meet required civil airport standards, and/or required
to provide capacity to the airport and/or airport system. The projects
selected, i.e., safety related, conversion-related, and capacity-
related, must be identified and fully explained based on the airport's
planned use. The sponsor needs to submit the airport layout plan (ALP)
and other maps or charts that clearly identify and help clarify the
eligible projects and designate them as conversion-related, or
capacity-related. It should be cross referenced with the project costs
and project descriptions. Projects that could be eligible under MAP if
needed for conversion-related or capacity-related purposes include:
Airside
Modification of airport or military airfield for safety
purposes or airport pavements (including widths), marking, lighting or
strengthening, and of structures or other features in the airport
environs to meet civil standards for airport imaginary surfaces.
Facilities or support facilities such as passenger
terminal gates, aprons for passenger terminals, taxiways to new
terminal facilities, aircraft parking, and cargo facilities to
accommodate civil use.
Modification of airport or military utilities (electrical
distribution systems, communications lines, water, sewer, drainage) to
meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow civil airport
utilities to operate independently if other portions of the base are to
parties other than the airport. (This is important where portions of
the base are being transferred to an entity different from the airport
sponsor.)
Purchase, rehabilitation, or modification of airport and
support facilities, including aircraft rescue and fire fighting
buildings and equipment, airport security requirements, lighting
vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation of buildings for more
efficient civil airport operations, and snow removal equipment.
Modification of airport or military airfield fuel systems
and fuel farms to accommodate civil aviation activities.
Acquisition of additional land for runway protection
zones, other approach protection, or airport development.
Landside
Construction of surface parking areas and access roads to
accommodate automobiles in the airport terminal area and provide an
adequate level of access to the airport.
Construction or relocation of access roads to provide
efficient and convenient movement of vehicular traffic to, on and from
the airport, including access to passenger, air cargo, fixed base
operations, and aircraft maintenance areas.
Modification or construction of facilities such as
passenger terminals, surface automobile parking, hangars, and access to
cargo facilities to accommodate civil use.
(12) An evaluation of the ability of surface transportation
facilities (road, rail, high speed rail, maritime) to provide
intermodal connections.
(13) A description of the type and level of aviation and community
interest in the civil use of a current or former military airport.
(14) One copy of the FAA approved ALP for each copy of the
application. The ALP or supporting information should clearly show
capacity and conversion related projects. Also, other information such
as project costs, schedule, project justification, other maps and
drawings showing the project locations, and any other supporting
documentation that would make the application easier to understand
should be included.
Current Airports Applying for Continuation
B. Airports with less than five years in the MAP need to submit the
following in order to respond to this notice and remain in the program.
(1) An Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424, along
with the documentation and justification indicated below to request
participation in the Military Airport Program. Identify the airport as
one with less than five years in the MAP applying for continuation.
(2) Identify the existing and potential levels of visual or
instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the current or
former military airport and the relieved airport if there is any change
from the previous information submitted.
(3) Provide a detailed discussion of the projected civil role and
continuing development needs for converting a military airfield to a
civil airport, and/or how development projects would reduce delays at
an airport with more than 20,000 hours of annual delay in commercial
passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings, if applicable.
(4) Describe the five year CIP, including a discussion of major
projects, their priorities, projected schedule for project
accomplishment, and estimated costs, annotated and identified as
capacity related, and/or conversion related purposes.
(5) Submit one copy of the FAA approved ALP for each copy of the
application. The ALP should clearly show the CIP projects. Also include
any other information or drawings that would show and/or clarify the
five year plan identifying capacity, and conversion related projects,
associated costs, schedule, and project justification.
Airports that have already submitted this information for the 1997
Military Airport Program and have been continued only need to submit
updated information and changes in order to continue receiving grants
under this program.
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Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for
Another Five-Year Term in the Program
C. Airports applying for another five years in the Military Airport
Program need to submit the information required by new candidate
airports applying for a new designation. They need to explain in their
application why another five-year term is needed to accomplish the
conversion to the civil role of the airport.
This notice is issued pursuant to section 49 U.S.C. 47118.
Issued at Washington, DC, on May 20, 1998.
Paul L. Galis,
Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 98-13998 Filed 5-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
