[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42748-42751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20142]
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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 Military
Airport Program (MAP)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of criteria and application procedure for designation or
re-designation, for the Fiscal year 1999 and 2000 Military Airport
Program (MAP), based on current and proposed legislation.
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[[Page 42749]]
SUMMARY: This notice announces the criteria, application procedures and
schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in
designating, re-designating, and funding capital development for
currently up to 12 and potentially more airports in the MAP. Pending
re-authorizing legislation may permit more airports to be designated
and funded in future fiscal years. Once an authorization is enacted,
the FAA may, if necessary, issue a new notice clarifying any change in
the program including criteria and eligibility.
The MAP allows the Secretary to designate current or former
military airports for which grants may be made under the Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) and which airports, when at least partly
converted to civilian commercial or reliever airports as part of the
national air transportation system, will enhance airport and air
traffic control system capacity in major metropolitan areas or reduce
current and projected flight delays. The Secretary is authorized to
designate an airport only if:
(1) the airport is a former military installation closed or
realigned under--
(A) Title 10 U.S.C. 2687.
(B) Section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base
Closure and Realignment Act (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
(C) Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of
1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
(2) the Secretary determines that AIP grants at such airport
would--
(A) reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of
annual delays in a commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings;
or
(B) enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in a
metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight delays.
49 U.S.C. 47118
DATES: Airport sponsors should address written applications for new
designation and re-designation in the Military Airport Program to the
Federal Aviation Administration Regional Airports Division or Airports
District Office that serves the airport. That office of the FAA must
receive applications on or before September 7, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and two copies of Standard Form (SF) 424,
``Application for Federal Assistance,'', http://www.whitehouse.OMB/
grants/index.html, and supporting and justifying documentation
specifically requesting to be considered for designation or re-
designation to participate in the Military Airport Program, to the
Regional FAA Airports Division or Airports District Office that serves
the airport. Applicants may find the proper office on the FAA website
http://www.faa.gov/arp/arphome.htm or contact the office below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James V. Mottley
(jim.mottley@faa.gov) or Leonard C. Sandelli (len.sandelli@faa.gov),
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 capital development
assistance to civil airport sponsors at designated current (joint-use)
military airfields or former military airports in converting to civil
use. Airports designated under the program may obtain funds from a set-
aside (currently four percent) of AIP discretionary funds to undertake
eligible airport development, including certain types of projects not
otherwise eligible for AIP assistance.
Once an authorization is enacted by Congress, the FAA may, if
necessary, issue a new notice clarifying any change in the program
including criteria and eligibility and solicit applicants.
Number of Airports
Currently, a maximum of 12 airports can participate in the MAP.
There are eleven airports currently designated and the Secretary can
designate one more under the current FAA authorization. Future FAA
authorization legislation may permit additional designations from
applications submitted pursuant to this notice. If increased, the
Secretary may designate additional airports based on applications
submitted pursuant to this notice, or subsequent notices.
Amount of MAP Funds
Currently all of the 1999 MAP funds have been allocated to the
participating airports. Any airport designated to MAP during FY 1999
will not be funded until FY 2000, pending FAA authorizing legislation.
Funding after FY 1999 will be based on FY 2000 authorization and
obligation authority levels.
Term of Designation
Five years is the maximum period of eligibility, unless modified by
legislation, for any airport to participate in the MAP unless an
airport sponsor reapplies and is re-designated. Periods of
redesignation for periods of less than five years are being considered
in authorizing legislation.
Reapplication
49 U.S.C. 47118(d) permits previously designated airports to apply
for re-designation. The airport must have 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,
utility systems, surface parking lots and hangars are eligible to be
funded from the MAP. Cargo facilities up to 50,000 square feet are
being considered in proposed FAA authorizing legislation. Airports
requiring these facilities should consider including any cargo building
requirements in project justifications and airport capital development
plan (ACIP) portions of the application.
New Designation and Re-designation Considerations
In making designations of new candidate airports, the Secretary of
Transportation will consider the following general requirements:
1. The airport is a Department of Defense (DOD) Base Realignment
and Closure (BRAC) closing military airfield or 10 USC 2687 closure or
realignment, classified as a commercial service or reliever airport in
the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Pending FAA
authorizing legislation may allow DOD BRAC or 10 USC 2687 closing and
realignment airports classified as general aviation (GA) in the NPIAS
to participate in the MAP, so airports meeting other eligibility
requirements and categorized as GA, should apply; or
2. The airport and grants issued for projects at the airport would
reduce delays at an airport with more than 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, 1998 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 congestion relief
and/or how the airport would enhance air traffic or airport system
capacity, and provide adequate user services.
[[Page 42750]]
Project Evaluation
Recently approved BRAC or Title 10 U.S.C. 2678 closing or realigned
bases or active bases with new joint use agreements will be the
locations with the greatest conversion needs, necessary to achieve a
successful civil airport operation. New joint use locations and newly
converting airports frequently have minimum capital development
resources and will receive priority consideration for designation and
MAP funding. The FAA will evaluate the need for the eligible projects
in the candidate airport's five year ACIP, and whether these projects
are related to development of that airport and/or air traffic system.
It is the intent of the Secretary of Transportation to fund those
airports 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.
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, and the ability of the
airport to provide an adequate airport facility;
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, relieve 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 and capacity 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 development needs, which, if funded,
would make the airport a viable civil airport that will enhance system
capacity or reduce delays. Newly closing installations or airport
sponsors with new joint use agreements with existing military aviation
facilities will be strongly considered for designation since they tend
to have the greatest conversion needs.
Application Procedures and Required Documentation
Airport sponsors applying for consideration for designation or
Redesignation must complete a Standard Form 424, ``Application for
Federal Assistance,'' and submit documentation to the appropriate FAA
office as outlined below. They must submit an Application for Federal
Assistance, SF 424, to the Airports District Office or FAA Regional
Airports Division which serves that airport. The SF 424 must indicate
that this is an initial application or reapplication for the MAP, and
must be accompanied by the documentation and justification indicated
below to request designation by the Secretary of Transportation to
participate in the Military Airport Program.
New Candidate Airports and Airports Applying for Redesignation
This information must identify the airport as either a current or
former military airport and identify whether it was:
1. Closed or realigned under Section 201 of the Defense
Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act, and/or
Section 2905 of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and
Closure Commissions),
2. 10 U.S.C. 2687 (bases closed by DOD and reported to the General
Services Administration) or
3. A joint use of an active military airfield.
A. Qualifications
For (1) through (6) below the applicant does not need to resubmit
any unchanged documentation that has been previously submitted to the
regional Airports division or Airports district office.
(1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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, usually done by
the military department, for conveyance of airport property, a long-
term lease, or a joint use agreement. The environmental reviews and
approvals must indicate that the airport would be able to have
sufficient property rights to meet AIP requirements.
(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 25 years or more, to
the property on which the civil airport is being located. An
application for airport property accepted by the Government is
sufficient, unless there is reason to believe that a long term lease or
conveyance would be delayed for a long time. 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 at 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 NPIAS. Pending FAA authorization
legislation may permit designation of some general aviation airports in
the NPIAS.
(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 ACIP indicating all eligible grant projects
either seeking to be funded from the MAP or other portions of the AIP.
The five-year plan must also specifically identify the safety, capacity
and conversion related projects, associated costs and projected five-
year schedule of project construction, including those requested for
consideration for MAP funding.
(7) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of
visual or 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
and how
[[Page 42751]]
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 ACIP, including a discussion of
major projects, their priorities, projected schedule for project
accomplishment, and estimated costs. Eligible MAP safety, capacity
related and/or conversion related projects should be specifically
identified, that are proposes for funding under the MAP.
(11) A description of projects, that are consistent with the role
of the airport and effectively contribute to joint use or convert 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 safety-related,
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, must be clearly indicated, and 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, storm
drainage) to meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow
utilities on the civil airport to operate independently, if other
portions of the base are conveyed to entities other than the airport
sponsor or retained by the Government.
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 use.
Acquisition of additional land for runway protection
zones, other approach protection, or airport development.
Cargo facility requirements.
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.
Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for up
to an Additional Five Years in the Program
Airports applying for redesignation to the Military Airport Program
need to submit the information required by new candidate airports
applying for a new designation. On the SF (SF) 424 those airports need
to indicate that this is an application for redesignation to the MAP.
In addition to the above information, they need to explain:
(1) Why a redesignation and additional MAP eligible project funding
is needed to accomplish the conversion to meet the civil role of the
airport.
(2) Why an additional designation is necessary and funding of
eligible work under other categories of AIP or other sources of funding
would not accomplish the development needs of the airport,
(3) Based on the previously funded MAP projects, state why these
projects and funding level were insufficient to accomplish the airport
conversion needs and development goals.
Pending legislation may provide that the airport may be designated
for a term less than five years.
This notice is issued pursuant to Title 49 U.S.C. 47118.
Issued at Washington, DC, on July 30, 1999.
Catherine M. Lang,
Acting Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 99-20142 Filed 8-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
