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From page 53... ... C-1 A P P E N D I X C Case Study Narratives Case Study 1 General Aviation Airport Runway and apron rehabilitation, drainage improvements, and rotating beacon replacement Categorical Exclusion Project Description The interviews with FAA NEPA practitioners indicate that pavement rehabilitation is one of the most common projects reviewed at GA airports. Several of the FAA NEPA practitioners interviewed also emphasized the need for the project description to include all elements. Read the entire page →
From page 54... ... C-2 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Air Quality With regard to air quality, extraordinary circumstances that would preclude the use of a CATEX for NEPA compliance include not conforming to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and/or exceeding any National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Read the entire page →
From page 55... ... Case Study Narratives C-3 Stormwater Management. As noted above, the Airport operates under a NPDES general permit, which would remain in effect. Read the entire page →
From page 56... ... C-4 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Case Study 2 Non-Hub Commercial Service (61 percent of operations by GA aircraft) Fixed Base Operator Hangar and Tie-Down Positions Categorical Exclusion Project Description The Proposed hangar development consists of two temporary hangars and the demolition and replacement of Hangar 756 with a new 42,500 square-foot structure that would provide fixed base operator (FBO) Read the entire page →
From page 57... ... Case Study Narratives C-5 not eligible for listing on the National Register. Had the SHPO determined that the hangar was eligible for listing, the sponsor would have had to demonstrate that no other alternative would have met the purpose and need for the proposed action or accepted a less than optimal solution. Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... C-6 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Case Study 3 General Aviation Airport (historical air taxi service) Categorical Exclusion Project Description The airport is in an attainment area, which limits the need for air quality analysis, and is also in a designated coastal zone. Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... Case Study Narratives C-7 Water Quality The project would not alter drainage patterns on the Airport, but would slightly increase the total impervious surface. Open turf ditches would be used to contain the runoff. Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... C-8 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Case Study 4 Non-Hub Commercial Service (93 percent of operations by GA aircraft) Land Transfer, Non-aeronautical (Commercial) Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... Case Study Narratives C-9 however, no live birds could be taken because of construction activities. The Airport Sponsor committed to adhering to USFWS regulations regarding nest destruction and Migratory Bird Conservation Actions to minimize the risk of taking migratory birds. Read the entire page →
From page 62... ... C-10 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports • Consultation with USFWS regarding MBTA issues supported by field work conducted by specialized consultants • Wetland and biological resources site surveys by qualified biologists • Preparation of a construction emissions estimate • Preparation of a traffic impact study and consultation with regional transportation officials Read the entire page →
From page 63... ... Case Study Narratives C-11 Case Study 5 Non-Hub Commercial Service (93 percent of operations by GA aircraft) Non-Aeronautical (Aircraft Manufacturing) Read the entire page →
From page 64... ... C-12 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports matter 10 maintenance area, and all other criteria pollutants. An operational emission inventory using the AEDT, Version 2b, quantified potential emissions because of operating additional PC-24 flights induced by the project. Read the entire page →
From page 65... ... Case Study Narratives C-13 Wetlands Three wetlands and a drainage swale were identified during a January 2016 survey of the project area. All three wetlands and the drainage swale were determined to be non-jurisdictional wetlands, thereby not requiring a Section 404 permit from the USACE. Read the entire page →
From page 66... ... C-14 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Case Study 6 General Aviation Airport Taxiway Extension and Rehabilitation Categorical Exclusion Project Description The airport sponsor City proposed the extension of an existing partial parallel taxiway to connect with the southern threshold of the runway. This included clearing and grading for the taxiway extension, drainage improvements that would include a new open channel, an inlet and cross-drain under the proposed taxiway extension to tie into the existing storm drainage system, revegetating disturbed areas, and pavement marking of the completed operational surfaces. Read the entire page →
From page 67... ... Case Study Narratives C-15 Case Study 7 General Aviation Airport Runway Reconstruction Categorical Exclusion Project Description The proposed action as the implementation of a Pavement Management and Maintenance Plan to repair and rehabilitate two subsidence areas on the runway. A report was prepared that addressed the issues associated with subsidence areas and included soils and geotechnical investigations to better understand the issues associated with the subsidence areas. Read the entire page →
From page 68... ... C-16 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Case Study 8 General Aviation Airport Non-aeronautical Development Programmatic Environmental Assessment Project Descriptions The airport sponsor desired to make the airport more financially self-sufficient by developing about 450 acres in aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue generating uses. The most recent airport master plan determined that the area was not required to meet forecast aviation demand. Read the entire page →
From page 69... ... Case Study Narratives C-17 related emissions resulting from the project would remain well below de minimis thresholds for maintenance area. • Vehicular emissions resulting from operation of Phase I development were considered to be consistent with the SIP because the project was consistent with future development anticipated in the region and would draw employees from the region. Read the entire page →
From page 70... ... C-18 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports proposals materialize within the "shelf life" of the NEPA document (currently 3 years after approval) , it is covered by the FONSI or FONSI/ROD providing that it complies with the established conditions. Read the entire page →
From page 71... ... Case Study Narratives C-19 Case Study 9 General Aviation NPIAS Reliever Airport Airfield Safety Enhancement Project Environmental Assessment Project Description The Airport proposed to enhance safety by capping an open-air creek that bisects the airfield to eliminate a wildlife attractant. The original project also involved the realignment of a taxiway to accommodate planned landside development. Read the entire page →
From page 72... ... C-20 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports Wetlands Three wetlands totaling 0.19 acres were identified during a March 2013 wetland delineation of the project area. Coordination with the USACE indicated all three wetlands were jurisdictional and would require a Section 404 permit. Read the entire page →
From page 73... ... Case Study Narratives C-21 Case Study 10 General Aviation Airport Rotating Beacon and Airport Weather Surveillance System (AWOS) Categorical Exclusion Project Description The small airport was not equipped with adequate weather-monitoring equipment. Read the entire page →
From page 74... ... C-22 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports impervious surfaces. For these reasons, the Project would not adversely affect the beneficial values of the floodplain. Read the entire page →
From page 75... ... Case Study Narratives C-23 Case Study 11 General Aviation Airport Runway Extension and Runway Safety Area Improvements Environmental Assessment Project Description The runway extension is intended to meet the following objectives. • Increase the Airport capability to support regional aerial fire suppression operations • Improve the existing northeastern Minnesota aerial fire suppression geographical coverage • Improve the takeoff and landing distance related to the existing runway length, thus increasing safety for aircraft using the runway • Support statewide and federal aerial fire suppression goals and objectives • Provide an improved connection to the state and federal air transportation system via increased runway length that accommodates a wider range of aircraft now and in the future. Read the entire page →
From page 76... ... C-24 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports of the EA to obtain information and ensure that the tribal communities were afforded the opportunity to comment on the proposed runway extension. Wetlands A wetland delineation was completed and all wetlands were mapped and verified by the USACE. Read the entire page →
From page 77... ... Case Study Narratives C-25 Case Study 12 General Aviation Airport Aeronautical Development and Supporting Infrastructure Environmental Assessment Project Description The airport sponsor of a large GA airport with substantial corporate aviation activity proposed to redevelop and upgrade GA facilities in one portion of the airport and to develop another previously undeveloped parcel of airport property to maximize its potential to accommodate aviation related activities. The goal for this development was to enhance the financial self-sufficiency of the airport. Read the entire page →
From page 78... ... C-26 Guidance for Using the Interactive Tool for Understanding NEPA at General Aviation Airports of intermittent/perineal waterway within the area of ground disturbing activities. Executive Order 11990 prohibits the FAA from approving development that would fill wetlands if a practicable alternative exists. Read the entire page →
From page 79... ... Case Study Narratives C-27 envelopes in the remaining areas to reduce the potential floodplain impacts from 23 to 15 acres of floodplain encroachment. The proposed project would also affect about 1.5 acres of wetlands due to the interruption of drainage patterns on which these wetlands depended. Read the entire page →

From page 53...

... C-1 A P P E N D I X C Case Study Narratives Case Study 1 General Aviation Airport Runway and apron rehabilitation, drainage improvements, and rotating beacon replacement Categorical Exclusion Project Description The interviews with FAA NEPA practitioners indicate that pavement rehabilitation is one of the most common projects reviewed at GA airports. Several of the FAA NEPA practitioners interviewed also emphasized the need for the project description to include all elements.