Air Traffic Organization Environmental Reviews

NOTICE:

FAA to Hold Virtual Public Workshops on Florida Metroplex (PDF)

NOTICE:

FAA Posts Draft EA for South-Central Florida Metroplex

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has posted the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project, the agency's plan to modernize air traffic procedures for four major air carrier airports and 17 additional airports in the southern half of the state.

A 60-day public comment period for the Draft EA begins today and ends on July 10, 2020. The agency expects to issue an environmental determination in September 2020, after it considers and reviews all substantive comments received during the comment period. The public can review the Draft EA and submit comments on this page.

The FAA will hold 12 virtual public workshops on the Draft EA during the first two weeks of June. Residents can view the schedule and register to attend a virtual workshop at Community Involvement South Central Florida. During the workshops, the FAA will provide an overview of the Draft EA, and environmental and air traffic control experts will be available to answer questions. Additional information about the project, including previous public outreach activities, also is posted on the webpage.

Many of the procedures for South-Central Florida are based on outdated technology. While safe, these older procedures are less precise and efficient than those based on satellite technology. The satellite-based routes proposed for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project will enhance safety and efficiency across the region.

The agency conducted the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), which requires the FAA to identify and publicly disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedures.

NOTICE: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Denver Metroplex project. The entire document can be found at: http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/denver_metroplex/denver_docs.html

Before the FAA makes a final decision on the project, the agency will hold a 32-day public comment period beginning November 18, 2019. This will allow people to comment on the changes made in the Final EA compared to the Draft EA, and on any of the preliminary determinations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The project would use cutting-edge satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the area. Satellite-based routes would allow for more direct and efficient routing of aircraft into and out of Denver and surrounding airports, enhancing aviation safety and efficiency, and potentially reducing flight delays. The project also would expand the number of entry and exit points into and out of the Denver airspace, by segregating Denver arrival traffic from satellite airport traffic and creating additional departure routes, similar to creating more on and off-ramps in the sky. The project includes two major airports, Denver International Airport and Centennial Airport, and three satellite airports – Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Northern Colorado Regional Airport and Greeley-Weld County Airport. Prior to issuing the Final EA, the FAA held a total of 24 public workshops in 2017 and in the spring of 2019, conducted approximately 78 briefings for community groups, airport officials, and local, state and federal officials. The agency also evaluated and responded to 518 public comments.

The public is invited to submit comments by mail, or via the web comment form available online throughout the comment period.

Electronic copies of the Final EA and supporting materials, including all Section 106 materials, are available at:
http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/denver_metroplex/denver_docs.html

Electronic versions of the Final EA have been sent to 78 libraries in the General Study Area with a request to make the digital document available to patrons. A complete list of libraries with electronic copies of the Final EA is available online at the Project website.

NOTICE:

FAA Seeks Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment for Las Vegas Metroplex Project

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the Las Vegas Metroplex Project, which proposes to use cutting-edge satellite navigation to move air traffic more efficiently through Southern Nevada.

The FAA released the project's Draft EA on Nov.18 for public review. There will be a 32-day public comment period on the document from Nov.18 through Dec. 20, 2019. The Draft EA can be found at: http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/las_metroplex/las_docs.html

The FAA proposes to address air traffic inefficiencies (PDF) by implementing new routes that are more direct, automatically separated from each other, and have efficient climb and descent profiles. The potential benefits of these routes include reductions in pilot-controller communications, miles flown, fuel burn and CO2 emissions. The project also includes new and replacement arrival and departure routes for McCarran International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport and North Las Vegas Airport. The Draft EA indicates the project would not have any significant environmental impacts under federal environmental law.

The FAA will host five public workshops for the Draft EA between Monday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. The workshops will feature informational videos and display boards that show existing and proposed routes and explain the inefficiencies in the current system. FAA representatives will be available to answer questions and demonstrate the Google Earth features. The workshops will be open-house format, where people can attend any time during the posted times to learn about the project. Free parking will be available at all locations. The workshop dates and locations are as follows:

Dec. 9, 2019
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Clark County Government Center – Pueblo Room
500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89155

Dec. 10, 2019
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
North Las Vegas Airport Grand Canyon Conference Room
2730 Airport Drive, North Las Vegas, NV 89032

Dec. 11, 2019
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Desert Breeze Community Center – Meeting Room
8275 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89147

Dec. 12, 2019
4:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.
Windmill Library – Meeting Room
7060 Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89113

Dec. 13, 2019
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Henderson Executive Airport North/South Meeting Room
3500 Executive Terminal Drive, Henderson, NV 89052

Comments may be submitted online at 9-las-metroplex-ea@faa.gov, or in person at the public workshops, or by writing to:

Las Vegas Metroplex Draft EA Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center-Operations Support Group
2200 S. 216th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198-6547

After evaluating and responding to all relevant and applicable public comments, the FAA could adopt the entire proposal, adopt portions of it, or modify it. Additional information about the project, including previous public outreach activities, is available on the FAA's Las Vegas Community Involvement website.

• The final Environmental Assessment for the Atlanta Metroplex Project is available for review.

2021

The FAA announces the availability of its adoption of the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates potential environmental impacts associated with MDA's proposed modification of operational requirements and procedures for the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) located at Clear Air Force Station (CAFS), Alaska (PDF). Signed July 7, 2021.

The FAA announces the availability of its adoption of the Air Force's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Air Force's Special Use Airspace Optimization to Support Existing Aircraft at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico (PDF). Signed June 23, 2021.

The following FAA Adoptions of DoD's Environmental Assessments for actions involving Special Use Airspace (SUA) are available for review:

2020

This announces the availability of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Adoption of Missile Defense Agency Environmental Assessment for Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) Performance Testing, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska (CAFS) and Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for Temporary Flight Restrictions in the Vicinity of CAFS for LRDR Performance Testing. FAA's Adoption EA sets forth:

(1) the FAA's adoption of the Missile Defense Agency's Environmental Assessment for Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) Performance Testing, Clear Air Force Station (CAFS), Alaska;

(2) the FAA's finding that no significant environmental effects would result from two proposed temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) the FAA would issue to protect aviation from high-intensity radiated fields generated during the LRDR performance testing; and

(3) the FAA's decision to approve the TFRs.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) for performance testing of a Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) at Clear Air Force Station (CAFS), Alaska. The FEA includes analysis of the potential environmental effects of two temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that would be issued by the FAA pursuant to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, section 99.7, Special Security Instructions, to protect aviation from high-intensity radiated fields generated by the LRDR during the testing. The FEA was issued in July 2020, and MDA and the Department of the Air Force (DAF) issued their Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on July 24, 2020. The FEA and the MDA/DAF FONSI are posted on MDA's website at https://www.mda.mil/system/lrdr/lrdrea2.html.

• LRDR Testing Final EA July 21, 2020 (PDF)
• FONSI LRDR Testing MDA AF Final signed July 22, 2020 (PDF)
• FAA Adoption EA FONSI ROD LRDR Testing Final signed
  Aug 10, 2020 (PDF)

2019

• JPARC-Final Signed WrttnRe-EvalAdptnEISR2201R2205MOA mods (29JULY2019) (PDF)
  FAA has adopted specific portions of the Army and Air Force's Final EIS for the Modernization and Enhancements of Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska; the adopted portions of the EIS are specific to Battle Area Complex Restricted Area R-2201 and the Expand Restricted Area R-2205, including the Digital Multi-Purpose Training Range, of the Army and Air Force's Final EIS (FEIS) #20130181, Modernization and Enhancement of Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska. The Air Force filed the FEIS with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 28, 2013 (78 FR 38975). FAA was a cooperating agency on the project and recirculation of the document is not necessary under Section 1506.3(c) of the CEQ Regulations.
• FAA's Adoption Environmental Assessment for the U.S. Marine Corps' Use of Playas Temporary Military Operations Area, Playas, New Mexico for 2019; signed June 7, 2019 (PDF)

ATTACHMENTS (8)

1. Supplemental environmental analysis for temporary activation of PLAYAS military operations area. (PDF)
2. 2019 Supplemental technical evaluation PLAYAS training and research center temporary military operations area. (PDF)
3. PLAYAS Military operating area and red flag rescue supplemental analysis. (PDF)
4. PLAYAS Military operating area and red flag rescue supplemental analysis findings of no significant impact and record of decision. (PDF)
5. Supplemental environmental analysis for temporary activation of PLAYAS military operations area indings of no significant impact and record of decision. (PDF)
6. PLAYAS Temporary militray operating area in support of SPMAGTF-CR-CC 20.1 certification exercise. (PDF)
7. DoD Rotocraft Noise Model (RNM) (PDF)
8. SHPO Response (PDF)

• Army EA for Proposed Modification to Restricted Area (RA) 4102, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. May 31, 2019. (PDF)
• Air Force Training Exercises at Grayling, Michigan, Temporary Military Operations Area (TMOA). May 21, 2019. (PDF)
• Air Force Training Exercises at Playas, New Mexico, Temporary Military Operations Area (TMOA). May 20, 2019. (PDF)

2018

• FAA's Written Re-Evaluation and Adoption EIS and ROD for the Proposed Air Force Modernization and Enhancement of Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), Alaska. Signed August 29, 2018. (MS Word)
• FAA's Written Re-Evaluation and Adoption EIS and ROD for the Proposed U.S. Marine Corps Modernization of the Existing Special Use Airspace and Amendment of R-3007 A/C/E at Townsend Bombing Range, Georgia. Signed June 12, 2018. (MS Word)

2017

• FAA's Adoption EIS and ROD for the Proposed Establishment and Modification of Oregon Military Training Airspace, September 29,
  2017 (MS Word)
• FAA Categorical Exclusion Declaration/Record of Decision for Westchester County Airport (HPN) (PDF) (June 20, 2017)
• Categorical Exclusion document for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), JFK RWY 13L RNAV (GPS) transition to the JFK Instrument Landing System (ILS) or Localizer 13L procedure (PDF) – Developed to provide approach stability, reduce missed approaches, and reduce controller workload for aircraft using JFK lLS RWY 13L. This procedure will also mitigate any increases to minimum vectoring altitudes and enhance safety. (March 17, 2017)
• Newark, NJ Airport, Categorical Exclusion for RNAV Procedure, Runway 29. (PDF) (January 24, 2017) | Accessible Version (MS Word)