Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Establishment of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) on Runway 11 at Newark International Airport, Newark, NJ

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for

the Establishment of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) on Runway 11 at

Newark International Airport, Newark, NJ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this

Notice to advise the public, local, State and Federal agencies, and all

other interested parties of the availability of a final Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS), which assesses the potential effects of

constructing and operating an Instrument Landing System (ILS) facility

on Runway 11 at Newark International Airport, Newark, New Jersey. The

EIS has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969. The purpose of this proposed action is to reduce

delays to the aircraft and passengers utilizing Newark International

Airport and to provide more efficient use of the existing runways.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Thomas Hom of the Federal Aviation Administration at (718) 553-

1508, or Mr. Errol Francis of the Federal Aviation Administration at

(718) 553-1158.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An FAA evaluation concluded that the

installation of an ILS on Runway 11 at Newark International Airport

would reduce aircraft and passenger delays and provide for greater

efficiency in the use of the existing runways. The FAA, in cooperation

with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), began the

preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for an Instrument

Landing System/Microwave Landing System (ILS/MLS).

A public hearing was held on September 19, 1991 to receive comments

regarding the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed

Runway 11 ILS/MLS at Newark International Airport; and a notice of

Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published

in the Federal Register by the FAA on March 29, 1993 inviting comments.

Both verbal and written comments were received. Comments from the

public hearing and those arising from the publication of the Notice of

Intent were incorporated into a Draft Environmental Impact Statement

(DEIS). Due to technical reasons and considerations, an MLS was no

longer a part of the proposed action.

A notice of Availability of the DEIS was published in the Federal

Register by the FAA on September 20, 1993 and by the United States

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 24, 1993. Both

verbal and written comments were received, incorporated into, and

addressed in the Final EIS.

Several alternatives to the proposed action were evaluated in the

EIS, including: shifting the demand to other airports; restricting

aircraft operations during peak operating hours; installing a precision

instrument landing system on another runway; and no action.

An analysis of both the function of the ILS and the data used to

develop the Environmental Assessment led to the recommendation to

prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed

installation of an ILS on Runway 11 at Newark International Airport. In

addition, based on this analysis the FAA determined that the Runway 11

precision approach is separate and independent of those issues and

actions considered in the EIS currently being completed for the

Expanded East Coast Plan (EECP).

The EIS for the Newark Runway 11 ILS project specifically addresses

the environmental impacts resulting from the installation and use of a

precision approach landing system for Runway 11 at Newark International

Airport. The installation of an ILS on Runway 11 is not a component

part of the EECP. The scope of the EECP EIS analyzes procedures

involving aircraft above 3,000 feet. Utilization of the precision

approach to Runway 11 will only effect procedures relevant to, and

aircraft operations conducted below 3,000 feet. The Runway 11 ILS

precision approach will in no way limit the choice of reasonable

alternatives in the current EECP EIS. Rather, the Runway 11 ILS is a

stand alone project of independent utility, needed to reduce operating

delays at Newark International Airport. Therefore, the preparation of a

separate EIS for this project is appropriate.

The EIS is available for public review at the following locations:

(1) Cranford Public Library, 224 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey

(contact the Head Librarian); (2) Elizabeth Public Library, 11 South

Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey (contact the Head Librarian); (3)

Newark Public Library, 5 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey (contact

the Head Librarian); (4) Air Traffic Control Tower, room 112, Tower

Road, Newark International Airport (ask for Mr. Lucious Riley).

To obtain a copy of the EIS, submit a written request to: Mr.

Thomas Hom (AEA-451.3), Supervisor, Navaids/Visaids/Weather Section,

Airway Facilities Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Fitzgerald

Federal Building #111, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica,

New York 11430.

Issued in Jamaica, New York on February 14, 1994.

Charles J. Hoch,

Manager, Airway Facilities Division, FAA Eastern Region.

[FR Doc. 94-3674 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]

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