Notice of Availability; Draft Clean Air Act, General Conformity Determination, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Notice of Availability; Draft Clean Air Act, General Conformity

Determination, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle,

Washington

Action: Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) proposed actions

includes: (1) approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the

proposed improvements at Sea-Tac International Airport; (2) provide

possible federal funding for eligible projects contemplated within the

planning horizon as illustrated on the ALP; (3) development or revision

of air traffic control procedures for the proposed improvements; and

(4) establishment of navigational aids. The Port of Seattle, as

operator of the airport, will design and build the proposed

improvements. Because these actions are necessary for federal-funded

public use airports, the FAA is required to meet the Clean Air Act

general conformity requirements under 40 Code of Federal Regulations,

Part 93, Subpart B for the federal action for this undertaking.

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Abstract: The Port of Seattle, operator of Seattle-Tacoma International

Airport, has prepared a Master Plan Update for the Airport. The Plan

shows the need to address the poor weather operating capability of the

Airport through the development of a third parallel runway (Runway 16X/

34X) with a length of up to 8,500 feet, separated by 2,500 feet from

existing Runway 16L/34R, with associated taxiways, utilities, and

navigational aids. Other proposed development includes: extension of

Runway 34R by 600 feet; establishment of standard Runway Safety Areas

for Runways 16R/34L; development of a new air traffic control tower;

Main Terminal improvements and terminal expansion; development of a new

unit terminal located to the north of the existing main terminal;

parking and access improvements and expansion; development of the South

Aviation Support Area for cargo and/or maintenance facilities, and

relocation, redevelopment, and expansion of support facilities. A Final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been prepared which assesses

the impact of alternative airport improvements. The proposed

improvements would be completed during the 1996-2020 period, with

initial 5-year development focused on the new parallel runway, and

existing passenger terminal, parking and access improvements.

Based on the conformity applicability criteria and the attainment

status of the affected area, the conformity determination focuses on

potential air emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone. Based on the

air quality analysis provided in the FEIS, the FAA has determined that

the proposed improvements at Sea-Tac International Airport conform to

the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Ambient Air Quality

Standards. The analysis of the proposed improvements at Sea-Tac has

demonstrated that, with mitigation, the proposed improvements will not

cause or contribute to new violations of any ambient air quality

standards, nor increase the frequency or severity of an existing

violation; nor delay timely attainment of the ozone or CO standards in

the Puget Sound Region, and that the action is in compliance or

consistent with all relevant requirements and milestones contained in

the SIP. This conclusion of a positive general conformity determination

fulfills the FAA's obligation and responsibility under 40 CFR Part 93,

Subpart B. This General Conformity Determination has been prepared as

specified in Section 176(c) [42 U.S.C. 7506c] of the Clean Air Act

Amendments of 1990.

Public Review: The public is invited to review and comment on the Draft

Conformity Determination. Copies of the FEIS are available for review

at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Regional Office, Room 540,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton, WA

Port of Seattle, Aviation Planning, 3rd floor, Room 301, Terminal

Building, SeaTac Airport, and Pier 69 Bid Office, 2711 Alaskan Way,

Seattle

Puget Sound Regional Council, Information Center, 1011 Western Avenue,

Seattle

Beacon Hill Library, 2519 1st Avenue, South, Seattle

Boulevard Park Library, 12015 Roseberg South, Seattle

Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Avenue, Seattle

Magnolia Library, 2801 34th Ave W, Seattle

Rainier Beach Library, 9125 Rainier Avenue S., Seattle

Bothell Regional Library, 9654 NE 182nd, Bothell

Burien Library, 14700 6th SW, Burien

Des Moines Library, 21620 11th South, Des Moines

Federal Way Regional Library, 34200 1st South, Federal Way

Foster Library, 4205 South 142nd, Tukwila

Kent Regional Library, 212 2nd Ave N, Kent

Vashon Ober Park, 17210 Vashon Highway, Vashon

Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma

University of Washington, Suzallo Library, Government Publications,

Seattle

Valley View Library, 17850 Military Road South, SeaTac

West Seattle Library, 2306 42nd Ave SW, Seattle

Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue

Comments and requests for information may be directed to: Mr.

Dennis Ossenkop, Northwest Mountain Region, Airports Division, Federal

Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington

98055-4056. Comments must be received by March 18, 1996.

[[Page 5056]]

Issued in Renton, Washington on February 1, 1996.

Lowell H. Johnson,

Manager, Airports Division, Federal Aviation Administration, Northwest

Mountain Region, Renton, Washington.

[FR Doc. 96-2850 Filed 2-8-96; 8:45 am]

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