Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and To Conduct Scoping for Proposed Air Traffic Control Procedures and Airspace Modifications for Aircraft Entering and Existing the Chicago and Milwaukee Airspace Areas

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and

To Conduct Scoping for Proposed Air Traffic Control Procedures and

Airspace Modifications for Aircraft Entering and Existing the Chicago

and Milwaukee Airspace Areas

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

and to Conduct Public Scoping.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Great Lakes Region,

is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared and considered to evaluate

proposed air traffic control procedures and airspace modifications for

aircraft entering and exiting the Chicago and Milwaukee Terminal Radar

Approach Control airspace areas. To ensure that all significant issues

related to the proposed action are identified, public scoping will be

held.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Annette Davis, Federal Aviation Administration, Great Lakes Region,

Air Traffic Division, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois,

60018, 847-294-7832.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA will prepare an EIS to evaluate

proposed air traffic control procedures and airspace modifications as

identified by the Chicago Terminal Airspace Project (CTAP). The purpose

of the proposed changes is to improve traffic flows and reduce airborne

and ground delays during peak periods. The proposed changes would

enhance safety and efficiently by maximizing controller flexibility and

simplifying operations for pilots.

The primary focus of the proposed project is the transfer of

portions of the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

airspace to Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) airspace

along the existing high-altitude arrival gateways. Components of the

proposal also include:

One additional high-altitude arrival route, two modified

arrival routes, and more flexible use of existing departure corridors

for Chicago O'Hare International Airport

A more direct route for arrival aircraft from the

northwest and northeast destined for Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago

Meigs Airport, Gary Airport, and other general aviation/reliever

airports

One new high-altitude arrival route separating Milwaukee

General Mitchell Airport and reliever/satellite airport traffic

The proposed changes would occur within a widespread area and

include primary and reliever airports in northeast Illinois, southern

Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana. Because there exists a potential to

generate noise impacts, the FAA has made a decision to initiate the EIS

process. The FAA retains the option to terminate the EIS process and

issue an Environmental Assessment (EA) with a Finding of No Significant

Impact (FONSI) if warranted, based on the environmental review process.

Public Scoping: The purpose of scoping is to ensure that the full

range of issues related to a proposed project are addressed and all

significant issues are identified. In this endeavor, comments and

suggestions are invited from Federal, State, and local agencies, and

other interested parties. Copies of materials regarding the proposed

project may be obtained from the information contact listed above.

Information is also available on the Internet at the web site

address http://www.faa.gov/ctap.html.

To facilitate understanding of the proposed project and receipt of

comments from the public, two scoping meetings will be held on Monday,

September 28, 1998. The first meeting, for community representatives,

locally elected officials, and special interest groups, will be held

from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Federal Aviation Administration

Great Lakes Regional Office, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL,

60018, Room 453. A second meeting, for resource agencies will be held

from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Federal Aviation Administration

Great Lakes Regional Office, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL,

60018, Room 453. A workshop for the general public will be held

Thursday, October 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Federal

Aviation Administration Great Lakes Regional Office, 2300 E. Devon

Avenue, Des Plaines, IL, 60018, Room 166/170.

Written comments may be mailed to Ms. Annette Davis, AGL-520.E,

Federal Aviation Administration, Great Lakes Region, Air Traffic

Division, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL, 60018, prior to

October 16, 1998.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, on August 20, 1998.

Richard K. Petersen,

Acting Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division.

[FR Doc. 98-23005 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]

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