Final Environmental Impact Statement Colorado Airspace Initiative (CAI)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Final Environmental Impact Statement Colorado Airspace Initiative

(CAI)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

ACTION: Extension of the time period during which the FAA will receive

public comment on its Notice of Availability and Intent to Adopt the

Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado Airspace

Initiative.

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SUMMARY: On Tuesday, April 27, 1999, the Federal Aviation

Administration provided notice that it was recirculating and intended

to adopt the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared by

the Air National Guard (ANG) for the modification of exiting, and the

establishment of new military training airspace areas in Colorado,

hereinafter known as the Colorado Airspace Initiative (CAI). Due to

public interest in this initiative, the FAA is extending the public

comment period until 2 August 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Gaffin, Environmental

Specialist, Environmental Programs Division (ATA-300), Office of Air

Traffic Airspace Management, Federal Aviation Administration, 800

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591 (202) 267-3075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As provided in 40 CFR 1506.3 and FAA Order

1050.1D, Policies and Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts,

the FEIS of another Federal Agency may be adopted in accordance with

the procedures in 40 CFR 1506.3 Under 40 CFR 1506.3(b), if the actions

covered by an EIS and the actions proposed by another Federal agency

are substantially the same, the agency adopting another agency's

statement is not required to recirculate it except as a final

statement. The FAA has determined that the proposed action of modifying

existing and establishing new military training airspace areas over the

State of Colorado is substantially the same as the actions considered

in the ANG's FEIS. FAA staff has independently reviewed the ANG FEIS to

determine if it is current and that the FAA NEPA procedures have been

satisfied. FAA has determined that the FEIS adequately assesses and

discloses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action.

FAA staff concluded that, after mitigation measures are taken into

consideration, the existing airspace can be modified and new military

training airspace can be established with no significant impacts on

environmental resources.

The proposal will modify existing and establish new military

training airspace areas over the State of Colorado. The ANG has

requested this action to respond to changes in readiness training

requirements. The requirements are reflected in specific United States

Air Force regulations for military aircraft and personnel operating in

the affected airspace. Additionally, this action responds to the

changes in commercial aircraft arrival and departure corridors required

for operation of the Denver International Airport.

The ANG evaluated the environmental impacts of the CAI in its

document, Final Environmental Impact State for the Colorado Airspace

initiative, (FEIS) dated August 1997. The preferred alternative was

also the environmentally preferred alternative in the FEIS. THe

preferred alternative was modified in response to concerns raised by

private citizens, government agencies, and various public interest

groups. The ANG changed its proposal to narrow the widths of portions

of corridors of four military training routes and withdrew one route.

Subsequently, the ANG issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on October 28,

1997, approving the preferred alternative as modified. The ANG then

submitted the FEIS to the FAA with it application for airspace

approval.

In furtherance of CEQ regulations, in addition to the executive

summary of the ANG FEIS, the FAA is recirculating the following

information: (1) the ANG's ROD; (2) a summary of public comments

submitted during the aeronautical review and responses to the comments;

and (3) a summary of the refinements that ANG made in the Rod to the

preferred alternative after the ANG FEIS was issued.

Any person may obtain a copy of the ANG FIS, ROD and the above-

referenced information by submitting a request to: Air National Guard

Readiness Center, Program Manger, CAI EIS, ANGRC/

[[Page 31677]]

CEVP, 3500 Fetchet Avenue, Andrews Air Force Base, MD 20762-5157.

Written comments may be sent to the address below, and are due by

August 2, 1999: Federal Aviation Administration, Environmental Programs

Division, Air Traffic Airspace Management Program, Attn.: Elizabeth

Gaffin, rm. 422, 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591.

Issued in Washington, DC on June 7, 1999.

William J. Marx,

Manager, Environmental Programs Division.

[FR Doc. 99-14854 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]

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