Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Actions Related to the Grand Canyon National Park and To Conduct Scoping

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the

Proposed Actions Related to the Grand Canyon National Park and To

Conduct Scoping

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA, in cooperation with the Department of the Interior

(DOI), announces its intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental

Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) of 1969, as amended and applicable environmental laws,

regulations and orders. This supplemental EA will address the following

proposed actions: 1) new and modifications to existing air tour routes

for commercial aircraft operating in the Special Flight Rules Area

(SFRA) in the vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP), identified

as Special Federal Aviation Regulation Number 50-2 (SFAR 50-2); 2) new

and modifications to the airspace in the SFRA; and, 3) a limitation on

the number of operations by commercial air tour aircraft in the SFRA.

These actions represent concepts that are presently under consideration

by the FAA. Any changes to the airspace or the air tour routes will be

subject to the public notice and comment procedures.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 5, 1999.

Questions concerning the supplemental EA or the process being applied

by the FAA should be directed to William J. Marx at the address listed

below or at (202) 267-3075.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this Notice of Intent may be delivered or

mailed, in triplicate, to: Federal Aviation Administration, Attention;

William J. Marx, Air Traffic Airspace Management, Environmental

Programs Division, ATA-300, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20591. Comments my be examined at the above address between 9 a.m.

and 4 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Marx in writing at the

above address or via telephone at (202) 267-3075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based upon further discussions with

interested parties and consultation with Native American tribal

representatives, the FAA and DOI are specifically considering new

commercial air tour routes in the Sanup area and expanding the Desert

View Flight Free Zone further east. To a greater degree than existing

and prior proposed commercial air tour routes, these proposed actions

would minimize impact on traditional cultural properties that were

identified during consultation with Native American tribal

representatives pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic

Preservation Act. The scoping process will consist of a public comment

period for involved and interested agencies and persons to submit

written comments representing the concerns and issues they believe

should be addressed in the supplemental EA.

Background

On May 12, 1997 (62 FR 38233; May 15, 1997) the FAA issued a Notice

proposing to modify two flight free zones (FFZ) within GCNP with two

corridors through the FFZ. On July 10, 1998 (63 FR 38233; July 15,

1998) the FAA, in consultation with DOI, withdrew this NPRM because the

agencies determined not to proceed with an air tour route in the

vicinity of National Canyon and were considering alternatives to this

route. In addition, a companion document to 63 FR 38233 was published

in the Federal Register that amended the Notice No. 96-15 (Noise

Limitations NPRM), by removing two sections, which first proposed a

National Canyon Corridor (63 FR 38232; July 10, 1998). For a

comprehensive history of actions taken and proposed between December

1996 and May 1997, please see the NPRM to extend SFAR 50-2 (63 FR

67544; December 7, 1998).

The Supplemental EA

Information, data, opinions, and comments obtained throughout the

course of the scoping process may be used in the preparation of the

supplemental EA. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to inform the

public and local, State, and Federal government agencies that a

supplemental EA will be prepared. Also to provide those interested with

an opportunity to present their opinions, comments, information, or

other relevant observations concerning alternatives and potential

environmental impacts relating to implementation of these proposals,

particularly in the Sanup area. The proposed actions are concepts

presently under consideration by the FAA and DOI.

There is currently a cap on the number of commercial sightseeing

aircraft that can operate in the SFRA (61 FR 69317; December 31, 1996).

The FAA is also considering rulemaking to establish a cap on the number

of flights that these sightseeing aircraft can operate.

To maximize the opportunities for public participation in this

environmental process, the FAA will mail copies of this Notice and a

graphic (labeled for planning purposes only) showing the proposed

changes to the air tour routes and proposed modifications to the

airspace to those parties listed in Appendix A of the October 17, 1997

Written Reevaluation. The graphic containing the proposed air tour

route changes and airspace modifications is not being published in

today's Federal Register due to the detail on the charts. Again these

proposed actions represent a concept presently under consideration by

the FAA and DOI. Any changes to the airspace configuration or the air

tour routes will be subject to public notice and comment procedures.

In addition, the FAA will utilize for scoping the public comments

on the

[[Page 6132]]

Grand Canyon Final Rule, the Notice of Availability of Proposed

Commercial Air Tour Routes, and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(NPRM), each dated December 31, 1996, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

for Establishment of Corridors in the GCNP SFRA and the Notice of

Availability of Commercial Air Tour Routes, both dated May 15, 1997,

the Notice of Clarification dated October 31, 1997, the Notice of

Meeting [Flagstaff] dated April 10, 1998 (63 FR 18964; April 15, 1998)

and the final Environmental Assessment and written reevaluations

prepared in support of these Notices and rulemaking documents.

The commercial air tour routes will be issued for public comment in

a Notice of Availability of Proposed Air Tour Routes concurrently with

Notices of Proposed Rulemaking for the airspace modification and

limitation on operations.

The FAA expects to issue the supplemental EA in the summer of 1999,

concurrently for public comment with these documents. The FAA plans to

provide a period of sixty days for public comment on the supplemental

EA. The public will be notified about the availability of the

supplemental EA for comment through the Federal Register and other

appropriate media.

Any person may have their name added to the mailing list, receive a

copy of the graphic containing the proposed changes and modifications,

and/or obtain a copy of the supplemental EA when it becomes available,

by submitting a request to the FAA contact identified above.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 3, 1999.

William J. Marx,

Manager, Environmental Programs Division, Office of Air Traffic

Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 99-2934 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M