[Federal Register: February 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 31)]
[Notices]
[Page 7646-7647]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14fe03-172]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Intent To Provide an O'Hare International Airport
Environmental Impact Statement Public Information Meeting in Schiller
Park, IL
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Issuance of a Notice
of Intent (NOI) to Conduct an Informational Meeting with Regard to the
Ongoing Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Modernization
Program for O'Hare International Airport.
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SUMMARY: This NOI announces the FAA's intention to conduct a Public
Information Meeting on behalf of the FAA's ongoing Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the proposed Modernization Program for O'Hare
International Airport. The Airport is located in Chicago, Illinois. Due
both to the anticipated high level of interest in matters pertaining to
O'Hare International Airport, and FAA's desire to more fully involve
and accommodate potentially interested persons, agencies, and other
entities, the FAA has decided to conduct a Public Information Meeting
focused on the status of the ongoing EIS, with special emphasis on
project purpose and need matters. The information meeting will be co-
hosted
[[Page 7647]]
with the Chicago Department of Aviation (DOA), and it will be conducted
as follows: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the
Mirage Banquets facility at the Four Points Sheraton O'Hare hotel
located at 10249 West Irving Park Road in Schiller Park, Illinois. A
number of display boards illustrating the current status of the ongoing
EIS and describing FAA's conceptualization of key project purpose and
need criteria (as well as a number of the Airport's key present and
projected operational problems) will be available for inspection. Staff
of FAA and its Third Party EIS Contractor will be available at the
Public Information Meeting to answer questions. Forms for providing
written comments to FAA by interested parties on the matters presented
by FAA in the Public Information Meeting will also be provided. FAA is
requesting that comments be submitted by the close of business on
Monday, April 21, 2003.
Representatives of the DOA will be available to offer information
on its Airport Layout Plan (ALP), on its analysis of runway options, on
its facility requirements, and on its concept for development of the
Airport.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael W. MacMullen, Airports
Environmental Program Manager, Federal Aviation Adminstration, Chicago
Airports District Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois
60018. Mr. MacMullen can be contacted by phone at (847) 294-7522
(voice) and at (847) 294-7046 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA previously decided to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing specific improvements
at and adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. As presently
conceived, the runway construction component of the O'Hare
Modernization Program would involve: a new North Runway 9-27, a
relocation of existing Runway 18-36 (Arrival Runway 9R-27L), a
relocation of existing Runway 14L-32R (arrival Runway 9L-27R), a
relocation of existing Runway 14R-32L (South Runway 9-27), an extension
of existing Runway 9R-27L, and an extension of existing Runway 9L-27R.
Overall, the proposed project as presently conceived would result in
O'Hare International Airport ultimately having a total of eight
runways: six parallel east-west runways, and two parallel runways
oriented in the northeast-southwest direction. In addition, the O'Hare
Modernization Program could also potentially involve relocation of some
or all existing navigation aids, placement of new navigation aids,
revision to existing air traffic control procedures, provision of a new
western access to the Airport, additional terminal facilities, and
various roadway and rail line relocations. Finally, the potential
acquisition of approximately 539 housing units, 109 businesses, and 433
acres of property outside of the Airport's present boundaries is also
envisioned. The purpose and need for the above-identified improvements
will be presented and reviewed in detail within FAA's forthcoming EIS.
In addition, reasonable alternatives, including the ``no-build,'' will
be considered, as appropriate.
Interested parties are invited to attend the Public Information
Meeting and also to provide written comments to FAA. The FAA
informational contact person identified above should receive any
written comments by no later than the close of business on Monday,
April 21, 2003.
Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on February 6, 2003.
Philip M. Smithmeyer,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 03-3599 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
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