
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 214 (Friday, November 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 76997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26631]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation of preparation of environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it 
has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the proposed construction of new Runway 5R/23L and associated 
development at Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia. The 
FAA's discontinued preparation of the EIS is based upon the completion 
of the first phase of the EIS. Based on the results of the first phase 
(Scoping and Purpose & Need development), the FAA has determined that 
the fundamental purpose and need is not supported by the current or 
anticipated development needs of the Airport at this time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcus Brundage, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington 
Airports District Office, 23723 Air Freight Lane, Suite 210, Dulles, 
Virginia 20166; Telephone (703) 661-1365.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 12, 2015, the FAA, published in the 
Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) and hold two public scoping meetings in Norfolk 
and Virginia Beach, Virginia (Volume 80, Number 113, FR 33582-33583). 
The public meetings were held at the Bayside High School and at the 
Holiday Inn Norfolk Airport on July 22 and 23, 2015, respectively.
    The stated purpose of the project was to ``meet relevant FAA 
airfield safety standards and enhance airfield safety without reducing 
runway availability.'' The proposed project included the 
decommissioning and demolition of Runway 14/32, the construction of new 
Runway 5R/23L and associated development at the airport, and 
improvement of roadway access to the airport by realigning Robin Hood 
Road. Other associated infrastructure was proposed for construction or 
demolition or relocation including taxiways, lighting, hangers, 
maintenance facilities, runway safety areas and runway protection 
zones.
    In 2001, the FAA began preparing an EIS for similar projects based 
on the need to accommodate additional operations at the airport. During 
the first EIS process, the needs of the airport changed and it was 
determined that the projects were no longer justified based on the 
stated need and the preparation of the first EIS was cancelled. In 
2013, the FAA agreed to proceed with a phased second EIS preparation to 
review a similar project proposed by the Norfolk Airport Authority. The 
first phase of the project consisted of consultant selection, EIS 
scoping, and an analysis of the proposed project's purpose and need to 
determine if the FAA should continue to the second phase, which would 
be completion of the EIS and determination.
    At the conclusion of the first phase of the second EIS, the FAA 
determined that the fundamental purpose and need of the projects were 
not supported by the current or anticipated needs of the airport. The 
FAA is now terminating the second EIS process. However, the FAA 
recognizes the importance of ORF to the greater Norfolk/Hampton Roads 
region and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Moreover, the FAA agrees 
that a parallel runway may still be a viable long-term plan for the 
future, if and when operational demand warrants. Therefore, the FAA 
continues to support the proposed runway remaining on the approved 
Airport Layout Plan, as conditionally approved pending environmental 
review on October 5, 2011, and protecting the associated airspace.

    Issued in Dulles, Virginia on October 28, 2016.
Matthew J. Thys,
Manager, Washington Airports District Office, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-26631 Filed 11-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


