[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70302-70303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26586]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS), Notice of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public 
Information Meeting and Public Hearing for Proposed Relocation of the 
Panama City-Bay County International Airport to a New Site in Bay 
County, FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. The U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers (USACE) is a cooperating federal agency, having 
jurisdiction by law because the proposed federal action has the 
potential for significant wetland impacts.

ACTION:  Notice of availability, notice of comment period, notice of 
public information meeting and public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS)--Proposed Relocation of the Panama City-Bay County International 
Airport, has been prepared and is available for public review and 
comment. Written requests for the DEIS and written comments on the DEIS 
can be submitted to the individual listed in the section FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. A public information meeting and public hearing 
will be held on January 11, 2005. The public comment period will 
commence on November 26, 2004 and will close on January 21, 2005.
    Public Comment and Information Meeting/Public Hearing: The start of 
the public comment period on the DEIS will be November 26, 2004 and 
will end on January 21, 2005. A Public Information Meeting and Public 
Hearing will be held on January 11, 2005. The public information 
meeting will begin at 5 p.m. (c.s.t.) and will last until 7 p.m. 
(c.s.t.). The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. (c.s.t.) and will be 
a joint public hearing with the USACE. The location for the Public 
Information Meeting/Public Hearing is the Gulf Coast Community College, 
5230 US 98, Panama City, Florida. Copies of the DEIS may be viewed 
during regular business hours at the following locations:
    1. Panama City-Bay County International Airport Administration 
Office, 3173 Airport Road, Panama City, Florida 32405. (850) 763-6751.
    2. Bay County Public Library, 25 West Government Street, Panama 
City, Florida 32401. (850) 872-7500.
    3. U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Panama City Regulatory Office, 1002 
West 23rd Street, Suite 350, Panama City, Florida 32405. (850) 763-
0717.
    4. Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District 
Office, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 
32822. (407) 812-0331.
    The Panama City-Bay County International Airport Administration 
Office has a limited number of CDs of the DEIS available for public 
distribution. Please contact this office for a copy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virginia Lane, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District 
Office, Suite 400, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Orlando, Florida 
32822. Ms. Lane can be contacted at (407) 812-6331 (voice), (407) 812-
6978 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA prepared this DEIS to disclose the 
potential environmental impacts resulting from the proposed relocation 
of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport to a new site in 
Bay County, Florida. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a 
cooperating federal agency for this DEIS, having jurisdiction by law 
because the proposed Federal action has the potential for significant 
wetland impacts. The proposed new site would accommodate airfield 
development that would meet both short- and long-term aviation needs 
without being constrained by natural or man-made features. Initial 
development components of the proposed relocated airport would consist 
of airport and terminal facilities, and include a primary air carrier 
runway of 8,400 feet and a general aviation crosswind runway of 5,000 
feet. This system would be supported by the necessary ancillary 
facilities including parallel and connecting taxiways, terminal area 
facilities, general aviation facilities, air traffic control and 
emergency service facilities, and lighting and navigation facilities. 
These initial development components are the subject of this DEIS.
    The purpose and need for these improvements is reviewed in the 
DEIS. All reasonable alternatives will be considered, including the no-
action alternative.
    Comments from interested parties on the DEIS are encouraged and may 
be presented verbally at the public information meeting and/or public 
hearing or may be submitted in writing to the FAA at the address listed 
in the section entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The comment 
period will close on January 21, 2005.


[[Page 70303]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 26, 2004.
Dennis E. Roberts,
Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 04-26586 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M