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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21386-21387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9608]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Philadelphia International Airport, Capacity Enhancement Program, 
Environmental Impact Statement, Announcement of a Preferred Alternative

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Announcement.

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SUMMARY: The FAA has identified Alternative A as the Preferred 
Alternative for the Philadelphia International Airport, Capacity

[[Page 21387]]

Enhancement Program, Environmental Impact Statement.

DATES: Effective upon publication in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan L. McDonald, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg 
Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Harrisburg, 
PA 17011.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Aviation Administration is in the 
process of completing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Capacity Enhancement Program 
(CEP). The purpose of the CEP is to enhance airport capacity in order 
to accommodate current and future aviation demand in the Philadelphia 
Metropolitan Area during all weather conditions. The Draft EIS was 
published on September 26, 2008. The DEIS presented three alternatives; 
the No Action and two on-airport construction alternatives 
(Alternatives A and B), but did not identify a Preferred Alternative. 
FAA has now identified Alternative A as its Preferred Alternative.
    Alternative A would extend Runway 8-26 to the east, extend Runway 
9R-27L to the east, and add a third parallel east-west runway. 
Alternative A would also reconstruct and enlarge the terminal complex, 
increasing it from 120 to approximately 150 gates. Alternative A will 
accommodate all forecasted operations with annualized average delays of 
5.2 minutes in 2020 and 8.4 minutes in 2025. Alternative A is estimated 
to cost $5.2 billion.
    Alternative A is FAA Preferred Alternative for the following 
reasons:
    1. Alternative A meets the Purpose and Need by adding capacity and 
significantly reducing delay in all weather conditions in the long 
term.
    2. Alternative A allows for greater flexibility of construction 
phasing or scheduling.
    3. Alternative A maintains a crosswind runway (Runway 17-35).
    4. Alternative A minimizes disruption of local surface 
transportation, and does not result in construction impacts to 
Interstate 95.
    5. On the average, Alternative A has less average annualized delays 
during the prolonged construction period.
    6. With mitigation, significant environmental impacts can be 
avoided or minimized.
    A Draft General Conformity Determination, based on FAA's Preferred 
Alternative, is expected to be released for public comment April 27, 
2010. The Final EIS is expected to be released late August 2010. The 
Final EIS will address all comments received on the Draft EIS and 
provides the rationale behind FAA's selection of Alternative A as the 
Preferred Alternative. Further information on the project and the EIS 
process can be found at the project Web site: http://www.phl-cep-eis.com.

    Issued in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, April 16, 2010.
Oscar D. Sanchez,
Acting Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-9608 Filed 4-21-10; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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