[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 55447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18813]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment (Final 
EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) 
for the Proposed New Air Traffic Control Tower at the St. Louis 
Downtown Airport in Cahokia, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the 
Proposed New Air Traffic Control Tower at the St. Louis Downtown 
Airport in Cahokia, Illinois.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that the FAA has prepared and approved on 
September 8, 2005, a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of 
Decision (FONSI/ROD) based on the Final Environmental Assessment (Final 
EA) for the following proposed action at the St. Louis Downtown 
Airport: the construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower, 
associated support building, parking lot, and access road.
    The FAA prepared the Final EA in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the FAA's regulations and 
guidelines for environmental documents. The Final EA was reviewed and 
evaluated by the FAA and was accepted on September 6, 2005 as a Federal 
document by the FAA's Responsible Federal Official.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Virginia Marcks, Environmental 
Engineer, ANI-430, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon 
Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. Telephone number: (847) 294-7494.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The existing Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at the St. Louis 
Downtown Airport was built in 1973 and soon after was expanded by the 
addition of a mobile office trailer to house administrative personnel. 
The current tower stands approximately 52 feet in height with a 
controller's eye height of approximately 41 feet. Continual visibility 
problems, due to existing trees in an adjacent residential development, 
impede the controller's line of sight for airfield movement areas and 
runway approaches. The visibility problem, due to trees obscuring 
significant portions of two runway ends, 4 and 30L, are ongoing and 
worsening. The proposed new ATCT, with a total elevation of 553.8[min] 
MSL (141[min] 10[sec] AGL) and a controller eye height of 528.3[min] 
MSL (116[min] 4[sec] AGL) would significantly improve visual 
capabilities.
    Air traffic controller equipment in the existing tower has not been 
significantly upgraded since the tower was constructed in 1973, 
although there has been nearly a 50 percent increase in airport 
operations over the past 30 years. Annual aircraft operations recorded 
during operating hours of the ATCT (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), in the early 
1970s, when the existing tower was constructed, totaled approximately 
115,000. In 2001, the total number of operations recorded between the 7 
a.m. to 9 p.m. timeframe was nearly 170,000. The proposed new ATCT 
would allow for modernized equipment, enhancing the level of safety for 
the current number of aircraft operations at the St. Louis Downtown 
Airport.
    The Final EA has been prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, FAA Order 1050.1E, 
``Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures'' and FAA Order 
5050.4A, ``Airport Environmental Handbook''. The proposed development 
action is consistent with the National Airspace System Plan prepared by 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA).
    A Final Environmental Assessment and the Finding of No Significant 
Impact/Record of Decision is available for public viewing during normal 
business hours at the Federal Aviation Administration, Great Lakes 
Region, ANI-430, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018 (by 
appointment due to security, 847-294-7494).
    The Final EA and FONSI/ROD will be available through October 19, 
2005.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois September 8, 2005.
Art V. Schultz,
Acting Manager, Chicago NAS Implementation Center, ANI-401, Great Lakes 
Region.
[FR Doc. 05-18813 Filed 9-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M