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National Airport Runways 4-22 and 15-33 Safety Enhancements
George Washington Memorial Parkway » National Airport Runways 4-22 and 15-33 Safety Enhancements » Document List
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) operates Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (the Airport), which occupies land owned by the United States of America and administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The area comprising the Airport boundaries includes approximately 733 acres of land and 127 acres of submerged land situated along the western shore of the Potomac River in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In order to comply with FAA Order 5200.8 and FAA Order 5200.9, Financial Feasibility and Equivalency of Runway Safety Area Improvements and Engineered Material Arresting Systems, MWAA has determined that constructing enhancements to its Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) is required. MWAA prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing the potential environmental impacts associated with proposed enhancements to the Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33 RSAs. The FAA issued the subsequent Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in April 2012.
The EA, "Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33, Runway Safety Area Enhancements", was released to the public via MWAA's website on December 3. 2010. The original 49-day comment period was extended an additional 45 days to March 7, 2011. All sections of the Final EA as well as the FONSI are can be found at the MWAA website, http://www.metwashairports.com/4847.htm. The preferred alternative includes the following elements: enhancements to the Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33 Runway Safety Areas, by shifting each runway and installing Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) on the approach ends of Runway 22, Runway 15, and Runway 33; reconstructing new taxiway connectors; and additional associated projects as listed under the Proposed Project section in the FONSI.
Impacts to National Park Service (NPS) resources include the transfer of submerged land to support a runway extension. To comply with the FAA Order, MWAA will need to extend Runway 15-33 into the Potomac River, which will require approximately 5.3 acres of fill. Of those 5.3 acres owned by the United States Government, 2.4 acres of river bottom is administered by the NPS. As a result, the NPS would be required to transfer the administrative jurisdiction of this property to the FAA for the purposes of safety improvements.
Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands) requires the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal agencies to evaluate the likely impacts of actions in wetlands. NPS Directors Order (D.O.) #77-1: Wetland Protection, provides NPS policies and procedures for complying with E.O. 11990. Of the 2.4 acres to be transferred, 1.94 acres are considered riverine wetlands by the NPS and subject to the requirements set forth in D.O. 77-1. Because the proposal would result in adverse impacts on wetlands, a Statement of Findings (SOF) must be completed. A SOF describes the wetlands being impacted in terms of their overall ecological functions and values; describes any reasonable alternatives that avoids impacts to wetlands; rationale for the use of said wetlands; and provides a detailed description of what wetland area(s) would be restored to compensate for this loss or degradation and how that would be accomplished.
Currently, the NPS has drafted and is seeking public input on the SOF. Please comment on the document by linking to it from the "Open For Comment" Link on the left pane. The SOF will be available for public review and comment from February 15, 2013, through midnight on March 17, 2013. Written comments may be mailed to: Superintendent, the National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway c/o Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA 22101. Mailed comments must be postmarked by March 17, 2013 to receive consideration.
In order to comply with FAA Order 5200.8 and FAA Order 5200.9, Financial Feasibility and Equivalency of Runway Safety Area Improvements and Engineered Material Arresting Systems, MWAA has determined that constructing enhancements to its Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) is required. MWAA prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing the potential environmental impacts associated with proposed enhancements to the Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33 RSAs. The FAA issued the subsequent Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in April 2012.
The EA, "Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33, Runway Safety Area Enhancements", was released to the public via MWAA's website on December 3. 2010. The original 49-day comment period was extended an additional 45 days to March 7, 2011. All sections of the Final EA as well as the FONSI are can be found at the MWAA website, http://www.metwashairports.com/4847.htm. The preferred alternative includes the following elements: enhancements to the Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33 Runway Safety Areas, by shifting each runway and installing Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) on the approach ends of Runway 22, Runway 15, and Runway 33; reconstructing new taxiway connectors; and additional associated projects as listed under the Proposed Project section in the FONSI.
Impacts to National Park Service (NPS) resources include the transfer of submerged land to support a runway extension. To comply with the FAA Order, MWAA will need to extend Runway 15-33 into the Potomac River, which will require approximately 5.3 acres of fill. Of those 5.3 acres owned by the United States Government, 2.4 acres of river bottom is administered by the NPS. As a result, the NPS would be required to transfer the administrative jurisdiction of this property to the FAA for the purposes of safety improvements.
Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands) requires the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal agencies to evaluate the likely impacts of actions in wetlands. NPS Directors Order (D.O.) #77-1: Wetland Protection, provides NPS policies and procedures for complying with E.O. 11990. Of the 2.4 acres to be transferred, 1.94 acres are considered riverine wetlands by the NPS and subject to the requirements set forth in D.O. 77-1. Because the proposal would result in adverse impacts on wetlands, a Statement of Findings (SOF) must be completed. A SOF describes the wetlands being impacted in terms of their overall ecological functions and values; describes any reasonable alternatives that avoids impacts to wetlands; rationale for the use of said wetlands; and provides a detailed description of what wetland area(s) would be restored to compensate for this loss or degradation and how that would be accomplished.
Currently, the NPS has drafted and is seeking public input on the SOF. Please comment on the document by linking to it from the "Open For Comment" Link on the left pane. The SOF will be available for public review and comment from February 15, 2013, through midnight on March 17, 2013. Written comments may be mailed to: Superintendent, the National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway c/o Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA 22101. Mailed comments must be postmarked by March 17, 2013 to receive consideration.