Environmental Assessment Las Vegas Area Airspace Optimization Project

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1 Environmental Assessment Las Vegas Area Airspace Optimization Project John Williams, Senior Vice President, Ricondo & Associates, Inc. ACI-NA Environmental Affairs Committee Conference May 16, 2013 Halifax, Nova Scotia

2 Agenda Project Overview Documentation Coordination Summary 1

Project Overview Optimization of air traffic routes serving arrivals and departures at: McCarran International Airport North Las Vegas Airport Henderson Executive Airport

3 Project Overview Optimization of air traffic routes serving arrivals and departures at: McCarran International Airport North Las Vegas Airport Henderson Executive Airport Includes: Additional terminal airspace exit and entry points Segregated air traffic routes for the three airports Published Area Navigation (RNAV) routes for more runways 2

4 Generalized Study Area Developed to consider impacts of actions up to 10,000 feet above the ground Lateral extent concisely defined to focus on areas of traffic flow 3

5 Documentation Challenges and Goals Provide a document that can be understood by the lay reader Develop a clear and concise purpose and need statement Describe and depict the alternatives in a useable manner Clearly present noise exposure and changes in noise exposure 4

6 Document Readability Introduction and background Introduction to NEPA and the requirements for an EA Airspace primer Described the National Airspace System, air traffic control, and NextGen Focused on the Las Vegas area airspace and airports Introduced terminology that could not be avoided Minimized text in favor of exhibits and tables QA/QC reviews focused on overall readability for the lay reader in addition to technical accuracy and grammar 5

7 Purpose and Need The need was described in terms of the causes of inefficiencies and complexities in the airspace The purpose was described in terms of how those causes (or their effects) could be reduced 6

8 Purpose and Need The purpose and need also addressed how physical constraints in the airspace affect air traffic routes 7

9 Presentation of Alternatives No Action Proposed Action Southeast Arrivals No Action Proposed Action Southeast Departures 8

10 Presentation of Noise Analysis Results 9

11 Presentation of Noise Analysis Results 10

12 Agency Coordination EA early notification letters 109 federal, state and local agencies and elected officials 21 tribal representatives Las Vegas Review Journal publication Agency coordination meetings 162 invitations sent Tribal representatives initial meeting and three follow-up meetings Elected officials meeting Government agencies Agency Consultation Section 106 Consultation with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service review conducted during public review period no comments received 11

Public Outreach and Review Website: www.lasoptimization.

13 Public Outreach and Review Website: Public review period July 1 August 6, 2012 EA available in 22 libraries and via the website Two public workshops held on consecutive days 12

14 Public and Agency Comments No written or oral comments submitted at the public workshops A total of six comments were received by FAA on the Draft EA Four from agencies One from a tribal representative One from a member of the public Minor changes to the EA required on the basis of the comments FAA requested changes to the organization of some sections and as a point of clarification in other sections during preparation of the Final EA 13

15 Summary From a timing and schedule perspective, it is important to have a definitive point when the route designs are fixed so that analyses (particularly noise) can begin Documentation Challenges Establishing the approach to defining purpose and need understanding and describing the causes of inefficiencies and complexities were key for this EA Finding the right balance between technical elements critical to understanding the project and its potential effects versus dropping those technical elements that are not necessary for the lay reader Identifying what information needs to be incorporated into the NEPA document (either in text or in an appendix) versus what is incorporated by reference Integration of stakeholder coordination (including the airport sponsor) throughout the process is key to maintaining schedules 14

Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners and Noise Compatibility Committee Special Meeting on Central/South Florida Metroplex

Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners and Noise Compatibility Committee Special Meeting on Central/South Florida Metroplex March 16, 2017 Ted Baldwin and Robert Mentzer Metroplex Overview: From