The EIS is a document that describes how a project affects the environment. The information is used to determine if the project should move forward.
Members of the government, airport and community met at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick at 1 p.m. and another session was held for the general public at 5 p.m. Attendees were presented information on airport-improvement scenarios and were given a chance to voice concerns for the EIS record.
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Carol Lurie of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. – an aviation environmental group, based in Watertown, Mass., that’s consulting on Green’s projects – pointed out at the afternoon meeting that the runway may be expanded up to 9,500 feet, but until all scenarios are studied, the extension length, if any, is unknown.
“The most difficult problem we have is getting people to understand that 9,500 feet is not set in stone. The community is very concerned, so we plan extensive public outreach to explain all the impacts and the need,” said Lurie.
The EIS public scoping meetings were first held in 2002, but did not include the extension of Runway 5-23 (the airport’s main runway) to 9,500 feet. The RIAC revisited the plan and proved a need for an extended runway to accommodate coast-to-coast flights.
Because an environmental evaluation of a major extension of Runway 5-23 was not part of the 2002 Scope of Work for the EIS, the Federal Aviation Administration is conducting additional public scoping to gather information on how this extension will impact the environment and community.
The runway could be extended mostly north and some south, across Airport Road. It would affect wetlands north of that road.
If the runway is extended south, tunneled under Main Avenue, a cemetery would have to be relocated but no wetlands would be impacted.
The third scenario involves extending the runway mostly south and some north, with Airport Road being relocated and tunneling under Main Avenue.
The runway expansion project has potential for significant environmental effects, including noise, community disruption, and damage to wetlands.
Only feedback on the runway expansion is being taken since other improvements planned for the airport – including a bigger terminal with more gates, reconfigured roadway, and extra parking – were studied in the 2002 EIS.
Comments from the scoping meetings will be compiled in a report available by mid-March.
Proponents of the expansion plans say an extended runway will bring significant revenue to the state because it will allow coast-to-coast flights for leisure and business travel as well as freight movement.
Once an analysis on all the environmental impacts is complete, the FAA will prepare a draft EIS of the proposed project and allow public review. The public will have 45 days to comment on the draft EIS and those comments will be considered in a final evaluation of the project. The FAA then prepares a final EIS followed by a final Record of Decision 30 days later.
Comments can be submitted anytime before Feb. 22 by downloading the form from www.vhb.com/pvd/eis.
Concerns or comments can also be submitted to John Silva, environmental program manager of the FAA, New England region, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA, 01803, or at john.silva@faa.gov.
RIAC also plans to perform voluntary environmental reviews of the airport’s impact on the area each year.
Logan International Airport is required by Massachusetts state agencies to assess the impacts of its facility annually and publish them in an Environmental Data Report.
Also, the FAA is in the process of a report on airports in the New England region which will look at all aspects
of the 10 airports in the region, including demands and forecasted demand.
