80 FR 46382 - Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Cal Black Memorial Airport, Halls Crossing Replacement Airport

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 149 (August 4, 2015)

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Federal Aviation Administration announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Cal Black Memorial Airport, replacement airport for the Halls Crossing Airport.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46382-46383]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19145]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Cal Black Memorial Airport, Halls Crossing Replacement Airport

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Federal Aviation 
Administration announces the availability of the Record of Decision for 
the Cal Black Memorial Airport, replacement airport for the Halls 
Crossing Airport.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD may be viewed during regular business 
hours at the following locations:
    1. Federal Aviation Administration Airports Division, Suite 315, 
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057.
    2. Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District Office, Suite 
224, 26805 East 68th Avenue, Denver, CO 80249.
    3. San Juan County Courthouse, County Executive Office, 117 S. 
Main, Monticello, Utah 84535.
    The ROD will also be available on the following Web site: http://halls.crossing.airportnetwork.com/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janell Barrilleaux, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Aviation Administration Airports Division, 
Northwest Mountain Region, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057. Mrs. 
Barrilleaux may be contacted during business hours at (425) 227-2611 
(phone), (425) 227-1600 (fax), or via email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Halls Crossing replacement airport was 
originally proposed in 1966 due to the inadequacy of the existing Halls 
Crossing airstrip. After completion of numerous planning studies, the 
Federal Aviation Administration completed an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) (June, 1990) with the cooperation of the National Park 
Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). A Record of 
Decision (ROD) was issued in August 1990 approving the development of 
what is now named the Cal Black Memorial Airport. Concurrently, the BLM 
approved an amendment of a land plan which allowed the conveyance of 
land to San Juan County for the construction of the new airport.
    In 1990, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA),\1\ et 
al.\2\ brought suit concerning the adequacy of the 1990 Final EIS and 
the adequacy of the BLM plan amendment and land transfer process. In 
its July 7, 1993 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth 
Circuit concluded that ``the action of FAA approving the project based 
on a finding of `no significant impact' and `no significant adverse 
impact' [was] arbitrary and capricious.'' The court proceeding stated:
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    \1\ Note: The title of the organization as documented in the 
1993 United States Court of Appeals case National Parks Conservation 
Association, et al. v Federal Aviation Administration, et al.
    \2\ Other parties to the suit included the Southern Utah 
Wilderness Alliance, the Sierra Club, and Deborah L. Threedy.


[[Page 46383]]


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    We therefore REVERSE the BLM's plan amendment and the transfer 
of land. We REMAND for further proceedings to determine whether the 
land should be retained under BLM control and management or 
reconveyed to San Juan County under a newly proposed land use plan 
amendment. In the case of the FAA, the airport has already been 
built. This does not mean that a remand would be meaningless, 
however. On remand, the FAA should re-analyze the impact of the 
airport under section 4(f) and section 2208.\3\ The FAA may 
determine that it must make use of studies not utilized in the 
current FEIS. If a ``significant'' impact is found, section 4(f) and 
section 2208 require that all reasonable steps be taken to mitigate 
the damage or adverse impact. We therefore REVERSE the FAA's 
determination of no significant impact and REMAND to the FAA for 
further proceedings consistent with this decision.
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    \3\ Note: In 1994, the provisions of the Airport and Airway 
Improvement Act of 1982 were codified in U.S. Code Title 49, chapter 
471, subchapter I.

    In response to the court remand, FAA, in cooperation with BLM 
and NPS prepared a Supplemental EIS (SEIS).\4\ The Draft SEIS for 
the Cal Black Memorial Airport (Replacement Airport for Halls 
Crossing Airport) was published on December 12, 2014. The 45-day 
comment period included an opportunity to request a public hearing; 
however, no responses were received requesting a hearing. The 
following parties submitted comments to the FAA on the Draft SEIS 
during the comment period: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, BLM, and the NPCA. An errata sheet 
was drafted to identify changes that were made to the Draft SEIS in 
response to comments received. Additionally, an appendix was added 
(Appendix J) to document each comment received, and FAA's response 
to each comment. These additional documents, in combination with a 
CD containing the Draft SEIS, constitute the Final SEIS for the 
Replacement Airport at Halls Crossing. The Final SEIS for the Cal 
Black Memorial Airport (replacement airport for the Halls Crossing 
Airport) was published on May 8, 2015.
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    \4\ BLM addressed its requirements through its revisions to 
their Resource Management Plan in 2008. Bureau of Land Management 
Monticello Field Office, Record of Decision and Approved Resource 
Management Plan (November 2008).

    The SEIS described potential environmental consequences that could 
result from the continued operation of the Cal Black Memorial Airport 
to resources located within the Project Area. Direct effects of the new 
airport (its construction) as well as indirect effects (airport 
operations) were identified in the 1990 FEIS. The SEIS provided further 
evaluation of actual and potential aircraft noise impacts, as well as 
Section 4(f) impacts and cumulative impacts. Evaluation of noise 
impacts focused exclusively on the effect of aircraft noise on GCNRA 
and surrounding lands. Chapter III, Environmental Consequences, 
presents the analysis for noise impacts, Section 4(f) impacts, and 
Cumulative Effects resulting from the operation of the Cal Black 
Memorial Airport.
    The FAA has determined, based on the noise analysis conducted for 
the SEIS that as there are no significant impacts related to the 
continued operation of the Cal Black Memorial Airport, there is no need 
for any mitigation measures under either Section 4(f) or Section 2208.
    In addition, the FAA has confirmed that the ROD for the 1990 EIS 
included the FAA determinations made for the project based upon 
evidence set forth in the FEIS, public input, and the supporting 
administrative record. These determinations are not changed by any new 
information developed for this SEIS.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, July 28, 2015.
Stanley C. Allison,
Acting Division Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-19145 Filed 8-3-15; 8:45 am]
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