Notice of Availability of Purpose, Need, and Alternatives Working Paper for the Proposed Airfield Safety Enhancement Project and Real Property Transactions, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prepared the Purpose, Need, and Alternatives Working Paper for the Proposed Airfield Safety Enhancement Project (ASEP) including real property transactions at Tucson International Airport (TUS), Pima County, Arizona. The FAA initiated preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to a proposal by the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA). The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Purpose, Need, and Alternatives Working Paper will be made available for public comment as part of a continued effort to engage the public in the scoping process for this project. FAA is seeking comments on the Working Paper. The FAA is the lead Federal agency for preparation of the EIS and will do so in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-15080). The preparation of the EIS will follow FAA regulations and policies for implementing NEPA published in FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, and FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the National Guard Bureau (NGB) are cooperating agencies under 40 CFR 1501.6. This Purpose, Need, and Alternatives Working Paper provides background information on TUS, a description of the Proposed Action, and the Purpose and Need to which the FAA, USAF, and NGB are responding in evaluating the Proposed Action and various reasonable alternatives to the Proposed Action. In whole or in summary, the Purpose, Need, and Alternatives Working Paper will become part of the EIS. The FAA is not making a decision regarding the Proposed Action in this Working Paper.