Draft EA - San Diego International Airport

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – PROPOSED RUNWAY 9 DISPLACED THRESHOLD
1. Purpose and Need
1.1 Introduction
San Diego International Airport (SDIA or the Airport) served approximately 16.7 million domestic and
international passengers in 2012. 1
SDIA is classified as a large-hub commercial service airport in the National
Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Hub classifications are based on the number of passengers
enplaned at the Airport, and a “large hub” classification means that SDIA accommodates at least 1.0 percent
of total U.S. enplaned passengers, ranking it as one of the nation’s busiest airports. 2
The Airport is owned and
operated by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA).
This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared by the SDCRAA (Sponsor) to fulfill federal
requirements for environmental review of an airport development project that requires federal approval
and/or funding, as outlined in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts:
Policies and Procedures 3
and FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing
Instructions for Airport Actions. 4 In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42
United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321-4370h), the FAA must review the potential environmental effects of a
proposed project before taking any action to approve the proposed project.
NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare environmental documentation that discloses to decision-makers
and the interested public a clear, accurate description of potential environmental effects resulting from
proposed federal actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. Through NEPA, the U.S. Congress
directed federal agencies to integrate environmental factors in their planning and decision-making processes
and to encourage and facilitate public involvement in decisions that affect the quality of the human
environment. Federal agencies are required to consider the environmental effects of a proposed action,
1
2
3
4
Air Service Development Department, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Air Traffic Report, 2010 to Present, San Diego
International Airport, Lindbergh Field, Available at: http://www.san.org/sdia/at_the_airport/education/airport_statistics.aspx (accessed April
19, 2013).
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Report to Congress: National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
(NPIAS), 2011-2015, September 27, 2010.
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, June
8, 2004, Change 1, effective March 20, 2006.
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions, effective April 28, 2006.
Draft EA
Purpose and Need
[1-1]