T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation1Introduction and Background1.1 IntroductionThe Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) is proposing a program of improvements at Theodore FrancisGreen Airport (T.F. Green Airport or ‘the Airport’) to enhance safety at the airport and to enhance the efficiencyof the Airport and the New England Regional Airport System. As the lead federal agency, in compliance withthe National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 1,2,3,4 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hasdetermined that it was necessary to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) because of thepotential for significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed T.F. Green Airport ImprovementProgram. The DEIS was filed in July 2010 and a subsequent Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) ispresented herein. This document also includes a final Department of Transportation (DOT) Section 4(f)Resources evaluation. 5 This chapter provides an overview of the components of the T.F. Green AirportImprovement Program, including a description of the Airport’s history and rationale for proposing theImprovement Program. An overview of the process that was followed in preparing this FEIS and a descriptionof the contents of this FEIS is provided.1.2 Proposed T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramRIAC is proposing a program of improvements for T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, the purpose ofwhich is to provide facilities that would conform to current FAA airport design standards to enhance airportsafety and efficiency of the Airport as well as the New England Regional Airport System to more fully meet thecurrent and anticipated demand for aviation services. The T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program evaluatedin this FEIS includes safety projects (enhance Runway 16-34 Runway Safety Areas (RSAs); removal ofHangar No. 1; relocate Taxiway C;) and efficiency projects (extend Runway 5-23; expand passenger terminal1 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.2 Federal Aviation Administration Order 1050.1E, Change 1, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, U.S. Department of Transportation, March 20,2006.3 FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions, FAA, United States Department ofTransportation, April 28, 2006.4 Environmental Desk Reference for Airport Actions, FAA, October 5, 2007.5 U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f), 49 U.S.C., section 303(c).Chapter 1 – Introduction and Background 1-1 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH01_Introduction_JUL_2011.doc