[Federal Register: May 3, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 84)]
[Notices]               
[Page 23727]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03my99-118]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
on the Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) 
Facility

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Potomac Consolidated TRACON.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for construction of a new 
Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in the Baltimore-
Washington area. The proposed action is to consolidate four stand-alone 
TRACONs located at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Ronald 
Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International 
Airport; and the FAA operated TRACON located at Andrews Air Force Base, 
Maryland. The new Potomac Consolidated TRACON (PCT) would be located at 
a site in Northern Virginia. The preferred site is at the former Vint 
Hill Farms Station near Warrenton, VA.

DATES: Written comments on the FEIS will be accepted until June 1, 
1999. Written comments may be sent to: FAA Potomac TRACON Project, c/o 
Mr. Fred Bankert, PRC Inc., 12005 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 
20191-3423.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Champley, Project Support 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, (800) 762-9531, 
Email:joe.champley@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A TRACON facility provides radar air traffic 
control services to aircraft operating on Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 
and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) procedures generally beyond 5 miles and 
within 50 miles of the host airport at altitudes from the surface to 
approximately 17,000 feet. These distances and altitudes may vary 
depending on local conditions and infrastructural constraints such as 
adequate radar and radio frequency coverage. The primary function of 
the TRACON is to provide a variety of air traffic control services to 
arrival, departure, and transient aircraft within its assigned 
airspace. These services include aircraft separation, in flight traffic 
advisories and navigational assistance. The four existing TRACON 
facilities provide terminal radar air traffic control services to the 
four major airports and a number of small reliever airports located 
within the Baltimore-Washington area.
    In accordance with regulations implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act, a range of alternatives is considered in the 
FEIS including replacement or refurbishment of three of the four 
existing TRACONs, partial consolidation, No Action and full 
consolidation. The full consolidation alternative would not cause 
significant environmental impact in any of the 23 impact categories 
assessed.
    Since there was minimal comment on the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement during the 45-day comment period, the entire document has not 
been republished. Copies of the comments and responses are available 
for review at major libraries in the study area. A summary of the FEIS 
can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/ats/potomac.

    Dated: April 19, 1999 in Washington, DC.
John Mayrhofer,
Director, TRACON Development Program.
[FR Doc. 99-10995 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M