New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Airspace Redesign
Background
The FAA designed and implemented the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia metropolitan air traffic environment in the 1960s. The volume of air traffic and the types of aircraft that use the airports have changed significantly. So has the air traffic control system. It has grown beyond its procedural and operational capacity. As a result the area services over 8000 flights a day and ranks 4th on the list of the 10 most delayed airports in the United States.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Air traffic control procedural changes associated with the proposed airspace redesign have the potential to affect the environment. Therefore, we will produce an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes the potential environmental impacts of airspace redesign and documents the analysis. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires us to involve the public in decisions which affect the quality of the human environment.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process
- Publish a Notice of Intent (NOI)
- Develop scoping process
- Hold community meetings
- Coordinate with other interested agencies
- Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
- Hold a public review
- Identify a preferred redesign alternative
- Publish a Final EIS
- Announce the Record of Decision (ROD)
Progress
We have completed a set of proposed changes to the existing airspace for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan area. We have also completed the environmental and operational analysis of each of the proposed alternatives (changes). We are preparing the Draft EIS (DEIS) for public review that discusses each proposed alternative and the results of the environmental and operational analysis of the alternatives.
