Integrating Planning & Environmental Assessment Processes:Strategies for Success

Mark Clark - Niagara Frontier Transportation AuthorityRick Lucas - McFarland JohnsonJeff Wood - McFarland JohnsonSue McDonald - Federal Aviation Administration

Airport

Planning

Consultants FAA

NEPA

“The Silo Syndrome”

Planning & NEPA

Sponsors generate a project Engineering designs the project Sponsors hire a consultant to “Do NEPA” What happens when it gets to the FAA?

The Result ?“FAA Why can’t you streamline

your process?It is taking too long!

What creates the Silo Syndrome & the end result?

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“But you said here” ”but I really meant here, ”

FAA Airport

The Solution? Topple Those Silos

How is that done?

Think about it?

Adding common sense to a common problem = common sense solution

Ok Sponsors you go first!

Start Your Plan

The Team Approach - “Hey, that’s just common sense”

How to Start That Plan?

Know Your Airport What is Really Needed Make Your Projects Based on this Need

- From there, Develop a Solid “Purpose & Need”

Understand Your Environmental Conditions Plan on Letting Your FAA Know of Your Ideas Plan on Choosing an Appropriate Consultant

Know My Airport?

Sponsors Need to: Know Your Airport Know Your Airport’s True “Purpose & Need’s” Know Your Environmental Constraints Know Your Public Know How to Choose the Right Consultant Know Your FAA

Do you understand your runways?

Do you understand your environmental conditions like floodplains, wetlands, air quality or noise?

Knowing Your Airport

Is your hanger space large enough or do you really need better access to it?

Have you satisfied your RSA requirements, or is it a Part 77 Study or land acquisition you need?

Can you get to and from your airport easily?

Knowing Your Airport

Our Sustainable Master Plan Issues:

Traffic Flow

Inbound Baggage issues

Airfield & Snow Removal Facilities

Auto Parking

Knowing Your Airport’s Projects & Needs

Is public perception of the airport accurate?

How will they react to controversy?

Is there public trust in the airport?

Do We Know our Public?

Choosing consultants should not be an afterthought Choosing the right consultant for the project is crucial to success Sponsor MUST identify early project expectations to potential consultants

How the FAA requires you to evaluate & hire a consultant for FAA-funded projects

AC 150/1500-14d: Architectural, Engineering, and Planning Consultant Services for Airport Grant Projects

Know How to Choose the Right Consultant for the Job

Get to Know Your FAA

Network with them any time possible Get to know what makes them tick Understand their schedules Does your ADO know your consultants Let them get to know you

Know Your FAA

Purpose: Something set up as an object or end to be attained

Need: Necessary duty

Purpose & Need:Build something that is necessary

So We Now Know it All. Sponsors Next Step?Planning Our Projects with Purpose and Need

Is your project(s) really needed and justifiable?

If it is, can we prove it?

Once a project is deemed viable and needed, Environmental impacts must be considered as part of the planning as you begin to write up your Purpose and Need.

If you have not considered environmental impacts early enough, trouble is brewing so “Here’s your sign” Mr. Airport, expect a bumpy ride.

“Ask Yourself the Details”

Purpose and Need

SECTION 6.0 INTEGRATION OF NEPA AND PLANNINGIt is the intent of this Master Plan Update to integrate NEPA/SEQRA considerations into its planning process for the purpose of avoiding or minimizing environmental impacts on selected alternatives and general capital planning.

Environmental conditions will play a key role in airport development and must be considered during planning and development stages of the Master Plan.

NEPA/SEQRA should not be considered the driving factor in planning direction of capital improvements, but used more as a reference guidance aimed at producing NEPA compatible projects. Proper integration shall assist in development of:

Projects that avoid extreme environmental conflictsProjects that generate a strong Purpose and NeedProjects that will be compatible in “streamlining” the Environmental Assessment processProjects that minimize public controversy

Our “Language” as a condition in the RFP for our Master Plan

How We did the Plan at BNIA

Continue Team Coordination

“Time to get our Consultant on board with our plans”

Plan is in Place – What’s Next?

Planning & Engineering:- Client Service- Project Implementation Timeline- Internal Project Efficiencies

Planning & Environmental:- Client Service- Project Implementation Timeline- Internal Project Efficiencies- FAA Service- Public Service

Better Projects!Better Projects!

Planner Perspective – Why NEPA Integration?

NEPA Integration vs. Separate Process

Inventory

Forecasts

Facility Requirements

Alternatives

Recommended Plan

Airport Layout Plan

Have We Identified Environmental Features?What are Major Environmental Constraints?Political Considerations?

What are Underlying Assumptions of the Forecasts?Future Fleet Mix?

What is the justification?Project Timing?

Were Environmental Constraints and Regulations Considered?Cost and Time Associated with Regulatory Compliance?Community Impacts?

Does Preferred Alterative have the Least Impact? If Not, Why Not?Economic Benefits?Land Use Considerations Construction Impacts

Can we get permits?What is the NEPA process? How long and when?

Buffalo Niagara International (BNIA) Project Approach

Project Team- Multi-Discipline

Sustainable Foundation- Sponsor Established Goals and Objectives

Inventory- Share Vision with Stakeholders- Obtaining Buy-In

Alternatives Analysis- Incorporating NEPA into Evaluation Criteria

BNIA Stakeholder Involvement

Make the Meeting Environment “Green”- Sustainable Incorporation Recap with Every Stakeholder

Meeting- Revisit Goals and Objectives

Gathering Data from Stakeholders- Sustainability Charrette- Think Green when Determining Facility Requirements

Going “Outside the Box”- Student/University Involvement- Bring Ideas Back to Stakeholders for Input

External Opportunities: Educational Outreach

BNIA Sustainable Master Plan- Erie Community College Collaboration

• Defining Sustainability• Airport Tour• Sustainability Charrette / Project Visioning

FAA Design Competition- Binghamton Geothermal Apron

• “Concept to Concrete”

BNIA Alternatives Analysis Initial Screening

- Major Impacts or Disruptions

Standard Evaluation Criteria- Safety, Standards, Facility Requirements Still Top

Priority

NEPA Impacts and Action Evaluation- Identify Logical Groupings of Projects- Determine Associated NEPA Actions (Cat-Ex, EA, EIS)

Adding Sustainable Elements- “Icing on the Cake”

BNIA Alternatives Analysis

Environmental Evaluation of Landside Access Alternatives Minimal Natural Resource

Concerns Potential Air Quality

Benefit Socio-Economic

Concerns

Adding Sustainable Elements

Standard ARFF Station More Daylight

Bays Rotated from Prevailing Winds

Snow Fence to Help Reduce Plowing in Front of Bays

Quicker Terminal Access

Airport Planning for NEPA Practitioners Know the Basics and Key Issues

- Critical Safety Infrastructure- Capacity vs. Delay- Economic Benefits

Get the User Perspective (Pilots, Operators, etc.)- Deicing Operations- Air Traffic Operations

Achieve Concurrence on Goals & Objectives in Facility Requirements- Shared Vision in Final Outcome

Know the Basics- Purpose and Need (Build It and They Will Come?)- Regulatory - Schedule and Budget Impacts

Identify Key Environmental Features Consider Environmental Constraints in Development

of Alternatives Public Opinion Matters Capitalize on PR Opportunities Bundle Logically-Connected Projects

NEPA for Airport Planners

Establish Baseline Conditions Early

Understand the Setting Natural Resources

Constraints- Comprehensive- Consider all Impact

Categories - Geo-Referenced

Establish Baseline Conditions Early

Understand the Setting Social and Economic

- Role of Airport in Regional Economy

- Regional Economic Conditions

- Population Trends- Off-Airport Development

Political

Identify Key Issues

Critical Environmental, Economic, Social Impacts? Schedule and Budget Drivers

- NEPA Timeline- Permits- Mitigation

Technical Challenges Regulatory and Political Perspectives

Alternatives Analysis

Evaluate Alternatives in Light of Known Environmental Constraints

Can Alternatives be Modified to Avoid or Minimize Impacts?

Will Mitigation be Required?- How/Where?- $$$$

Public Opposition

Case Study - ELM

Elmira Corning Regional Airport (ELM)MPU Identified Need for 400’ Added Takeoff Distance for RW 6-24 No Opportunity to Extend RW 6- Presence of I-86- Airspace Constraints MPU Identified 2 Build Alternatives for RW 24 Extension- Extend 400’ w/ Standard RSA- Extend 400’ w/ EMAS MPU SOW and Funding Did Not Provide for Detailed Analysis

of Environmental Constraints

Case Study - ELM

Case Study - ELM

Planning ViewField View

Case Study - ELM

NEPA Process Extensive Public Involvement

- Advisory Committee- Public Meetings- Private Meetings w/ Neighbors

Focus on “Selling It” Strong Political, Regulatory and Public

Opposition to MPU Preferred Alternative

Results in New Preferred Alternative- Opposition Dissolved- Airport Needs Met- NEPA Conclusion Delayed

Mitigation

Look for Win-Win Scenarios Partner with Non-Profits Consider Alternative Delivery

Methods Involve Stakeholders Early Public Education Opportunities Don’t Shortchange the Effort Capitalize on PR Benefit

Mitigation

Airports are Uniquely Positioned On-Site Options Limited /

Not Desirable Here for the Long Haul Land Use Control FAA Involvement – a Two-Edged

Sword

Regulatory Agencies

Agencies are Stakeholders- Integrate into Planning Process

Build Support through Early Communication Understand Implementing Regulations

- Do’s and Don’ts- Timeframes- Unwritten Policies

Swamp and Pavement Tours- Builds Understanding of Airport Operations- Relationships

Public Involvement

Stakeholders Meetings- Regulatory Agencies- Interest Groups- Concerned Citizens

Public Meetings- What is the Message?

• Key Issues• Why

- Clear and Concise Presentation of Data and Findings- Appropriate Expertise - The Airport Was Here First!!

Best Practices Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach

Consider Environmental Issues Early and Often

Focus on Key Issues

Identify Mitigation Opportunities Early

Partner with Environmental Stakeholders

Consider Regulatory Agencies as Stakeholders

Now the Final Frontier…The FAA’s Involvement

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FAA – Planning & NEPA

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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was Passed in 1969

Requires Federal Agencies to Evaluate the Environmental Impacts of their Actions

CEQ Developed Implementing Regulations

FAA Developed Orders Agency Compliance- Order 1050.1E, Change 1 – Applies to all Lines of Business

- Order 5050.4B & Desk Reference – Airports

Integrate Planning and NEPA at the Earliest Possible Time

Master Plan

Project Definition andJustification

Inventory

Forecast Developed

Alternatives - On-Airport

Environmental Document

Purpose and Need Statement

Baseline for comparison

Forecast and Fleet Mix Evaluated

Reasonable range of Alternatives

How Planning & NEPA Relate

Justification

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A strong purpose and need

A clear justification

Reasonable alternatives considered

In order to move into the environmental phase!

Project Coordination

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Coordination with key state and federal resource agencies during the Master Plan can help pave the way for a cleaner EA.

Provide these agencies with the opportunity to comment on a Master Plan when resources within their jurisdiction are identified for possible impacts.

Form a strong team: Sponsor, Consultant, ADO Planner, ADO Environmental Specialist, ADO Project Manager.

If you wait for the EA, then some of the work and expectations coming out of the Master Plan, will likely need to be redone.

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Unexpected Projects / Quick Turnaround

Insufficient Justification for Projects Not Listed as CatExs

Insufficient Information About the Project and/or its Impacts

Lack of Input from Jurisdictional Agency

Avoid potential headaches in the future by completing a thorough review now!

Avoiding Pitfalls

Where’s My Approval ???

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NEPA Documents = FAA Documents, Not the Sponsors

Documents Must be Clear, Concise, Supported, Defensible, and Fully Coordinated

Things To Remember

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Communicate with your Local ADO

Coordinate with Agencies

Know your Consultant

NEPA Documents are Decision-Making, Disclosure Documents

Provide Training within your Organization to Ensure that Management, Engineers, Maintenance Folks, Property Management, etc. Know about NEPA - Why We Do It, and When  

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This is How the Process Came Full Circle and the Airports get What They Need

Questions?