Airlake Airport Runway Extension
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Final Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet Metropolitan Airports Commission Airlake Airport Runway Extension Lakeville, Minnesota February 28, 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET Note to reviewers: Comments must be submitted to the RGU during the 30-day comment period following notice of the EAW in the EQB Monitor. Comments should address the accuracy and completeness of information, potential impacts that warrant further investigation and the need for an EIS. 1. Project Title: Airlake Airport Runway Extension 2. Proposer: Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Contact Person: Ms. Bridget Rief Title: Assistant Director – Airside Development Address: 6040 – 28th Avenue South City, State, Zip: Minneapolis, MN 55450 Phone: 612-725-8371 Fax: 612-794-4407 E-mail: [email protected] 3. RGU: Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Contact Person: Mr. Roy Fuhrmann Title: Director of Environment Address: 6040 – 28th Avenue South City, State, Zip: Minneapolis, MN 55450 Phone: 612-726-8134 Fax: 612-725-6310 E-mail: [email protected] 4. Reason for EAW preparation (check one) EIS scoping Mandatory EAW Citizen petition RGU discretion Proposer volunteered If EAW or EIS is mandatory give EQB rule category subpart number and subpart name: 4410.4400, Subpart 15. Subpart Name: Airport Runway Projects. 5. Project Location County: Dakota City/Township: Eureka Township and adjacent portion of the City of Lakeville N ½ of Section 4, Township 113N, Range 20W SW ¼ of Section 3, Township 113N, Range 20W Attach each of the following to the EAW: County map showing the general location of the project (see Figure 5-1) U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute, 1:24,000 scale map indicating project boundaries (photocopy acceptable). (See Figure 5-2) Site plan showing all significant project and natural features (See Figure 5-3) 6. Description a. Provide a project summary of 50 words or less to be published in the EQB Monitor. The Metropolitan Airports Commission proposes to construct a 902-foot extension to the existing 4,098- foot runway at the Airlake Airport in Lakeville. The runway would also be widened from 75 to 100 feet. Extension of the runway to 5,000 feet in length would require realignment of segments of Cedar Avenue and 225th Street. b. Give a complete description of the proposed project and related new construction. Attach additional sheets as necessary. Emphasize construction, operation methods and features that will cause physical manipulation of the environment or will produce wastes. Include modifications to existing equipment or industrial processes and significant demolition, removal or remodeling of existing structures. Indicate the timing and duration of construction activities. The proposed project would extend the existing runway at the Airlake Airport from 4,098 feet to 5,000 feet in length. The 902-foot extension would be constructed on the southeast end of the existing runway. The full length of the runway would be reconstructed at the time of the extension and the runway would be increased from 75 to 100 feet in width. The existing safety areas would be relocated with the extended runway. The existing High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRLs) would be reinstalled on the extended and widened runway. The existing 40-foot-wide parallel taxiway would be extended the full length of the extended runway. The existing reflectors that line the taxiway may be extended along the extended taxiway, or Medium Intensity Taxiway Lights (MITLs) would be installed along the full length of the taxiway. The existing instrument landing system (ILS) to Runway 30 would be reinstalled on the extended runway, or the system would be upgraded and replaced. Reinstallation of the existing (or upgraded equipment) would include relocation of the glide slope antenna and the associated glide slope critical area alongside the extended runway end. It would also include relocation of the approach lighting system, the series of lights that extend 2,400 feet off of the southeast runway end. The localizer antenna on the northwest end of the runway would not be relocated. The extended runway would reach just across the existing alignment of Cedar Avenue and the associated safety areas would encompass the intersection of Cedar Avenue with 225th Street. This would require realignment of both roadways to a location outside of the Object Free Area (OFA) of the extended runway and clear of the runway approach surface. Cedar Avenue would be reconstructed from a point approximately 0.4 mile south of 215th Street to the point where Cedar Avenue crosses the Vermillion River. The intersection with 225th Street would be reconstructed to maintain the east/west corridor through the area. The airport improvements would not require acquisition of additional property. However, realignment of Cedar Avenue and 225th Street would require acquisition of new right-of-way. c. Explain the project purpose; if the project will be carried out by a governmental unit, explain the need for the project and identify its beneficiaries. The existing 4,098-foot runway is of insufficient length to meet the minimum Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards for the critical family of aircraft operating at the Airlake Airport. These standards indicate that the runway should be a minimum of 5,500 feet in length. However, Scoping EAW Airlake Airport Runway Extension Page 2 Minnesota Statutes Section 473.641 subdivision 4 prohibits the MAC from extending runway length at its minor airports beyond 5,000 feet without prior legislative authorization. Although less than the recommended 5,500-foot runway length, the proposed 5,000-foot runway would improve the safety of operations at the airport by providing a runway length as close as possible to the FAA recommended runway length. Additional description of the calculation of the recommended runway length is provided in the Draft Scoping Document and in the Airlake Airport Long-Term Comprehensive Plan (2007). d. Are future stages of this development including development on any outlots planned or likely to happen? Yes X No If yes, briefly describe future stages, relationship to present project, timeline and plans for environmental review. Future development and improvement of the Airlake Airport is described in the Long Term Comprehensive Plan (LTCP). The MAC prepared a Comprehensive Development Plan for the airport in 1989 and completed a LTCP in 1997. The LTCP was updated in 2007 and describes the existing (2005) and future (2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025) use of the airport. The forecasted use and user characteristics define the improvements necessary to maintain safe aviation operations. The 2007 LTCP defines the need for the currently proposed runway extension. However, the document indicates the need is 10-15 years into the future. The wider runway provided by the proposed project will also contribute to the ability to lower the approach visibility minimums below one mile. It is expected that these changes would take place concurrent with the runway/taxiway extension. The LTCP also defines the need for additional hangar storage to serve existing demand as well as the future demand of the forecasted growth in based aircraft. An existing partial parallel taxiway on the south side of the runway provides access to existing taxilanes and available area for hangar construction. This existing building area is expected to accommodate nearly all of the expected 20-year growth in based aircraft. Two smaller areas adjacent to the existing building area could be available for expansion if necessary, but no plans for expansion in these areas is currently planned. The extended runway with improved visibility minimums and sufficient aircraft storage will provide Airlake Airport users with sufficient facilities for the foreseeable 20-year planning term. No further developments beyond those described above are currently planned. The 1989 Comprehensive Development Plan recommended construction of a crosswind runway to meet FAA recommendations for wind coverage. Improvement in available wind data now shows that the existing runway provides sufficient coverage and that the cost of a crosswind runway would outweigh the operational benefit, so the concept was dropped from consideration. Future development surrounding the airport is expected to be industrial in the City of Lakeville and remain agricultural in Eureka Township. Development potential outside of MAC property, including that along the realigned Cedar Avenue, would not be directly affected by the proposed runway extension, nor dependent upon it. e. Is this project a subsequent stage of an earlier project? __Yes X No If yes, briefly describe the past development, timeline and any past environmental review. The airport was originally a private airfield constructed, owned and operated by Hitchcock Industries as part of the Airlake Industrial Park. The airfield originally consisted of a 5,000-foot bituminous runway Scoping EAW Airlake Airport Runway Extension Page 3 with Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility and hangar storage. It was originally constructed to serve the industrial park, but became a privately owned / public use facility open not just to users of the industrial park, but to all aircraft that could operate there. The Airlake Airport was purchased by the MAC in 1981 in response to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program to improve the reliever airport system and the safety at major hub airports (Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport (MS) ) by providing a training facility for conducting instrument approaches for the Twin Cities Area at an airport other than MSP to serve the southern area of the Twin Cities. After purchase by the MAC, the Airlake Airport runway was rehabilitated and the thresholds displaced to the existing 4,098 feet to establish the required approaches and safety areas to FAA standards. Additional hangar areas were constructed, an Instrument Landing System (ILS) installed, and the partial parallel taxiway extended to the full runway length. The south building area was prepared for construction of hangars in 1999. Construction of the existing partial parallel taxiway and taxilanes will provide for 70 to 80 additional aircraft hangars.