Trends in Airport Environmental Planning

1
Trends in Airport Environmental Planning

• Stephen Culberson
• Ricondo Associates, Inc.
• September 28, 2007

2
Outline

• History and Background
• Environmental Regulations
• Evolution of Environmental Considerations
• Recent Trends
• Effects on Airport Planning and Development

3
History Background

• Began with the National Environmental Policy Act
  (NEPA) and other federal laws, orders, and
  regulations
• Some states also passed laws and regulations for
  considering the environmental effects of proposed
  projects
• Environmental effects primarily considered and
  addressed after planning was complete
• Environmental effects of proposed projects
  identified and mitigation measures implemented to
  eliminate or reduce those effects

4
Environmental Regulation in the U.S.

• National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
• Established policy for considering
  environmental effects of federal actions
• Required federal agencies to establish guidance
  and procedures for implementing the Act
• State Environmental Laws
• NEPA-like states
• Others
• Other regulations such as the Clean Air Act and
  the Historic Preservation Act

5
NEPA Its Application to Airports

• Federal Aviation Administration is responsible
  for implementation of NEPA for aviation- and
  airport-related actions and has issued guidance
  in two primary documents
• FAA Order 1050.1E
• Environmental Impacts Policies and Procedures,
  June 2004
• FAA Order 5050.4B
• National Environmental Policy Act Implementing
  Instructions for Airport Actions, April 2006

6
NEPA Examples of Federal Actions

• Actual undertaking by any branch of the federal
  government
• Construction of air traffic control facilities
• Construction of air navigation facilities
• Implementation of or changes in airspace design
  or procedures
• Use of federal funding or federal approval of use
  of funds for an undertaking
• Issuance of grants-in-aid under the Airport
  Improvement Program for eligible airport projects
• Approval of the use of passenger facility charge
  revenues for eligible airport projects
• Federal approval of an undertaking
• Airport Layout Plan approval
• Release of land originally acquired for airport
  development

7
Three Major Levels of NEPA Review

• Categorical Exclusion (CatEx)
• Actions that typically would not have a
  significant effect on the environment and no
  extraordinary circumstances exist
• Smaller scale or administrative actions
• Planning projects
• Environmental Assessment (EA)
• Actions that are not typically categorically
  excluded or one or more extraordinary
  circumstances exist
• Actions that typically would not require an
  Environmental Impact Statement
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• Major airport or FAA actions
• Actions for which an EA has been prepared, a
  significant environmental impact has been
  identified, and mitigation has not been provided
  to reduce the impact below a significant level

8
Air Quality Regulations

• Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA)
• Required U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality
  Standards (NAAQS) for various pollutants
• Required states to identify nonattainment areas
  areas where the NAAQS for one or more pollutants
  is not met
• Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA)
• Established nonattainment classifications in
  terms of severity
• Required submittal of State Implementation
  Plan(s) (SIP) for achieving NAAQS
• Revised schedules for achieving NAAQS

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Air Quality Regulations as they Affect Airports

• Airport development and improvement projects are
  subject to a number of federal actions
• Airport Layout Plan approval
• Environmental approval
• Federal grants for funding
• Approval to use passenger facility charge revenue
• Certain facilities at and around airports require
  permitting under the CAAA
• Air quality regulations affect both development
  and operation of Airports

10
Evolution of Environmental Considerations

• Began with the National Environmental Policy Act
  (NEPA) and other federal laws, orders, and
  regulations
• Some states also passed laws and regulations for
  considering the environmental effects of proposed
  projects
• Environmental effects of proposed projects
  identified and mitigation measures implemented to
  eliminate or reduce those effects
• Over time, environmental protection has become
  part of the planning and design process
• Sustainable measures are now incorporated into
  project development, rather than merely as
  mitigation

11
Importance of Planning

• FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Airport Master
  Plans (July 29, 2005)
• The goal of a master plan is to provide the
  framework needed to guide future airport
  development that will cost-effectively satisfy
  aviation demand, while considering potential
  environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
• Proposed development needs to be justified
  through technical, economic, and environmental
  investigation of concepts and alternatives
• Master Plans need to provide sufficient project
  definition and detail for subsequent
  environmental approvals

12
Defining Purpose and Need

• Identifies the problem (need for action) and
  purpose of action (proposed solution to the
  problem)
• Needs to consider FAAs statutory mission and the
  sponsors goals and objectives
• Current, technical planning data is required to
  define the need for and identify purpose of
  proposed actions
• Information used to develop purpose and need
  statements frequently includes
• Inventory of Existing Conditions and Facilities
• Aviation Forecasts
• Demand/Capacity Analysis
• Facility Requirements Analysis

13
Identifying and Evaluating Alternatives

• Alternatives should be identified in the planning
  process taking into consideration sensitive
  environmental resources
• Alternatives need to be identified commensurate
  with the nature of the proposed action and the
  environmental issues involved
• Screening analysis typically performed to
  identify reasonable alternatives
• Alternatives are considered reasonable based on
  the extent to which they meet the purpose and
  need for the proposed action
• Environmental and economic considerations can
  also be used to further screen alternatives
• Alternatives analysis is critical to obtaining
  environmental permits and approvals

14
Public Involvement

• FAA Community Involvement Policy Statement
• Provide Active, Early and Continuous Public
  Involvement
• Solicit and Consider Public Input
• Use Techniques Designed to Meet Needs of
  Different Groups
• Promote Local Public Active Role
• Should encourage information-sharing and
  collaboration among the airport sponsor and
  various stakeholders
• Public involvement needs to be included in the
  Master Plan process as well as the environmental
  process
• Ensures that all relevant issues are identified
  and considered
• Mandatory requirements depending on resources
  potentially impacted and significance of impacts

15
Environmental Stewardship Principles

• Ensuring that a need exists that cannot be met in
  a manner that minimizes the environmental effect
• Expediting the review and identification of
  environmental effects and mitigation
• Incorporating cost-effective measures into
  development that minimize effects on the
  environment whether or not mitigation is required
• Working together to identify innovative means to
  incorporate the above concepts
• Applying the principles to airport development
  and operation
• Sustainability

16
Defining Sustainability and Applying its Concepts

• Numerous concepts
• More than just about the environment and Green
  Design
• Industry Guidance
• Transportation Research Board (TRB)
• Airports Council International (ACI)

17
Defining Sustainability and Applying its Concepts

• Numerous concepts
• More than just about the environment and Green
  Design

TRB Aviation Sustainability Subcommittee There
is no single or best way to define it, but
perhaps the broadest definition of sustainability
is providing for the needs of the current
population while providing the capacity for
future generations to meet their needs.
Looking forward longer in-time, and balancing
between economic, social, and environmental
objectives.
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Reasons for Including Sustainability in Planning

• Meets federal and local requirements
• Reduces environmental footprint
• Facilitates environmental approval/permitting
• Improves relationships with community and
  agencies
• Enhances benefits to the community
• Encourages integrated design as a way of doing
  business
• Optimizes new and better technologies
• Results in greater utilization of assets
• May reduce cost of development and/or operating
  and maintenance costs

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Sustainability Benefits
Sustainability Helps Meet FAA Requirements
Federal Memo of Understanding
FAA Order 1050EnvironmentalResponsibilities
FAA ROD Commitments
20
Sustainability Benefits
Sustainability Helps Satisfy Multiple
Requirements through
Reduced Long-Term Costs
Reduced Environmental Impacts
Facilitating Environmental Approvals
21
Sustainability in Practice

• Airport sponsors are already incorporating
  sustainable measures through on-going programs
• Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPP)
• Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC)
• Air Quality Improvement Plan (AQIP)
• Environmental Management System (EMS)
• Emission Reductions
• Recycling
• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Waste Management
• Airport sponsors need to take credit for their
  achievements
• Sustainability will continue to and play an even
  greater role in airport development and operation

22
Programs that Promote Sustainability

• U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy
  and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification
• Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) Program
• Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and
  Adaptive Management

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U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification

• Independent, nationally recognized, non-profit
  organization
• Developer and administrative authority of the
  LEED Green Building Rating System
• Purpose
• Guide
• Review
• Certify and rank
• Certification levels
• Certified
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

24
Industry Examples
Indianapolis International Airport Aerial view of
the new terminal design
Boston Logan International Airport Terminal A
LEED Certified
25
Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) Program

• Provides funding mechanisms for meeting air
  quality standards with cleaner technology
• Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds
• Passenger facility charge (PFC) revenues
• Provides means for airport sponsors to obtain
  Airport Emission Reduction Credits (AERC)
• Increases federal funding to reduce emissions
  from airport operations
• Encourages early action by providing greater
  potential for air quality credits
• Broadens funding eligibility for clean air
  projects
• Ground vehicles
• Infrastructure and facilities

26
Environmental Management Systems

• Originally a part of Executive Order 13148 (April
  21, 2000) Greening the Government Through
  Leadership in Environmental Management
• Intended to ensure that federal agencies
  incorporate environmental accountability into
  day-to-day decision-making and long-term planning
• International Organization for Standardization
  (ISO) 14001 is the EMS model used by most federal
  agencies, including FAA
• EO 13148 revoked as part of Executive Order 13423
  (January 24, 2007) Strengthening Federal
  Environmental, Energy, and Transportation
  Management
• FAA is considering how to apply EMS

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Adaptive Management
Existing Model
Refined Model

• Predict environmental effects of a proposed
  action
• Identify mitigation for adverse environmental
  effects
• Implement proposed action with mitigation

• Predict environmental effects of a proposed
  action
• Identify mitigation for adverse environmental
  effects
• Implement proposed action with mitigation
• Monitor actual effects of implementation and
  effectiveness of mitigation
• Adapt project and/or mitigation to ensure desired
  outcomes
• EMS may be the tool to applicable to Adaptive
  Management

28
Adaptive Management
Existing Model
Refined Model

• Predict environmental effects of a proposed
  action
• Identify mitigation for adverse environmental
  effects
• Implement proposed action with mitigation

• Predict environmental effects of a proposed
  action
• Identify mitigation for adverse environmental
  effects
• Implement proposed action with mitigation
• Monitor actual effects of implementation and
  effectiveness of mitigation
• Adapt project and/or mitigation to ensure desired
  outcomes
• EMS may be the applicable tool for Adaptive
  Management

29
Environmental Considerations for Planning and
Operation of Airports

• Demonstrate environmental stewardship
• Conduct more robust environmental reviews and
  understanding during planning process and
  alternatives development and evaluation
• Understand the potential environmental effects
• Consider methods to reduce those effects during
  planning
• Incorporate provisions for sustainable projects
  and actions
• Consider EMS during planning or incorporate EMS
  provisions into planning projects
• Work with tenants to embrace concepts that are
  beneficial to all

30
Industry Example Planning and Implementation

• Developed as a result of Mayor Daleys vision to
  make Chicago the Greenest City
• Completed in December 2003
• Began early in EIS process
• Well received by regulatory agencies
  instrumental in receiving environmental approval

Visit OMP at www.cityofchicago.org/OHareModerniza
tionProgram
31
OHare Modernization Program
EXISTING Airfield Configuration
FUTURE Airfield Configuration
32
OHare Modernization Program Vision Statement
The OHare Modernization Program will embrace
the best possible environmental, social, and
fiscally responsible practices to enhance the
quality of life and maintain consistency with the
overall mission and goals of the City of
Chicago.
33
OHare Modernization Program SDM Process
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OHare Modernization Program SDM Requirements

• To ensure the successful implementation of
  sustainable initiatives in each and every
  project
• The SDM is included in every design contract
• Every design team is required to have a LEED
  Accredited Professional on staff
• Every designer is required to submit a completed
  SDM checklist at key design milestones for review
• Project designs are rated for sustainable
  initiatives

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OHare Modernization Program SDM Application
North Airport Traffic Control Tower

• Preferred Parking for Carpools and Vans will be
  provided
• Native Grasses and Grass Swales to Filter and
  Reduce Runoff, control the rate of flow, and
  provide effective first flush treatment
• A Vegetated GREEN Roof with natural grasses
• The use of Dual Flush Toilets, High Efficiency
  proximity Flush Valves and Flow Restriction
  devices on faucets
• At least 30 reduction from baseline water use
• Minimum 20 Energy Efficiency
• Building products will use at least 5 Recycled
  Content materials
• At least 20 of building materials from Local
  Sources. At least 50 of all wood used will be
  FSC certified
• At least 50 of Construction Waste to be Diverted
  from landfills
• Low VOC emitting sealants, paints, and coatings

36
Industry Example Operational Application
Virgin Atlantic Tugging Aircraft

• A trial at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports
  tugging aircraft to the runway
• 2 tons of fuel saved per flight
• Reduced aircraft emissions 18
• Estimated 120,000 tons reduction in carbon
  emissions per year

37
Industry Example Operational Application
Lufthansa Fleet Modernization

• Upgrade of 747 fleet from 747-400 to 747-800
• Estimated to reduce to fuel consumption and
  carbon dioxide emissions by 16
• Estimated to reduce noise by 30
• Aircraft will meet and exceed nitrogen-oxide
  emissions standards