[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66703-66706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27726]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Opportunity To Participate, Criteria Requirements and
Change of Application Procedure for Participation in the Military
Airport Program (MAP)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of criteria and application procedure for designation or
redesignation, for the fiscal year 2003 MAP.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the criteria, application procedures and
schedule to be applied by the Secretary of Transportation in
designating or redesignating, and funding capital development annually
for 15 current (joint-use) or former military airports seeking
designation or redesignation to participate in the MAP. This Notice
reflects and incorporates changes made to MAP in the Wendell H. Ford
Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century.
The MAP allows the Secretary to designate current (joint-use) or
former military airports for which grants may be made under the Airport
Improvement Program (AIP). The Secretary is authorized to designate an
airport (other than an airport so designated before August 24, 1994)
if: (1) The airport is a former military installation closed or
realigned under the Title 10 U.S.C. 2687 announcement of closures of
large Department of Defense installations after September 30, 1977, or
under section 201 or 2905 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and
Base Closure and Realignment Acts; or (2) the airport is a military
installation with both military and civil aircraft operations. The
Secretary shall consider for designation only those current or former
military airports, at least partly converted to civilian airports as
part of the national air transportation system, that will reduce delays
at airports with more than 20,000 hours of annual delays in commercial
passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings, or will enhance
[[Page 66704]]
airport and air traffic control system capacity in metropolitan areas
or reduce current and projected flight delays (49 U.S.C. 47118(c)).
DATES: Airport sponsors should address written applications for new
designation and redesignation in the MAP to the FAA Regional Airports
Division or Airports District Office that serves the airport. That
office of the FAA must receive applications on or before December 6,
2002.
ADDRESSES: Submit an original and two copies of Standard Form (SF) 424,
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' prescribed by the Office of
Management and Budget Circular A-102, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/index.html, along with any supporting and
justifying documentation. Applicant should specifically request to be
considered for designation or redesignation to participate in the
fiscal year 2003 MAP. Submission should be sent to the Regional FAA
Airports Division or Airports District Office that serves the airport.
Applicants may find the proper office on the FAA web site http://www.faa.gov/arp/arphome.htm or may contact the office below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Murdock ([email protected])
or Leonard C. Sandelli ([email protected]), Military Airport Program
Branch (APP-420), Office of Airport Planning and Programming, Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC, 20591, (202) 267-8244, or (202) 267-8785, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Description of the Program
The MAP provides capital development assistance to civil airport
sponsors of designated current (joint-use) military airfields or former
military airports that are included in the FAA's National Plan of
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Airports designated under the
program may obtain funds from a set-aside (currently four percent) of
AIP discretionary funds to undertake eligible airport development,
including certain types of projects not otherwise eligible for AIP
assistance. Such airports may also be eligible to receive grants from
other categories of AIP funding.
Number of Airports
A maximum of 15 airports per fiscal year may participate in the MAP
at any time. There are 5 slots available for designation or
redesignation in FY 2003. One airport may be designated as a general
aviation airport.
Term of Designation
The maximum period of eligibility for any airport to participate in
the MAP is five fiscal years following designation. An airport sponsor
having previously been in the program may apply for redesignation and,
if found to satisfy the designation criteria upon reapplication, may
have the opportunity to participate for subsequent periods, each not to
exceed five fiscal years. The FAA can designate airports for a period
less than five years. The FAA will evaluate the conversion needs of the
airport in its five-year capital development plan to determine the
appropriate length of designation.
Redesignation
Title 49 of the United States Code 47118(d), permits previously
designated airports to apply for redesignation. Applicants reapplying
need to meet current eligibility criteria set forth at 49 U.S.C.
47118(a). Redesignation will be considered largely in terms of
warranted projects fundable under AIP solely through the MAP, such as
utility systems, surface parking, hangars, fuel farms, and air cargo
terminals up to 50,000 square feet. The airport must have MAP eligible
projects and the airport must continue to satisfy the designation
criteria for the MAP. The FAA will carefully scrutinize applications
for redesignation, since redesignation candidates tend to have lesser
conversion needs than new candidates. The FAA desires that MAP airports
graduate to regular AIP participation.
Eligible Projects
In addition to other eligible AIP projects, passenger terminal
facilities, fuel farms, utility systems, surface automobile parking
lots, hangars, and air cargo terminals up to 50,000 square feet of
floor space are all eligible to be funded from the MAP. Designated or
redesignated military airports can receive not more than $7,000,000
each fiscal year for projects to construct, improve, or repair terminal
building facilities. Also, designated or redesignated military airports
can receive not more than a total of $7,000,000 for MAP eligible
projects that include hangars, cargo facilities, fuel farms, automobile
surface parking, and utility work.
Designation Considerations
In making designations of new candidate airports, the Secretary of
Transportation may only designate an airport (other than an airport so
designated before August 24, 1994) if it meets the following general
requirements:
(I)(1) The airport is a former military installation closed or
realigned under--
(A) Section 2687 of title 10;
(B) Section 201 of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base
Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
(C) Section 2905 of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of
1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note); or
(2) The airport is a military installation with both military and
civil aircraft operations.
(II) The airport is classified as a commercial service or reliever
airport in the NPIAS. One of the designated airports, if included in
the NPIAS, may be a general aviation (GA) airport (public airport other
than an air carrier airport, 14 CFR 152.3) that was a former military
installation closed or realigned under BRAC, as amended, or 10 U.S.C.
2687 (49 U.S.C. 47118(g)). A general aviation airport must qualify
under (1) above.
(III) In designating new candidate airports, the Secretary shall
consider if a grant would:
(1) Reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of
annual delays in commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings;
or
(2) Enhance airport and air traffic control system capacity in a
metropolitan area or reduce current and projected flight delays.
The application for new designations will be evaluated in terms of
how the proposed airport and associated projects would contribute to
congestion relief and/or how the airport would enhance air traffic or
airport system capacity and provide adequate user services.
Project Evaluation
Recently approved Base Realignment and Closure Acts or Title 10
U.S.C. 2678 military airports as well as active military airfields with
new joint use agreements will be in the greatest need of funding to
convert to or to incorporate civil airport operations successfully.
Newly converted airports and new joint-use locations frequently have
minimal capital development resources and will therefore receive
priority consideration for designation and MAP funding. The FAA will
evaluate the need for eligible projects based upon information in the
candidate airport's five year Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP).
Of particular concern is whether these projects are related to
development of that airport and/or the air traffic control system. It
is the intent of the Secretary of Transportation to fund those airport
[[Page 66705]]
projects where the benefits to the capacity of the air traffic control
or airport systems can be maximized, and/or where the contribution to
reducing congestion can be maximized.
1. The FAA will evaluate the candidate airports and/or the airports
such candidate airports would relieve based on the following specific
factors:
[sbull] Compatibility of airport roles and the ability of the
airport to provide an adequate airport facility;
[sbull] The capability of the candidate airport and its airside and
landside complex to serve aircraft that otherwise must use the relieved
airport;
[sbull] Landside surface access;
[sbull] Airport operational capability, including peak hour and
annual capacities of the candidate airport;
[sbull] Potential of other metropolitan area airports to relieve
the congested airport;
[sbull] Ability to satisfy, relieve or meet air cargo demand within
the metropolitan area;
[sbull] Forecasted aircraft and passenger levels, type of
commercial service anticipated, i.e., scheduled and/or charter
commercial service;
[sbull] Type and capacity of aircraft projected to serve the
airport and level of operations at the relieved airport and the
candidate airport;
[sbull] The potential for the candidate airport to be served by
aircraft or users, including the airlines, serving the congested
airport;
[sbull] Ability to replace an existing commercial service or
reliever airport serving the area; and
[sbull] Any other documentation to support the FAA designation of
the candidate airport.
2. The FAA will evaluate the development needs that, if funded,
would make the airport a viable civil airport that will enhance system
capacity or reduce delays. Newly closed installations or airport
sponsors with new joint-use agreements with existing military aviation
facilities will be strongly considered for designation since they tend
to have the greatest conversion needs.
Application Procedures and Required Documentation
Airport sponsors applying for designation or redesignation must
complete and submit an SF 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,''
and supporting documentation to the appropriate FAA office serving that
airport. In Item 15a of the SF 424, the applicant must indicate the
total amount of funding requested from the MAP during the entire term
for which it is applying. The SF 424 must indicate whether it is an
initial application or reapplication for the MAP, and must be
accompanied by the documentation and justification listed below:
(A) Identification as Current or Former Military Airport
The application must identify the airport as either a current or
former military airport and indicate whether it was:
(1) Closed or realigned under section 201 of the Defense
Authorization Amendments and Base Realignment and Closure Act, and/or
section 2905 of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990
(Installations Approved for Closure by the Defense Base Realignment and
Closure Commissions), or
(2) Closed or realigned pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2687 as excess
property (bases announced for closure by DOD pursuant to this title
after September 30, 1977 (this is the date of announcement for closure
and not the date of the deed to the airport sponsor)), or
(3) A military installation with both military and civil aircraft
operations. The general aviation airport may be joint use but must
qualify under (1) or (2) above.
(B) Qualifications for MAP
For (1) through (7) below the applicant does not need to resubmit
any unchanged documentation that has been previously submitted to the
Regional Airports Division or Airports District Office.
(1) Documentation that the airport meets the definition of a
``public airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(16).
(2) Documentation indicating that the required environmental review
process for civil reuse or joint-use of the military airfield has been
completed. This environmental review need not include review of the
individual projects to be funded by the MAP. Rather, the documentation
should reflect that the environmental review necessary to convey the
property, enter into a long-term lease, or sign a joint use agreement
has been completed. The military department conveying or leasing the
property, or entering into a joint use agreement, generally has the
lead responsibility for this environmental review. The environmental
review and approvals must indicate that the operator or owner of the
airport has good title, satisfactory to the Secretary, or gives
assurance that good title will be acquired, to meet AIP requirements.
(3) In the case of a former military airport, documentation that
the eligible airport sponsor holds or will hold satisfactory title, a
long-term lease in furtherance of conveyance of property for airport
purposes, or a long-term interim lease for 25 years or more, to the
property on which the civil airport is being located. Documentation
that an application for surplus or BRAC airport property has been
accepted by the Government is sufficient to indicate the eligible
airport sponsor holds or will hold adequate title or a long-term lease.
(4) In the case of a current military airport documentation that
the airport sponsor has an existing joint-use agreement with the
military department having jurisdiction over the airport. This is
necessary so the FAA can legally issue grants to the sponsor. In (3)
and (4) above, the airport must possess the necessary property rights
in order to accept a grant for its proposed projects during FY 2003.
(5) Documentation that the airport is classified as a ``commercial
service airport'' or a ``reliever airport'' as defined in 49 U.S.C.
47102(7) and 47102(18), unless it is applying for the general aviation
slot.
(6) Documentation that the airport owner is an eligible airport
``sponsor'' as defined in 49 U.S.C. 47102(19).
(7) Documentation that the airport has an approved airport layout
plan (ALP) and a five-year Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP)
indicating all eligible grant projects proposed to be funded either
from the MAP or other portions of the AIP.
(8) Information identifying the existing and potential levels of
visual or instrument operations and aeronautical activity at the
current or former military airport and, if applicable, the relieved
airport. Also, if applicable, information on how the airport
contributes to air traffic system or airport system capacity. If served
by commercial air carriers, the revenue passenger and cargo levels
should be provided.
(9) A description of the airport's projected civil role and
development needs for transitioning from use as a military airfield to
a civil airport, including how development projects would serve to
reduce delays at an airport with more than 20,000 hours of annual
delays by commercial passenger aircraft takeoffs and landings or
enhance capacity in a metropolitan area.
(10) A description of the existing airspace capacity. Describe how
anticipated new operations would affect the surrounding airspace and
air traffic flow patterns in the metropolitan area in or near which a
current or former military airport is located. Include a discussion of
the level to which operations at this airport create airspace conflicts
that may cause congestion or
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whether air traffic works into the flow of other air traffic in the
area.
(11) A description of the airport's five-year ACIP, including a
discussion of major projects, their priorities, projected schedule for
project accomplishment, and estimated costs. The ACIP must specifically
identify the safety, capacity and conversion related projects,
associated costs, and projected five-year schedule of project
construction, including those requested for consideration for MAP
funding.
(12) A description of those projects that are consistent with the
role of the airport and effectively contribute to the joint use or
conversion of the airfield to a civil airport. The projects can be
related to various improvement categories depending on what is needed
to convert from military to civil airport use, to meet required civil
airport standards, and/or to provide capacity to the airport and/or
airport system. The projects selected; i.e., safety-related,
conversion-related, and/or capacity-related, must be identified and
fully explained based on the airport's planned use. Those projects that
may be eligible under MAP, if needed for conversion or capacity-related
purposes, must be clearly indicated, and include the following
information:
Airside
[sbull] Modification of airport or military airfield for safety
purposes, including airport pavement modifications (i.e. widening),
marking, lighting, strengthening, drainage or modifying other
structures or features in the airport environs to meet civil standards
for airport imaginary surfaces as described in 14 CFR part 77.
[sbull] Construction of facilities or support facilities such as
passenger terminal gates, aprons for passenger terminals, taxiways to
new terminal facilities, aircraft parking, and cargo facilities to
accommodate civil use.
[sbull] Modification of airport or military utilities (electrical
distribution systems, communications lines, water, sewer, storm
drainage) to meet civil standards. Also, modifications that allow
utilities on the civil airport to operate independently, where other
portions of the base are conveyed to entities other than the airport
sponsor or retained by the Government.
[sbull] Purchase, rehabilitation, or modification of airport and
airport support facilities and equipment, including snow removal,
aircraft rescue, fire fighting buildings and equipment, airport
security, lighting vaults, and reconfiguration or relocation of
eligible buildings for more efficient civil airport operations.
[sbull] Modification of airport or military airfield fuel systems
and fuel farms to accommodate civil aviation use.
[sbull] Acquisition of additional land for runway protection zones,
other approach protection, or airport development.
[sbull] Cargo facility requirements.
[sbull] Modifications which will permit the airfield to accommodate
general aviation users.
Landside
[sbull] Construction of surface parking areas and access roads to
accommodate automobiles in the airport terminal and air cargo areas and
provide an adequate level of access to the airport.
[sbull] Construction or relocation of access roads to provide
efficient and convenient movement of vehicular traffic to, on, and from
the airport, including access to passenger, air cargo, fixed base
operations, and aircraft maintenance areas.
[sbull] Modification or construction of facilities such as
passenger terminals, surface automobile parking lots, hangars, air
cargo terminal buildings, and access roads to cargo facilities to
accommodate civil use.
(13) An evaluation of the ability of surface transportation
facilities (road, rail, high-speed rail, maritime) to provide
intermodal connections.
(14) A description of the type and level of aviation and community
interest in the civil use of a current or former military airport.
(15) One copy of the FAA-approved ALP for each copy of the
application. The ALP or supporting information should clearly show
capacity and conversion related projects. Also, other information such
as project costs, schedule, project justification, other maps and
drawings showing the project locations, and any other supporting
documentation that would make the application easier to understand
should be included. These maps and ALP's should be cross-referenced
with the project costs and project descriptions.
Redesignation of Airports Previously Designated and Applying for up to
an Additional Five Years in the Program
Airports applying for redesignation to the Military Airport Program
should submit the same information required by new candidate airports
applying for a new designation. On the SF 424, Application for Federal
Assistance, prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget Circular
A-102, airports must indicate their application is for redesignation to
the MAP. In addition to the above information, they must explain:
(1) Why a redesignation and additional MAP eligible project funding
is needed to accomplish the conversion to meet the civil role of the
airport and the preferred time period for redesignation;
(2) Why funding of eligible work under other categories of AIP or
other sources of funding would not accomplish the development needs of
the airport;
(3) Why, based on the previously funded MAP projects, the projects
and/or funding level were insufficient to accomplish the airport
conversion needs and development goals; and
(4) The term of the redesignation, not to exceed five years, for
which the airport is applying.
This notice is issued pursuant to Title 49 U.S.C. 47118.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2002.
Benito De Leon,
Deputy Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.
[FR Doc. 02-27726 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P