Environmental Finding Issued for Buckeye Airport

LOS ANGELES - A proposed runway expansion at Buckeye Municipal Airport in Buckeye, Ariz., raises no significant environmental issues, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA today issued a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the runway project.

The FONSI/ROD was approved based on results of a final environmental assessment prepared in 1994, along with updated environmental information completed in 2003. The 2003 review examined the potential impact of a project smaller than that reviewed in 1994.

The current proposal is for a 1,200-foot northerly extension and strengthening of Runway 17/35 and the associated parallel taxiway system.

Following are the items addressed by the FONSI/ROD:

• Site preparation, grading and drainage to accommodate the extension of Runway 17/35 from 4,300 feet to 5,500 feet in length, including extending the associated parallel taxiway system. The runway’s 75-foot width would remain unchanged.
• Paving, lighting and marking of the runway and taxiway extension.
• Strengthening the pavement of Runway 17/35 and the parallel taxiway system to accommodate single-wheel landing gear as heavy as 30,000 pounds.
• Moving the existing Precision Approach Path Indicator 1,200 feet north of its current location. The indicator aids pilots in their approaches to the runway.

The FONSI/ROD indicates that the proposed action is consistent with existing environmental policies and objectives in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, in that it will not significantly affect the quality of the environment.

Copies of the FONSI/ROD are available for public inspection at:

Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division
15000 Aviation Blvd., Room 3012
Hawthorne, Calif.

Town of Buckeye
100 N. Apache, Suite A
Buckeye, Ariz.

Buckeye Municipal Airport
3000 S. Palo Verde Rd.
Buckeye, Ariz.