Re: Kalispell City Airport EA Agreement (2)Jeff,
We have the following initial comments regarding the draft Environmental
Assessment update (EA) scope of work we received 11/12/09. We had also
discussed the general EA process and funding eligibility in Helena on
10/16/09.
We anticipate that we will have additional comments following the initial
scoping meeting. We recommend that the initial EA work, be limited to
defining the scope of work including the initial scoping meeting and
detailed review of the 2002 EA and planning documents (eg. tasks 1.1-1.4),
so that the City of Kalispell (City) can finalize the scope and conclude
fee negotiations including an independent fee analysis as applicable for
the approved scope.
We recommend early in the process, that we discuss any anticipated
significant differences from the development alternatives or facility
requirements recommended in the previous 2002 EA.
As discussed, the approved costs for the EA would be eligible for federal
reimbursement, provided there is a favorable environmental determination
eg. finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and that the EA costs would be
included as part of a future development grant. The EA costs cannot be
reimbursed later as a stand alone planning grant.
The AM radio tower mitigation continues to be a condition for future
consideration of federal funding and as such needs to be addressed in the
EA. Any potential mitigation eg. tower relocation that may require federal
funding, needs to be addressed in the EA.
We will also need to approve the City’s negotiation of consultant fees
which may require an independent fee analysis. Please provide a detailed
summary of the proposed fees/man-hours tied to the work scope.
Section 1.0 should also include that the work shall be accomplished in
accordance with current FAA Orders 5050.4B, 1050.1 and the FAA
Environmental Desk Reference For Airport Actions.
Section 1.4, recommend revising “legitimate” development opponents,
neighbors, tenants etc. to instead reference “representatives” of those
entities.
Section 1.5, what is meant by “amend airspace and flight procedure changes
at GPI” ?
Section 1.6, reference is made to TASP, did you mean FAA TAF (Terminal Area
Forecast) ?
The scope should include conducting a pilot/user survey. We also recommend
that the City utilize an acoustical counter or similar to confirm the
number of aircraft operations etc.
Section 1.7 references that the scope will include noise exposure maps
(NEMs) in full compliance with FAR Part 150. Is this really the intent?
Attached is a checklist for NEMs prepared under FAR Part 150. Noise
contours should be prepared in accordance with current version of INM and
noise impacts evaluated in accordance with 5050.4B and the Environ. Desk
Reference.
The proposed runway lengths should be evaluated in accordance with the
current FAA advisory circular 150/5325-4B.
Section 1.12, review of aeronautical alternatives, should include review of
the prior 1999 airport master plan and 2002 site selection study. The
alternative analysis is a key component of the EA process as described in
order 5050.4. All reasonable alternatives need to be discussed in the EA,
similar to those described in the 2002 EA. If there are alternatives that
were eliminated such as new airport sites, then the EA needs to address why
they were eliminated.
Section 1.17, references informational meetings and a public hearing. The
work effort should also include consideration of the information and
questions gathered during the City’s workshop meetings held 11/30/09 etc.
The prior EA should be reviewed to determine whether additional site
surveys will be required such as cultural resource, wetlands etc.
Any changes or amendments to the work scope must be approved in advance by
FAA.
Please advise when the scoping meeting will be held and let me know if we
need to discuss in the meantime.
Thanks,
Gary M. Gates, P.E.
Airport Engineer and Planner
FAA, Helena Airports District Office
2725 Skyway Drive, Suite 2
Helena, MT 59602
(See attached file: noise_map_cklist_parti.pdf)
Jeff Walla
<Jwalla@stelling
inc.com> To
Gary Gates/ANM/FAA@FAA
11/12/2009 08:24 cc
AM Mitch Stelling
<MitchStelling@stellinginc.com>,
"Fred Leistiko
(airport@kalispell.com)"
<airport@kalispell.com>
Subject
Kalispell City Airport Agreement
Gary,
Attached is the final Agreement(s) for the Kalispell City Airport EA Update
project that will be scheduled for approval by the City Council on Monday,
11/15/09. The City has indicated that Monday’s Council meeting will be the
last opportunity this year to get our Contract in front of the City Council
for approval. We are hoping that you will have an opportunity to review
the scope of work prior to Monday nights meeting so we can address any
changes if necessary. I have included language in the Amendment and cover
letter that establish the need to amend the scope of work and/or fees
following FAA review and a formal scoping meeting.
There are only a few changes in the attached scope of work from the copy I
sent you last Friday. Most of the changes have to do with clarifying
meeting attendance and any travel time included in the fee estimate.
Thanks
Jeff Walla, PE
Stelling Engineers, Inc.
1372 Airport Road
Kalispell, MT 59901
PH: 406 755 8602
FX: 406 755 8710
(See attached file: 0043 Kalispell City Amend #1 9-11-09.pdf)(See attached
file: 0043 Amendment 1 Appendicies.pdf)(See attached file: 043 KCA 5-yr
term agree 5-11-09.pdf)