AVIATION ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

Airports look toward the future with optimism, ready to take flight and explore new possibilities. Every journey brings opportunities, but also a chance for airports to minimize their environmental impact by striving for sustainable solutions that benefit both their surrounding neighborhoods and the world.
Through aviation environmental planning, McClure works with airports to devise and implement efficiency and sustainability measures in order to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize disruption. Through these initiatives, airports can streamline operations while also becoming more environmentally friendly.
It’s better for the airport. It’s better for the world.

What Are Aviation Environmental Studies

Aviation environmental studies examine the potential impacts of air traffic and airport operations. This includes immediate impacts, such as noise to surrounding neighborhoods, as well as wider impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions.
At McClure, we guide airports toward more efficient and sustainable infrastructure by adhering to standards outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). We also follow environmental protection guidelines established by industry leaders such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and ensure projects comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
How do we do it? Here are examples of how McClure incorporates environmental planning into airports:

  • Noise-exposure surveys are conducted to create noise-exposure maps that show precisely where any impacts are being felt, and suggest ways to reduce the sound.
  • Carbon emissions can be lowered through efficient layout and design – reducing the distances aircraft travel on the tarmac and the time their engines are running.
  • Incorporating sustainable plantings – green roofs, water gardens, native grasses – can reduce a facility’s carbon footprint and help lessen the amount of water runoff into area lakes and streams. Rainwater also can be harvested for later reuse.

What Is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

Established in 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to consider and disclose the environmental impacts of its actions and of projects it approves. For airports, this means that projects requiring FAA­issued permits, licenses, or approval must comply with NEPA requirements.
Examples of some of the environmental impacts that must be considered under the NEPA
review process:

  • Air quality
  • Fish, plants and wildlife
  • Farmland
  • Noise
  • Visual effects (including lights)
  • Water

What Is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

For airports, there are three levels of NEPA review in the FAA: Categorical Exclusion (CATEX), Environmental Assessment {EA), and Environmental Impact Statement {EIS). Each avenue has different requirements and level of review, depending on whether any environmental impacts could result from the project.

The three paths for NEPA reviews are:

  • Categorical Exclusion (CATEX): Airport improvements which have minor impact on the environment may be eligible for a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX), which does not normally require an Enivironmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Statement. Such projects can be found on a list outlined in FAA Order 1050.lF.
  • Environmental Assessments (EA): If a proposed project is not on the list at FAA Order 1050.lF, an EA must be prepared and submitted to the FAA for review. An EA lays out the purpose of a project, analyzes any potential environmental impacts, and explores possible alternatives or mitigation measures to reduce said
    impacts. It also demonstrates compliance with other federal orders and environmental laws, and even allows for public participation if warranted.
    • After reviewing a project’s EA, the FAA will issue a Finding of No Significant
      Impact {FONSI) or, if significant environmental impacts are identified and can’t be sufficiently mitigated, order the completion of an additional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
  • Environmental Impact Statements (EIS): A detailed analysis prepared by the FAA examining projects found to significantly impact the human environment. After completing an EIS, the FAA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD).

What Are Land Use Studies?

Land use studies are a way to identifyie best use of property as well as planning a way to overcome challenges to current or, uture development. McClure has helped many airports lay the foundation for a bright futu e by incorporating land use studies into projects. In Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, McClure utilized our land use and environmental experience to update the Mt. Pleasant Airport Master Plan. This included completing an aeronautical obstruction survey and uploading the data to the FAA Airports Geographic Information System (AGIS) website in order to support the agency’s NextGen initiative.
Additionally, McClure evaluated the existing master plan’s proposed 800-foot runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft. The challenge was, given the facility’s current layout, that this extension created a Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) incursion on the north side of the runway. Following the FAA’s “Interim Guidance on Land Uses Within a Runway Protection Zone,” McClure examined alternatives and determined that due to low traffic volume and the fact that the extension was on the south side of the runway, the incursion would not cause issues with the extension.

Where We Make An Impact

With a love of flying and commitment to the environment, McClure helps airports grow efficiently and sustainably through environmental planning.

Aviation Environmental Planning

Airports look toward the future with optimism, ready to take flight and explore new possibilities. Every journey brings opportunities, but also a chance for airports to minimize their environmental impact by striving for sustainable solutions that benefit both their surrounding neighborhoods and the world.
Through aviation environmental planning, McClure works with airports to devise and implement efficiency and sustainability measures in order to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize disruption. Through these initiatives, airports can streamline operations while also becoming more environmentally friendly.
It’s better for the airport. It’s better for the world.

What Are Aviation Environmental Studies

Aviation environmental studies examine the potential impacts of air traffic and airport operations. This includes immediate impacts, such as noise to surrounding neighborhoods, as well as wider impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions.
At McClure, we guide airports toward more efficient and sustainable infrastructure by adhering to standards outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). We also follow environmental protection guidelines established by industry leaders such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and ensure projects comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
How do we do it? Here are examples of how McClure incorporates environmental planning into airports:

  • Noise-exposure surveys are conducted to create noise-exposure maps that show precisely where any impacts are being felt, and suggest ways to reduce the sound.
  • Carbon emissions can be lowered through efficient layout and design – reducing the distances aircraft travel on the tarmac and the time their engines are running.
  • Incorporating sustainable plantings – green roofs, water gardens, native grasses – can reduce a facility’s carbon footprint and help lessen the amount of water runoff into area lakes and streams. Rainwater also can be harvested for later reuse.

What Is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

Established in 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to consider and disclose the environmental impacts of its actions and of projects it approves. For airports, this means that projects requiring FAA­issued permits, licenses, or approval must comply with NEPA requirements.
Examples of some of the environmental impacts that must be considered under the NEPA
review process:

  • Air quality
  • Fish, plants and wildlife
  • Farmland
  • Noise
  • Visual effects (including lights)
  • Water

What Is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

For airports, there are three levels of NEPA review in the FAA: Categorical Exclusion (CATEX), Environmental Assessment {EA), and Environmental Impact Statement {EIS). Each avenue has different requirements and level of review, depending on whether any environmental impacts could result from the project.

The three paths for NEPA reviews are:

  • Categorical Exclusion (CATEX): Airport improvements which have minor impact on the environment may be eligible for a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX), which does not normally require an Enivironmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Statement. Such projects can be found on a list outlined in FAA Order 1050.lF.
  • Environmental Assessments (EA): If a proposed project is not on the list at FAA Order 1050.lF, an EA must be prepared and submitted to the FAA for review. An EA lays out the purpose of a project, analyzes any potential environmental impacts, and explores possible alternatives or mitigation measures to reduce said
    impacts. It also demonstrates compliance with other federal orders and environmental laws, and even allows for public participation if warranted.
    • After reviewing a project’s EA, the FAA will issue a Finding of No Significant
      Impact {FONSI) or, if significant environmental impacts are identified and can’t be sufficiently mitigated, order the completion of an additional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
  • Environmental Impact Statements (EIS): A detailed analysis prepared by the FAA examining projects found to significantly impact the human environment. After completing an EIS, the FAA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD).

What Are Land Use Studies?

Land use studies are a way to identifyie best use of property as well as planning a way to overcome challenges to current or, uture development. McClure has helped many airports lay the foundation for a bright futu e by incorporating land use studies into projects. In Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, McClure utilized our land use and environmental experience to update the Mt. Pleasant Airport Master Plan. This included completing an aeronautical obstruction survey and uploading the data to the FAA Airports Geographic Information System (AGIS) website in order to support the agency’s NextGen initiative.
Additionally, McClure evaluated the existing master plan’s proposed 800-foot runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft. The challenge was, given the facility’s current layout, that this extension created a Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) incursion on the north side of the runway. Following the FAA’s “Interim Guidance on Land Uses Within a Runway Protection Zone,” McClure examined alternatives and determined that due to low traffic volume and the fact that the extension was on the south side of the runway, the incursion would not cause issues with the extension.

WHERE WE MAKE AN IMPACT

With a love of flying and commitment to the environment, McClure helps airports grow efficiently and sustainably through environmental planning.