AUSTIN Texas Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will host two community meetings for Austinites and Central Texans this week to learn more about the Environmental Assessment for upcoming airport improvements. On Wednesday, March 23rd, a virtual meeting will be held on Zoom. It will be streamed live on the Airports Facebook page at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26th, the airport will host an Open House on the airport campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Both meetings will take attendees through the Environmental Assessment process. It evaluates and estimates possible significant environmental impacts of airport construction and operations. The public can review the Draft Environmental Assessment document and make comments. The Federal Aviation Administration will be presented with the draft document, public comments, as well as responses, this spring. The public comment period closes April 7.
Jacqueline Yaft is the Chief Executive Officer of AUS. She stated that conducting an Environmental Assessment is a crucial first step and milestone in delivering Airport Expansion and Development Program (AEP) projects such as the new midfield concourse and west gate expansion. This process is a chance for the community to provide input that will allow us to make sound and equitable decisions about planning and building airport improvements that are safe for the environment and for all those who live, work, or visit the airport.
The Draft Environmental Assessment document is available on the project site.SpeakUpAustin.org/AUS-EA. The public is encouraged and encouraged to send comments by email to the project website.[email protected]You can do this by mail or at public meetings.
AUS initiated the Environmental Assessment process in mid-2021 shortly after announcing its Airport Expansion Program. This is the second and last public comment period for the Assessment, following a scoping phase that took place in fall 2021. The Draft Environmental Assessment document contains the Environmental Assessment findings. It will be submitted to Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), for review and a decision about whether the proposed projects will have significant impacts on the environment. The FAA must issue a Finding of no Significant Impact before construction can begin on the projects being reviewed. The Assessment covered the categories of air quality and biological resources, land use and noise, cultural resources, visual effects, socioeconomics, and other factors.
Information for Meetings
Both meetings will cover similar material and will include Spanish interpretation.
Date:Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Time:6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Format:Virtual, via Zoom, and broadcast to Facebook Live
Click here for the Zoom registration link
Date:Saturday, March 26, 2022
Time:10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Format:Open house with a presentation of the project overview at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.Come and go as much or little as you wish
Location:AUS Planning and Development Building2716 Spirit of Texas Drive
Parking is free in the building’s parking lot. To drop off at the Hilton Austin Airport (which is just a short distance from the meeting place), you can also use Capital Metros Route 20, or Stop ID 5099.
