Broward County Newsletter

Environmental Impact Statement
Consultant to Evaluate Alternatives for Runway Expansion
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a study prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA is the lead federal agency for the preparation of this federal document, which discloses the future environmental impacts of proposed projects. The FLL EIS addresses the proposed runway expansion.

Project Background

On January 17, 2006 the Broward County Board of County Commissioners received a briefing on runway alternatives to be assessed in the FLL EIS analysis of environmental consequences. Representatives from the FAA and Landrum & Brown, the FAA’s EIS consultant, conducted the presentation.

After the briefing, the Commissioners asked questions and offered their comments. The Commission requested that Landrum & Brown, through the EIS, evaluate an additional at-grade runway alternative that maintains a similar east-west alignment and is north of the County’s preferred runway alternative.

Landrum & Brown analyzed the request and concluded an alternative that would require the realignment of the FEC Railroad and U.S. 1 was not feasible.

Based on the Commissioners’ comments, the EIS will also evaluate the Airport’s proposed project with Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) on both ends of the extended runway. An EMAS uses materials of closely controlled strength and density placed at the end of a runway to stop or greatly slow an aircraft that overruns the runway. It provides safety benefits in cases where land is not available for runway extension.

The FAA held an interim public workshop on February 2, 2006, at the Broward County Convention Center. More than 90 people attended the four-hour workshop. Representatives from the FAA and the FAA’s EIS consultants answered questions and provided information regarding the EIS. The Master Plan consultants, Part 150 consultants, and Broward County Aviation Department staff answered questions and provided information regarding those studies.

To view the FAA presentations, click here and scroll down to “Proposed South Runway Expansion.”

Runway Alternatives To Be Analyzed

Take action.
Extend the existing south runway to an 8,600-foot elevated runway.
Extend the existing south runway to an 8,000-foot elevated runway with EMAS.
Build a 6,001-foot at grade runway with EMAS located 340 feet north of existing south runway.
Build a 7,800-foot elevated runway with EMAS located 320 feet south of existing south runway.
Build a 7,721-foot at grade runway located 850 feet north of existing north runway.
Extend the existing south runway to 8,000 feet with EMAS and build a 7,721-foot runway north of the north runway.
Build a 6,001-foot runway north of the existing south runway and build a 7,721-foot runway north of the north runway.

EIS Next Steps
For each alternative, the FAA EIS will identify and disclose the impacts and benefits of the environmental and operational consequences. It will also estimate the costs of construction, mitigation, and operations of each alternative. The FAA will:

• Identify and disclose environmental impacts, identify potential mitigation strategies, and coordinate with environmental regulatory agencies all to be included in the Draft EIS

• Prepare and issue Draft EIS. This has been delayed so that the FAA can include updated passenger and flight figures they released in January 2007. The FAA provides an annual projection on the number of passengers and flights that will use the three major airports in South Florida

• Hold public hearing on Draft EIS

• Prepare and issue Final EIS

• Issue its finding in a Record of Decision

If the Broward County Commissioners concur with the project approved in the Record of Decision, the Commission could then initiate the project.