Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport

RUNWAY REALIGNMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Welcome!

About the Project

The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) is being used more often by larger aircraft classified as Airport Reference Code (ARC) C-III aircraft. As a result, the airport does not currently meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards. Since 1999, the airport and the FAA have completed planning studies to evaluate the feasibility of improving the existing airport to meet design standards. Most recently, a two-phase Airport Master Plan was completed to evaluate on-site alternatives. The results of the planning process demonstrated that it is feasible to meet FAA design standards and improve approach capabilities. A drawing of the preferred master plan airport improvement alternative is shown in Alternative 2: 7,100' Runway.

The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PMRA) in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and the FAA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed improvements to bring PRMA into compliance with FAA design standards, meet runway length requirements, improve all-weather reliability and terminal improvements.

The proposed action includes the following elements:

Realign Runway 6/24 to meet design standards for C-III aircraft.
Extend the realigned Runway 6/24 from 6,700-feet to 7,100-feet to accommodate existing user needs.
Widen Runway 6/24 from 100-feet to 150-feet to meet design standards for C-III aircraft.
Provide taxiway infrastructure to serve the realigned runway and aircraft parking areas.
Develop revised approach and departure procedures for the realigned runway to provide capabilities for Category I approach with ½ mile and 200 feet visibility (supported with Remote Visual Range (RVR), centerline and touchdown zone lighting).
Provide runway and taxiway lighting for new pavement surfaces.
Relocate or replace existing ground based navigational aids.
Relocate or replace existing weather reporting equipment.
Expand or relocate the existing passenger terminal.
Acquire land through avigation easement or fee simple.

Document Availability: The FONSI and Final Environmental Assessment is available for a 10-day public inspection period beginning on Wednesday December 17, 2014. The documents are available for review on the project document page and at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration
Northwest Mountain Region
Airports Division
1601 Lind Avenue, S.W., Suite 250
Renton, WA 98057-3356
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
Executive Director’s Office
3200 Airport Road
Pullman, WA 99163
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.

City of Pullman
Department of Public Works
325 SE Paradise Street
Pullman, WA 99163
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.

City of Moscow
Paul Mann Building
221 E. Second Street
Moscow, ID 83843
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.

To view the animation of the proposed action click here.

Environmental Assessment

Federally funded airport improvements constitute a "Federal Action" and are subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA process addresses the impacts of federal actions on the human environment, including noise, socioeconomic, land uses, air quality, and water quality. Before the FAA can approve the runway relocation project, an Environmental Assessment (EA) is required to analyze the potential project impacts. The FAA as the Federal Lead Agency and the airport as the project sponsor are preparing this EA to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed runway relocation to comply with NEPA requirements.

As a federal agency, the FAA must consider the potential effects of a proposed project on the natural and human environment in accordance to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Pursuant to NEPA, the FAA is the Federal Lead Agency for the proposed project, and the Airport is the Project Sponsor. The proposed Federal Action is unconditional approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) to include the proposed project and funding to implement the project.

To proceed with the proposed action, the sponsor and the consultant team are performing an EA to define and analyze potential impacts of the proposed action and evaluate reasonable alternatives. FAA will use the EA to meet the requirements of FAA Order 5050.4B, "NEPA Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions," and FAA Order 1050.1E, "Policies and Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts."

The data presented in the EA will serve as the basis for FAA to determine whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or whether the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. If the approving FAA official determines that an EIS is needed, the responsible FAA official may use the EA prepared for the proposed action as a source of information during FAA's preparation of an EIS for that action.