STUDY HISTORY
In 1995, Massport initiated a study, called the Airside Improvements Planning Project, to consider ways to reduce airfield delays and congestion. This study built on earlier studies completed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) , which identified a number of options to improve airside congestion and delay at the airport. Later that year Massport decided to pursue certain recommendations of these studies and on August 22, 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the FAA’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). FAA and Massport then began preparation of a combined EIS/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to meet federal and state requirements, respectively.
A Draft EIS/EIR was filed for review in February 1999 and on May 7, 1999, it was concluded that the Draft EIR should proceed to a Final EIR. In January 2000, the FAA decided to prepare a Supplemental Draft EIS (SDEIS). Two years later, on June 28, 2002, FAA published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final EIS. The Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in August of 2002.
The ROD approved the following actions:
- A reduction in minima on Runways 22L, 27, 33L, and 15R;
- Construction of a new 5,000 foot unidirectional, wind speed restricted Runway 14/32, to be used only to/from the southeast;
- An extension to Taxiway D;
- A realignment of Taxiway N; and
- A reworking of the taxiways in the southwest corner of the Airport.
The construction of a new center field taxiway was deferred pending further analysis. The approval of the ROD was conditional pending implementation of a number of mitigation measures including a joint effort with the FAA, Massport, and the Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to develop a scope that would enhance existing and/or develop new noise abatement measures applicable to aircraft overflights. The scope of work was developed and approved in August 2004.
This study, officially called the Boston Logan Airport Noise Study (known as the Boston Overflight Noise Study during Phase 1) will be completed in three phases:
- Phase 1 (Boston Overflight Noise Study) will define and, to the extent feasible, implement potential noise abatement alternatives that do not require a detailed environmental assessment.
- Phase 2 (Boston Logan Airport Noise Study) will address additional noise abatement alternatives that will require detailed analysis to meet FAA environmental requirements.
- Phase 3 will assess modifications to the Preferential Runway Assignment System and provide for appropriate environmental documentation that may be necessary for implementation of recommended actions of Phase 2.
Phase 1 began in late 2004 and is projected to be completed in late 2006. Phase 2 began coincident with the completion of Phase 1 and is expected to take another two years.
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