Title
Resolution to Approve a Grant Contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for Work Related to the Environmental Assessment Study for the Safety Extension of Runway 6/24 at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport ($109,517.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a resolution to approve a grant contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation-Office of Aeronautics (MDOT-Aero) in the amount of $109,517.00 for work related to the completion of the environmental assessment (EA) study for the safety extension of runway 6/24 at the airport. This grant will fund the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) study and the expanded runway justification work that is now being required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In 2009, City Council authorized the undertaking of the EA to identify potential impacts that may be related to the extension of runway 6/24 at the Ann Arbor Airport. These proposed modifications were depicted on the Airport Layout Plan approved by Council in 2008. The EA process is a requirement of the FAA and MDOT-Aero which regulates aviation activities at the Ann Arbor Airport. This highly regulated process is dictated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and includes a significant public input process.
The draft EA has been completed, two public hearings were held and comments received from the public, governmental agencies and the FAA. In 2017, the FAA provided a new set of comments that required an updated noise study, wildlife hazard assessment, an air quality study and wetlands assessment. After significant discussions with the FAA, a proposed scope of work was agreed on which requires the City to retain the services of an MDOT qualified consulting engineer to complete the work. The FAA has recently modified that scope of work to require a RPZ study and expanded the scope of the runway justification study which is a component of the EA.
It is important to complete the EA so the City and surrounding publ...
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