Role of The Airport Sponsor in Airport Planning and Environmental Reviews of Proposed Development Projects Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Mini-NEPA Laws. Legal Research Digest 22

摘要

For proposed development projects at public airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for compliance with the environmental review procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). However, development projects are proposed by airport sponsors, not the FAA. As the project proponent, the airport sponsor plays a significant role in the NEPA process. This digest explores the legal requirements that the airport sponsor and FAA must satisfy under NEPA, related special-purpose environmental laws, and state mini-NEPA statutes. The digest explores the relationship between the airport sponsor and the FAA in fulfilling such legal requirements, and the role played by each at different stages in the environmental review process, or based on the type of NEPA action (e.g., Categorical Exclusion, Environmental Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)) required for a given development project. This digest offers practical guidance to airport sponsors and their legal counsel on how to fulfill specific requirements for each type of NEPA action and at each stage in the NEPA process. The digest summarizes relevant statutes, regulations, FAA Orders and Advisory Circulars, and case law related to these legal issues.