UPDATED May 5, 2010

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in the April 23, 2010 Federal Register that it will release the Draft General Conformity Determination for the Preferred Alternative (Alternative A) for the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Capacity Enhancement Program (CEP) for public comment on April 27, 2010.  Ordinarily, the public has 30 days to submit comments on the Conformity Determination.  [We will update this BLOG when the comment due date in made public.]

The Preferred Alternative would extend PHL Runways 8/26 and 9R/27L to the east, and add a third parallel east-west runway.  Alternative A would also reconstruct and enlarge the terminal complex, increasing it from 120 to approximately 150 gates.

Federal law prohibits Federal agencies from approving or funding any project that is either: (1) not expressly exempt from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) General Conformity Rule; or (2) presumed to conform, until agencies have determined that the proposed project conforms to a State [Air Quality] Implementation Plan (SIP).

If you are concerned about the impacts the CEP Project might have on air quality in the PHL area, the Conformity Determination comment period provides both an opportunity and the means by which to express those concerns to the FAA.  The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the CEP Project is expected to be released in late August, 2010.

ADDED May 5, 2010:

Comments on the General Conformity Determination for the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Capacity Enhancement Program must be postmarked to Sue McDonald, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg Airports District Office (ADO), 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA  17011 no later than May 27, 2010.  The General Conformity Determination is available at http://www.phl-cep-eis.com.