The Palm Beach County Department of Airports (PBC DOA), as the airport sponsor, has proposed an Airfield Improvement Project to enhance capacity at PBI to accommodate the forecasted aviation demand at the airport. Implementation of the Airfield Improvement Project would require certain actions by FAA, the lead Federal agency. Those actions would require that FAA follow the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). As described below in the listing of Direct Actions, the Airfield Improvement Project consists of adding an air carrier runway at PBI, a commercial service airport within the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

According to FAA Order 5050.4B, FAA experience shows that unconditional approval or Federal funding of a new runway to accommodate air carrier aircraft at a commercial service airport located in a MSA normally requires an EIS.

The study team will explore the purpose and need for the project, alternatives for meeting the projected demand for air transportation and the potential impact of the alternatives on the environment. The EIS will describe and discuss any significant environmental impacts resulting from the No-Action (no build), proposed project (PBC DOA’s Airfield Improvement Project), and other reasonable alternatives.

The Airfield Improvement Project, as proposed by PBC DOA, includes the following direct and connected actions that are shown in the figure below and which will be evaluated in the EIS. A direct action satisfies the purpose and need for the proposed project and is independent from other project components.  A connected action is closely related to the direct action since it cannot or would not occur unless the direct action(s) occur at the same time or earlier.

Direct Actions:

• Extend and widen (upgrade) Runway 9R/27L to 8,000 feet long by 150 feet wide and convert to an air carrier runway.

• Increase runway separation between Runways 9L/27R and 9R/27L to 800 feet (relocate
Runway 9R/27L 100 feet south of existing location).

• Extend the northwest end of Runway 13/31 by 280 feet and shorten the southeast end of
Runway 13/31by 3,412 feet, provide a standard Runway Safety Area (RSA) for the Runway 31 end, and convert to a general aviation (GA) runway. Total length of Runway 13/31 would decrease from 6,932 feet to 4,000 feet.

• Construct two additional high-speed exit taxiways for each landing direction on Runway
9R/27L.

• Construct additional 90-degree taxiway connectors north of Runway 9L/27R (from relocated Runway 27L end to Taxiway M and passenger aircraft terminal apron).

• Extend and widen Taxiway L to the full length of Runway 9L/27R, relocate Taxiway R to 400 feet from the proposed Runway 9R/27L, and extend to full length of the proposed Runway 9R/27L.

• Construct Taxiways B and F extensions to accommodate Runway 13 end relocation (280 feet).

• Construction of a localizer antenna and Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR) on both ends of Runway 9R/27L.

Connected Actions:

• Relocate some GA facilities (~32 acres) from the south side of the airport, including Signature, Jet Aviation and GA FIS Customs facility to the northwest quadrant of the airport (former
Golfview area).

• Relocate glide slope antennae for Runway 27R to the north.

• Relocate VOR navigational aid to an on-airport location.

• Relocate Remote Transmitter Receiver (RTR).

• Aquire off-airport property within the Runway 9R Runway Protection Zone (RPZ).

• Relocate buildings within airport property and the Runway 9R RPZ.


• Relocate a portion of the Airport West Canal to move it out of the Runway 9R/27L Runway
Safety Area (RSA).

Types of Data Analyzed:

Under NEPA, numerous environmental resource categories are considered within EIS studies. These resource categories are listed below:

• Air Quality
• Coastal Resources
• Compatible Land Use
• Construction Impacts
• Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f) Lands
• Farmlands
• Fish, Wildlife, and Plants
• Floodplains
• Hazardous Materials, Pollution Prevention, and Solid Waste
• Historical, Architectural, Archeological, and Cultural Resources
• Light Emissions and Visual Impacts
• Natural Resources, Energy Supply, and Sustainable Design
• Noise
• Secondary (Induced) Impacts
• Socioeconomic Impacts, Environmental Justice, and Children’s Environmental Health and Safety  Risks
• Water Quality
• Wetlands
• Wild and Scenic Rivers