State DOT Schedules Public Hearing On Republic Airport Projects

ALBANY, NY (02/22/2013)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Republic Airport Main Terminal, 7150 Republic Airport, in East Farmingdale, regarding proposals to improve safety, airport infrastructure and tenant facilities at the airport, including a plan by Sheltair Aviation to construct additional general aviation hangars there.

The meeting will be held in two stages. Beginning at 4 p.m., the public may review the proposals, get information about them, and submit their comments. NYSDOT staff will be available to discuss the projects and answer questions. Beginning at 6 p.m., a public hearing will be held during which the public can make oral statements about the proposals and submit written comments.

The proposals being considered call for making airport safety improvements mandated by Congress to ensure that airport runways have appropriate clear zones, areas that are free of obstructions so that aircraft have unrestricted passage in and over the space. Clear zones at Republic will need to be expanded, requiring airport lease holder Sheltair Aviation to relocate its terminals from the north side of the airport to the south side.

Tuesday's hearing is being held as part of project reviews under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act and Federal Aviation Administration orders and procedures. The projects' effects on the human environment and historic properties are being considered, particularly the economic and social effects of the design plans, their impact on the environment and their consistency with the goals and objectives of community planning.

The public hearing proceedings will be recorded. Individuals also may file written statements and present exhibits in place of or in addition to their oral statements made at the public hearing. Written statements submitted at the hearing or mailed to the Airport Director's Office and received before March 15, 2013 will be made part of the record. The mailing address is: Office of the Airport Director, New York State Department of Transportation, 7150 Republic Airport, Room 216, East Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735.

Please contact Deborah Brown at (631) 386-6109 if a sign language interpreter, assistive listening system or other accommodation will be required to facilitate participation in the hearing.

Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Environmental Assessment of the airport proposal are available for public inspection at the Republic Airport Offices, 7150 Republic Airport, Room 216, and at the following libraries: Amityville Public Library, Babylon Public Library, Deer Park Public Library, Farmingdale Public Library, Half Hollow Hills Community Libraries – Dix Hills and Melville, Huntington Public Library, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, Massapequa Public Library – Bar Harbour Building, North Babylon Public Library, Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library, Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, South Huntington Public Library, and West Babylon Public Library.

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