Trenton Mercer Airport EA

C&S Engineers, Inc., on behalf of Mercer County, has completed a federal environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential impacts associated with mitigating incompatible land uses within the runway protection zones and obstructions to the navigable airspace surrounding Trenton-Mercer Airport, which will increase safety of the local community and flying public.  The incompatible land uses and obstructions were identified in the Runway Protection Zone Analysis & Obstruction Evaluation completed by C&S in March 2015.

Increasing public safety by clearing runway protection zones (RPZs) of incompatible land uses is recommended by the FAA in accordance with design standards and the FAA’s Interim Guidance on Land Uses within a RPZ to “enhance the protection of people and property on the ground.”

Protecting the navigable airspace around airports is required by the FAA in grant assurances (obligations).  The grant assurances require the airport sponsor to take appropriate action to ensure that airspace is adequately cleared to protect instrument and visual flight operations by removing, lowering, relocating, marking or lighting, or otherwise mitigating existing airport hazards and preventing the establishment or creation of future airport hazards. In addition, an August 18, 2015 FAA Memorandum, Reminder of Responsibilities for FAA Personnel and Airport Sponsors for Protecting Approach and Departure Surfaces, states the airport sponsor should maintain clear approach/departure surfaces identified in Advisory Circular 150/5300-13A, Airport Design and FAA Order 8260.3B, United States Standards for Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS) whenever practicable. TERPS obstructions are considered critical because they can result in the loss of night-time operations and/or the precision instrument approach, reduced runway length for takeoff and landing, and impacts to the approach and departure procedures (i.e., higher departure and landing minimums, non-standard threshold crossing heights and climb rates).

Questions? 

Gayle M. McKee, Senior Project Planner
C&S Companies
141 Elm Street, Suite 100, Buffalo, NY  14203
(716) 955-3017  |  ttn.cs@cscos.com

Available Documents:

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