April 5, 2006
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
738-2000
FAA to extend deadline for comment on expansion plans, agrees to look at shorter runway proposals, Avedisian said
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian said today that the Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to the city’s request to extend the public comment period regarding its expansion plans, and that it is also looking at ways to accommodate the city’s comments regarding a shorter runway length. The deadline has been extended until the end of the month.
“We certainly appreciate the FAA’s willingness to extend the deadline so that the City and concerned residents have adequate time to study the proposals that have been presented and respond accordingly,” Avedisian said. “I would strongly encourage residents opposed to the expansion plans to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their comments to the FAA and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.”
“We are also heartened by the FAA’s willingness to examine our suggestions relative to a shorter runway length,” he said. “That development, together with comments made by Governor Carcieri’s office last week, is certainly a piece of positive news in this process.”
Last week, Avedisian wrote to John Silva, the environmental program manager for the FAA’s New England region, requesting an extension to the public comment period. In the letter, Avedisian noted that in light of the fact that the FAA’s consultants had full-time staff working on the proposals for several months, a 20-day comment period was inadequate. Additionally, the proposals were originally presented to the city on March 14, and public hearings were held on March 22 and 23. For each meeting, a 20-day comment period was given.
“Not only is this inconsistency confusing to the general public, but the deadline also is not in harmony with the intent of the public process as guided by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),” Avedisian wrote.
Last week, the Governor’s office said, in a news article, that after meeting with Avedisian, Governor Carcieri “agrees with the mayor that it is reasonable to consider the feasibility of all potential options…and…has asked RIAC to look into a somewhat shorter runway extension and whether it would make sense.”