The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Airports Authority) is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the potential environmental effects associated with the Western Solar Development (Proposed Action) at Washington Dulles International Airport (Airport). The Proposed Action would advance the development of undeveloped and unused Airport property in order to generate non-aeronautical revenue for the Airport and to fulfill Airports Authority sustainability commitments to “lessen the impacts of the aviation industry on the environment.”
The Airports Authority is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prepare the EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1509); FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures; and FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions.
The EA will include an assessment of historic and archaeological resources potentially affected by the Proposed Action consistent with provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended), and pursuant to the terms of the Airports Authority’s Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement (PA). Consultation pursuant to the PA will be conducted separate from, but concurrent with the EA.
The Airports Authority will host a virtual public scoping meeting from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm Eastern Time on January 12th, 2021 to provide information on the proposed improvements and the latest project updates, and to solicit comments from the public. The virtual meeting can be attended via the following link:
https://mwaa.zoom.us/j/86205208476?pwd=YWpiZTlMbGprd2JQSjl6THRsTUZkQT09
Password: 818541
Telephone: 215-861-0692 or 888-251-2909 (US Toll Free). Conference code: 394890
Members of the public unable to attend the virtual public scoping meeting or who have special communication or accommodation needs are encouraged to contact the Airports Authority to receive a copy of presentation materials:
Tom Wasaff, Planning Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, 1 Aviation Circle, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, DC 20001-6000, [email protected]
Additionally, public meeting materials will be made available under the Environmental Information section of the Airports Authority website: https://www.mwaa.com/about/environmental-information
An opportunity to submit written comments will be provided during and after the public workshop. Written comments may be submitted to Tom Wasaff, at the contact information provided above. Comments must be received by 5:00 PM Eastern Time, February 1st, 2021.
