PUBLIC NOTICE
WASHINGTON DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Z-Gates EAST Expansion
DRAFT SHORT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FORM AVAILABLE
FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has prepared a Draft Short Environmental Assessment (EA) Form to evaluate the Z-Gates East Expansion project at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD or the Airport). The project would expand the existing four Z‑Gates facility to the north and east with the construction of an additional three aircraft gates along with a central circulation corridor, hold rooms, concessions, passenger amenities, and other support functions for domestic operations (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action also includes restriping to realign the existing Mobile Lounge road and vehicle service road along the north and east side of the new facility; connecting the existing inactive hydrant fuel line and fuel pits at the Z-Gates facility to an existing main north-south hydrant fuel line along Taxiway J; improving the interior amenities of the existing four Z-Gates to enhance passenger experience; and potentially reconstructing the existing apron south of the proposed new facility to accommodate parked aircraft. The project site is in the central portion of the Airport at the base and east of the Historic Airport Traffic Control Tower in Loudoun County, Virginia.
The purpose of the Proposed Action being evaluated in this Draft Short EA Form is to improve flexibility to accommodate post-COVID pandemic rebounding airline domestic operations, to offset the effects of gate closures due to phasing and maintenance operations, to accommodate irregular operations, to improve the overall passenger experience in the entire Z‑Gates facility, and address these immediate needs as soon as practicable. The Proposed Action is needed (a) because airlines are currently ramping up domestic operations to pre‑pandemic levels, increasing the immediate need for gates for domestic narrowbody aircraft operations, (b) due to lack of adequate contact gates for domestic operations, some domestic flights are currently accommodated at hardstands, which is not desired by MWAA, (c) the existing Z-Gates facility currently lacks sufficient gates to accommodate displaced aircraft or irregular operations, and (d) the existing Z‑Gates hold rooms are undersized and in need of additional support and concessions space to provide the desired customer experience.
The Draft Short EA Form evaluates the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action and has been prepared pursuant to the requirements of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and Section 509(b)(5) of the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the lead federal agency to ensure compliance with NEPA for airport development actions. The Draft Short EA Form has also been prepared in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, FAA Order 5050.4B, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions, and the FAA Order 1050.1F Desk Reference.
This public review and comment period is also being conducted pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulation 1506.6, the 1987 Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement among the FAA, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR), State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (as regards Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 – 36 Code of Federal Regulations 800). The VDHR SHPO has concurred with MWAA’s determination that the proposed project would have no adverse effect on historic resources.
Beginning October 6, 2023, the Draft Short EA Form will be available for public review for 30 days under the Environmental Information section of the MWAA website: https://www.mwaa.com/about/environmental-information. Physical copies of the Draft Short EA Form will be available for review at the Loudoun County Public Library and Fairfax County Public Library listed below:
Loudoun County Public Library, Brambleton Branch
22850 Brambleton Plaza
Brambleton, Virginia 20148
https://library.loudoun.gov/Brambleton
Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly Regional Library
4000 Stringfellow Road
Chantilly, Virginia 20151-2628
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/chantilly-regional
Written comments on the information disclosed in the Draft Short EA Form may be submitted by email (preferred) or mailed to:
Colleen Regotti, Planning Department
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
45045 Aviation Drive, 3rd Floor
Dulles, VA 20166
All comments must be received no later than 5:00 PM, November 6, 2023. Please ensure adequate time for mailing. Comments can only be accepted with the full name and address of the individual commenting. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, it cannot be guaranteed that it will be withheld. Comments received on the Draft Short EA Form and responses to those comments will be disclosed in the Final Short EA Form.
IAD Z-Gates East Expansion Short Environmental Assessment Form