About the Project
The FAA is preparing an EIS for proposed improvements at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The Houston Airport System (HAS), the Sponsor of the project, completed a Master Plan for IAH in 2006, which showed that additional airfield capacity was needed and recommended airport improvements to meet these capacity needs. These improvements included new runways and taxiways as well as associated land acquisition. Not all of the improvements identified in the Master Plan will be evaluated in this EIS. Only those improvements considered necessary to meet capacity needs and thereby reduce operational delay will be evaluated in the EIS.
The EIS will document the purpose and need for the proposed improvements as well as analyze alternatives such as use of other modes of transportation or airports, construction of new runway(s), and as required by NEPA, the no action alternative. It is anticipated that the focus of the analysis will be on airfield improvement alternatives including: altering runway use and/or constructing taxiways; constructing a new runway between Runways 8L/26R and 8R/26L; constructing a new runway south of Runway 9/27; and a combination of two new runways. The EIS will analyze the environmental impacts associated with the proposed improvements as well as any other reasonable alternatives that meet the airport's capacity needs.
Upon completion of the EIS, the FAA will select an alternative for approval. This selection will be set forth in a Record of Decision (ROD). The EIS and any related documents will comply with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) rules, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and FAA environmental regulations and guidance, as well as all applicable local, state, and Federal laws, as appropriate.