News and Updates – FAA Posts Study, Plans Workshops for New Boston Procedure

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has posted the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed new satellite-based approach procedure for Runway 4-Left at Boston Logan International Airport. The Draft EA indicates that the procedure would have no significant impact in any environmental category including aviation noise.

The proposed new procedure closely follows the path of the existing visual approach for Runway 4-Left. It will enhance safety and flight efficiency by providing vertical and lateral guidance to pilots and by enabling air traffic controllers to more precisely monitor arriving aircraft, especially in bad weather. When visibility is low, flights will be able to land on Runway 4-Left, helping to reduce delays that result in late-night arrivals at the airport. Currently, aircraft can land on the runway only in good weather.

A 60-day public comment period for the Draft EA begins today and ends on Nov. 20, 2020. The FAA will consider and review all substantive comments it receives during the comment period. The agency expects to issue a final environmental determination in 2021. The public can review the Draft EA and submit comments.

Electronic and paper copies of the Draft EA also are available at certain public libraries in the study area including Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, Milton and Quincy. Please contact your library to access the document.

The FAA will hold virtual public workshops on Oct. 23 and 28, 2020 to brief residents and answer their questions on the Draft EA and the proposed procedure. Environmental and air traffic control experts will be available to answer questions. Residents can view the schedule and register to attend a virtual workshop. Participants should register no later than 30 minutes before the workshops begin. The FAA also will livestream the workshops on Facebook and YouTube. Residents who are not online can access the workshops by calling 877-853-5247 or 888-788-0099.

Theagency conducted the Draft EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), which requires the FAA to identify and publicly disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedure.

Additional information about the project and the agencys community involvement program is available at Boston Community Involvement.