What is required of airports by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969?
John Castro
Published Mar 21, 2026
What is required of airports by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969?
Airports. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and special purpose environmental laws and regulations, require environmental impact analyses of proposed airport actions that are subject to FAA decision. The environmental review process must be completed before a project commences.
What actions does the FAA take?
Our Activities
- Safety Regulation.
- Airspace and Air Traffic Management.
- Air Navigation Facilities.
- Civil Aviation Abroad.
- Commercial Space Transportation.
- Research, Engineering, and Development.
- Other Programs.
- Organization.
What are the environmental effect of airports?
Primary environmental issues associated with the operation of airports are GHG emissions, noise pollution, land utilization, waste, and congestion. Several solutions are available in addressing the environmental impact caused by airports. This ranges from adopting new procedures and technology to imposing caps.
How long does FAA environmental review take?
For most Commercial Space Transportation actions, you can anticipate a public review and comment period of 30 days. After the public review and comment period, Commercial Space Transportation will review and consider public comments, and may ask you to revise the environmental analysis based on these comments.
What is NEPA and why is it important?
NEPA was the first major environmental law in the United States and is often called the “Magna Carta” of Federal environmental laws. NEPA ensures agencies consider the significant environmental consequences of their proposed actions and inform the public about their decision making.
What are the 3 things that the environmental Protection Act does?
EPA works to ensure that:
- Americans have clean air, land and water;
- National efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information;
- Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended;
What is an FAA enforcement action?
The Enforcement Division initiates legal enforcement actions to address noncompliance by regulated entities and persons including certificate actions, civil penalty actions, and informal procedures and settlements.
Does the FAA regulate airports?
The FAA does not have the statutory authority to regulate airports operated by U.S. Government agencies, including airports operated by the U.S. Department of Defense ( DOD ).
What is sustainable airport?
As per the Federal Aviation Administration, sustainable airports have three important goals: reducing environmental impact, prioritizing economic growth and generating social progress. Since then, this plan towards a sustainable airport has become a foundation for all other famous airports to follow.
How much do airports pollute?
Still, the new data from the clean transportation council found that flights from airports in the United States were responsible for almost one quarter of global passenger flight-related carbon dioxide emissions.
What are the 4 reviews conducted during an FAA spacecraft licensing evaluation?
The FAA conducts several reviews during the application evaluation process before making a determination on the license: this includes a safety review, an environmental review, airspace integration, a policy review, a reentry site location review (specific to the Reentry Site Operator License), a payload review ( …
What is Fonsi in aviation?
Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision ( FONSI / ROD )