The FAA is seeking public comment on the potential environmental impact of its plan to replace dozens of aging air traffic control towers at airports across the country.
The call for public comment is the latest development in the FAA’s $500 million plan to update towers at 31 municipal and smaller airports where towers function beyond their intended lifespan.
In April, the agency unveiled its new tower design for the airports, touting its scalability based on traffic and sightline requirements. Among the design’s features touted by the agency are its call for sustainable elements, such as recycled steel and geothermal heating and cooling.
The agency posted its draft programmatic environmental assessment Wednesday, and will be accepting comments through July 31.
“In the report, the FAA considers the conditions and potential environmental impacts of replacing numerous FAA-owned control towers with modern facilities,” the FAA said in a statement. “It also analyzes the potential environmental impacts that may result from the construction and operation of the proposed new towers and decommissioning and removal of the existing towers.”
Construction costs for the projects, which range from building towers 60 to 119 feet tall, would be offset by $500 million set aside by the agency, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which would pay for site evaluation and preparation, as well as initial construction activities.
In releasing the design, the FAA said the tower replacement project incorporated key sustainability elements, including:
- All-electric building systems
- Materials and products free from chemicals known to pose health risks
- Thermally efficient façade
- High-recycled steel and metal products
- Renewable mass timber, when usable
- Ground-source heating and cooling in some environments.
The first groundbreaking of new town construction could begin in 2024, according to the FAA.
