Travis AFB Sustainability Study Report Final Sustainability Study Report | Page 37
airfields. Additional information on Part 77 is located on the FAA Internet
site at http://www.faa.gov/.
As of January 29, 2013, the main focus of Part 77.17 is to establish standards
to determine obstructions within navigable airspace, typically within a
certain distance from an airport or airfield. The FAA has identified certain
imaginary surfaces around runways to determine how structures and
facilities are evaluated and identify if they pose a vertical obstruction
relative to the airspace around a runway. The levels of imaginary surfaces
build upon one another and are designed to eliminate obstructions to air
navigation and operations, either natural or man‐made. The dimension or
size of an imaginary surface depends on the runway classification.
National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is a federal law
establishing a US national policy to promote the protection and
enhancement of the environment and requiring federal agencies to analyze
and consider the potential environmental impact of their actions. The
purpose of NEPA is to promote informed decision‐making by federal
agencies by making detailed information concerning significant
environmental impacts available to both agency leaders and the public.
All projects receiving federal funding, requiring a federal permit, or
occurring on federal property require NEPA compliance and documentation.
NEPA is applicable to all federal agencies, including the military. Not all
federal actions require a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In some
cases, an action may not cause a significant impact, whereby an agency is
only required to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA).
A NEPA document can serve as a valuable planning tool for local planning
officials. An EA or EIS can assist in the determination of potential impacts
that may result from changing military actions or operations and their effect
on municipal policies, plans and programs, and the surrounding community.
Travis AFB Sustainability Study Report
Public hearings are required for all EIS documents released under NEPA.
NEPA requires publishing a draft EA and subsequent Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) and allowing public comment for a period of
30 days. An EA may result in a FONSI or Record of Decision concluding that
the action will have a significant impact and an EIS is required. The
information obtained by the EA / EIS is valuable in planning coordination and
policy formation at the local government level.
NEPA mandates that the military analyze the impact of its actions and
operations on the environment, including surrounding civilian communities.
Inherent in this analysis is an exploration of methods to reduce any adverse
environmental impact. The EIS is a public process that welcomes
participation by the community.
Partners in Flight Program
The DOD has implemented a program entitled Partners in Flight that
sustains and enhances the military testing, training, and safety mission
through habitat‐based management strategies. The program assists natural
resource managers in monitoring, inventory, research, and management of
birds and their habitats. As part of the Partners in Flight program, a strategic
plan is created that can be incorporated into a Bird / Wildlife Aircraft Strike
Hazard (BASH) plan. This program reaches beyond the boundaries of the
installation to facilitate community partnerships and determine the current
status of bird populations to prevent the further endangerment of birds.
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the main federal law that ensures the
quality of drinking water in the United States. The SDWA authorizes the EPA
to set national health‐based drinking water standards to protect against
both naturally‐occurring and man‐made water contaminants. The SDWA
applies to every public water system in the US.
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