Skip to content

America's Friendliest Airport

PLANNING

Planning efforts are ongoing at the City’s three airports to provide better facilities and an enhanced travel experience for its visitors. View the 2006 Record of Decision here.

Height Zoning

Protecting the airspace around Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is vital to the economic development of the Valley. The City of Phoenix Airport Height Zoning Ordinance accommodates growth through identifying maximum heights for buildings and structures within the city limits that protect and maintain the airspace capacity around Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

For more information, please visit the links below or call us at 602-273-3340.

BACK TO TOP

Environmental Programs

A number of environmental programs are managed by the airport, its tenants and users to promote a cleaner, safer environment. These programs focus on accident prevention, mitigation and management oversight.

What is the commercial aviation industry doing to limit its impact on the environment? Find out by visiting www.enviro.aero.

Click here for information on Noise Monitoring

BACK TO TOP

Final 2006 Environmental Impact Study

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review on Phoenix’s Airport Development Program. To view the document in its entirety, please download all of the associated files within Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

BACK TO TOP

Draft Environmental Assessment - Safety Improvement Project

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process addresses impacts of Federal actions on the human environment, including noise, socioeconomic, land uses, air and water quality. Depending upon the context and potential impacts, NEPA procedures can differ. The safety improvement project being proposed by the City of Phoenix Aviation Department requires an Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA process is described below:

Background and Need for the Action

PHX is an air carrier airport located in the City of Phoenix. In 2007, air carriers conducted nearly 500,000 operations and served over 42 million passengers at PHX. As a result of providing facilities for this type of air carrier operations, PHX must comply with Public Law 109-115 and be certificated by the FAA. Both the law and the certification require that Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) in accordance with FAA AC 150/5300 be provided. The existing RSA beyond Runway 25L does not meet the RSA grading or clearance requirements because of the location of the localizer, service roads, perimeter fence, and the Salt River.

While not required by certification or law, FAA airport design standards also include object clearing requirements for the Runway Object Free Area (ROFA). The purpose of the ROFA is to enhance the safety of aircraft operation. As such, the ROFA is to be clear of objects which are higher than the edge of the RSA. The existing perimeter fence and localizer shelter are located within the ROFA beyond Runway 25L and therefore the clearance requirements are not met.

Also, although again not required, it is preferable from a security standpoint to have all airport facilities located within the perimeter fence. A portion of the existing approach lighting system for Runway 25L is on stilts located in the Salt River outside the airport perimeter fence. In order to improve security, the approach lighting system should be located within the airport perimeter fence.

Therefore, the Proposed Action is needed in order to:

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to:

Proposed action

Project Alternatives

Analysis of alternatives is key to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. NEPA analysis must consider reasonable alternatives to the proposed action which would minimize adverse impacts. Accordingly, the number of alternatives to be considered will be influenced by the degree of potential impact as well as the stated project purpose. It is anticipated that the following potential alternatives will be considered

The EA will consider potential alternatives based on the alternatives ability to meet the purpose and need of the Proposed Action. EMAS and declared distances alternatives will not meet the purpose and need and therefore will not be analyzed in detail within the environmental analysis.

Affected Environment

PHX lies within the City of Phoenix boundaries. Land use in the immediate Airport vicinity is primarily light industrial and commercial. The Salt River, a designated floodway, is adjacent to the airfield on the southeast side of the Airport. In terms of air quality, Phoenix is in an area designated as non-attainment for 8-hour Ozone and particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10), as well as maintenance for Carbon Monoxide (CO).

Environmental Analysis

The EA will assess the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action and the practicable alternatives. All categories of impact will be analyzed according to the criteria included in FAA Orders 1050.1E and 5050.4B. Impact analyses will be conducted for the first full year after implementation of the projects and five years thereafter. The level of analysis for each impact category will vary by potential impact. Given the nature of the Proposed Action and the existing environment, the impact analysis will be focused on the following categories

Draft Environmental Assessment Chapters

Chapters will be added as they become available

Public Involvement

On October 7, 2008, the City of Phoenix hosted two scoping meetings at Pueblo Grande Museum: Agency Scoping meeting and Public Scoping meeting to solicit comments and concerns on the airport’s Proposed Action, Purpose and Need, and Alternatives.

Agency Scoping Meeting:

The Public Scoping meeting was conducted in an informal public workshop format with presentation boards available for review and comment. The Public Scoping meeting announcement is provided below:

For more information, call (602) 683-3786.

BACK TO TOP