Agenda - Council - 06/06/1990 - Special Joint with Airport Commission

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AIRPORT IMPACTS In~roducr.~ on Gateway North Industrial Airport is a privately owned, public use airport, which has been in operation since 1972. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and is classified as a minor airport in the Metropolitan Airport's Systems Regional Plan-. Anoka County Landfill Inventory Site P is l'ocated northeast of the Gateway Airport. The landfill site boundary is within 1000 feet of the airport's northeast property line and existing Runway 9/27,and within 2000 feet of existing Runway 16/34. FAA Criteria and Review In 1985, the City of Ramsey adopted an Airport Maste.r Plan whicb recommended the acquisition of the Airport by the 'City and improvements which would pro- vide a facility which meets state and federal ~equirements for a Basic Utility II Airport. The plan was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on July 24, 1987, after inclusion of the airport in the NPIAS on April 8, 1986. In June, 1989, an Environmental Assessment was prepared for the City by Hakanson Anderson Associates, Inc. The Assessment addressed the environmental impacts of the proposed airport improvements. The FAA approved the Environmental Assessment on September 14, 1989, finding the proposed airport improvements were of no significant impact. At that time, the FAA stated sanitary landfills are an incompatible land use and airport hazard under the policies of the FAA when located in the vicinity of airports. As a result, the FAA would not consider any request for Federal financial assistance under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at Gateway North Industrial Airport until landfills are closed which are located within the areas established in FAA Order 5200.5 (see FAA letter ~ Attachment A). Order 5200.5 is specifically directed toward eliminating sanitary landfills in the proximity of airports in order to provide a safe environment for aircraft operations. This Order applies to the existing landfill located northeast of the airport and would apply to the proposed Site P landfill, located directly south of the existing landfill. The Minnesota Solid Waste Rules (Part 7035.2815, Subpart 2.C.(3).), prohibit the location of a landfill within 5000 feet of a runway used by piston aircraft or'within 10,000 feet of a runway used by turbojet aircraft, unless approval is obtained from FAA. The vicinity or areas in which landfills are considered a hazard to airport operations, as noted by the FAA in Order 5200.5, are described as follows: "Sanitary landfills will be considered as within areas established for the airport following criteria~ an incompatible use if located through the application of the -1-