News and Updates – FAA Issues Record of Decision on Florida Metroplex

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact-Record of Decision for the South-Central Florida Metroplex, which is the agencys plan to modernize air traffic procedures for 21 airports in the southern half of the state. The agency posted the document and the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Florida Metroplex Environmental website.

The decision enables the FAA to move forward with new satellite-based procedures that will enhance safety and efficiency. The FAA plans to implement the new procedures in mid-2021.

The project includes new arrival and departure procedures for Miami, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa and St. Pete/Clearwater international airports and 15 smaller airports.

The FAA conducted extensive outreach to the public before issuing its final decision on the project. The agency held 29 public workshops and 2 public comment periods totaling 120 days in 2019 and 2020. The agency also evaluated and responded to 3,239 comments in the Final EA.

The agency conducted the EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), which requires the FAA to identify and publicly disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedures.

The environmental documents areavailable at 117 public libraries in the study area. Residents who are not online may contact their local libraries to access the document.