Frequently Asked Questions

1. I thought an environmental assessment had already been done for the proposed replacement airport. Why is an environmental impact statement now being done?

Answer: The City did prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed relocated airport. That study was completed in 2001. Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accepted the conclusions of the EA and issued an official Finding of No Significant Impact, that conclusion was contested by the Grand Canyon Trust. The Trust took the matter to court, and the court ruled that the EA had not provided enough information to determine whether the proposed project would significantly increase cumulative noise in Zion National Park . The court ordered the FAA to investigate that issue. The FAA determined that the best way to address the court's concerns was to undertake a full environmental impact statement.

2. How is airport noise in the local communities going to be considered in the EIS?

   Answer: The purpose of the airport noise analysis in the communities of St. George and Washington City is to describe anticipated future conditions, with and without the proposed replacement airport, so that people can understand how noise is likely to change in the future. Airport noise will be analyzed using the FAA's computer noise analysis model, known as the Integrated Noise Model (INM). The noise consultants will prepare data to enter into the model, including the number of takeoffs and landings by aircraft type, flight track locations, climb and descent profiles, runway use, local weather conditions, and topography. The analysis will consider existing conditions at the present airport and forecast future conditions at both the existing and the proposed future airport in 2010 and 2020.
   
   Noise contour maps will be prepared for each study year and each airport. In addition, noise levels will be computed at many points in neighborhoods outside the noise contours. For the 2010 and 2020 forecasts, noise levels for each alternative future - with the existing airport and with the proposed replacement airport - will be compared in neighborhoods in St. George and Washington City.

3. What effect will the proposed replacement airport have on Zion National Park?

   Answer: It is too early in the EIS process to know the answer to this question. While the environmental assessment undertaken in 2001 found that the St. George airport project would cause no significant noise impact in Zion National Park , this EIS is being done to study that matter in much greater detail. This study will consider aircraft noise affecting Zion National Park from all sources and then will consider the change in cumulative noise impact in the Park with the proposed replacement airport in St. George.

4. When is the proposed replacement airport going to be built and in service?

   Answer: This cannot be known with certainty until the EIS process is complete and approved. For planning purposes, it is assumed that the proposed replacement airport would be in service in 2010.

5. What will be done with the existing airport after it is closed?

   Answer: St. George has prepared a preliminary redevelopment plan for the existing airport. The preparation of a more detailed plan will be commissioned in the near future. It is anticipated that that the existing airport site will be redeveloped for housing and related residential-service commercial uses once the replacement airport site becomes operational.

6. Is this replacement airport going to be used by large jets?

   Answer: Based on the aviation activity forecasts prepared for the Site Selection and Master Plan Study and the 2001 EA, most of the operations are expected to involve the same kinds of aircraft that use the existing airport today. The most important change, however, is expected to be the introduction of commuter jets for commercial passenger service. These aircraft typically seat 50 to 90 passengers and are extremely quiet. Currently, passenger service is provided by 30-passenger turboprop aircraft. The replacement airport would be able to serve aircraft as large as Boeing 737s, seating approximately 150 people. It is possible that aircraft of this size may occasionally use the proposed airport to provide special charter service. The St. George market, however, is not large enough to support regular commercial service by aircraft of this size.

7. Why does the City want to build this replacement airport?

   Answer: The City of St. George has several reasons for wanting to build the proposed replacement airport: Design deficiencies at the existing airport limit the size of commercial aircraft that can use the airport. Site limitations prevent substantial upgrading of the existing airport. The forecast passenger travel demand cannot be met with service from the existing airport. The City believes that the long-term well being of the community depends on the availability of good air service.

8. Is this replacement airport somehow related to the proposed Southern Corridor?

   Answer: The Southern Corridor highway project is completely independent of the proposed replacement airport. It will be built regardless of whether the proposed airport is built. Design of the Southern Corridor, however, has considered the location of the proposed replacement airport and has allowed for the construction of access roads between the airport and the new highway.

Return to Top