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Airport commission advances runway obstruction study, moves to complete MassDOT/FAA grant steps
Summary
The Taunton City Airport Commission accepted an aeronautical study and voted to authorize paperwork needed for a MassDOT grant and NEPA review, with staff warning some tree removals off airport property could take years and may require eminent domain.
The Taunton City Airport Commission on March 26 accepted an aeronautical study for “Runway 1230” and approved staff to complete grant and environmental paperwork needed for MassDOT and Federal Aviation Administration review.
The study and related obstruction analysis identified trees and other vegetation as the reason RNAV approach minimums were raised. "The RNAV approaches got raised, the minimums got raised until we take the obstructions down," said Craig, airport coordinator, summarizing the study findings and next steps. He said most obstructing trees are off airport property and that removal of those will likely require a multi-year process involving property acquisition or eminent domain and standard interagency reviews.
Why it matters: lowering approach minimums and restoring published procedures depends on removing obstructions near approach paths. Commission acceptance of the study lets staff finalize an obstruction analysis for submission to the FAA and MassDOT and continue a vegetation-management plan submitted to the Taunton Conservation Commission.
Key actions and timeline: Craig reported an environmental assessment and an Environmental Notification Form for phase 1 are complete; phase 2 NEPA work is underway and scoping meetings for NEPA have been held. Staff said the MassDOT grant application must be submitted by April 9. Craig also said a draft scope of work for a proposed fuel farm permit and independent fee estimate are in progress.
Commissioners asked how many problem trees are on airport property; Craig said obstructions “on property” are few and manageable but that the majority lie off-site. "It's probably gonna take a couple of years to complete the process," he said, describing the typical timeline when off-site obstructions require negotiation or eminent domain.
The commission voted to accept the engineering/aeronautical report so staff can advance the obstruction analysis submissions and to move forward with NEPA/grant-related signings needed for the MassDOT application.
What the vote does and does not do: the votes authorized staff to submit reports and sign documents required by MassDOT and to continue the NEPA process; they did not approve any land acquisitions or tree removals. Craig said those actions will require separate approvals and additional processes before work off airport property proceeds.
Provenance: the aeronautical-study discussion begins when Craig presented the engineer's report and runs through the commission's acceptance and NEPA/grant discussion; staff references included communications with MassDOT, Mass Aeronautics, the FAA, and the Taunton Conservation Commission.
Ending note: staff said they will schedule follow-up meetings with MassDOT/FAA regional specialists and return to the commission with specific obstruction maps and recommended next steps once the obstruction analysis and NEPA scoping are further developed.
