Longer comment time sought on N. Utah airspace initiative

The director of Salt Lake City International Airport and the Salt Lake County Council have sent separate letters to the Federal Aviation Administration asking that the public comment period preluding an environmental impact study on the Northern Utah Airspace Initiative be extended by 60 days.

If the comment period is not extended, Tim Campbell, director of the Salt Lake Department of Airports, said the FAA may be in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act, which governs such environmental studies.

"We are concerned that the division has not adequately disclosed alternatives and information to the public," Campbell wrote in a May 9 letter to Clark Desing, air traffic manager at Salt Lake City International, and forwarded to several federal, state and local officials, including FAA administrator Marion Blakey.

The lack of disclosure, Campbell wrote, "presents concerns about the process under the National Environmental Policy Act. We are therefore requesting that the division supplement its proposal with more comprehensive information, and extend the public comment period by 60 days."

The airspace initiative gives consideration to expanding the areas commercial jets can fly above Salt Lake and Davis counties. One of the proposed options would create a downwind — a flight pattern commercial jets use before beginning their final approach to the airport — above the eastern benches of the Wasatch Front.

Another proposed option would give jets the option of entering Salt Lake County from one of four directions — the southwest, southeast, northwest and northeast. The southeast flight pattern would require jets to fly above Alta and Snowbird ski resort, potentially hampering resort business and disturbing wildlife.

At recent Salt Lake County Council and Sandy City Council meetings, the Air Traffic Division of the FAA gave information not presented to the public at the formal scoping meetings last March, Campbell's letter states. Moreover, Campbell said the division is considering other options for reorganized air traffic in Salt Lake County that is not part of the current Northern Utah Airspace Initiative plans.

"If this information is not presented to the city and the public in a comprehensive way, the city and the public do not have the opportunity to comment," Campbell wrote.