ALP Approval Authority
Section 743 of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, entitled “Review of Airport Layout Plans”, modified the limitations on FAA authority to review and approve Airport Layout Plans (ALPs) which were first set forth in Section 163 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. When an Airport Sponsor proposes a new project, the Bureau of Aeronautics (BOA), or Airport District Office (ADO) for primary airports, must review the project to determine if the FAA has ALP Approval Authority on that project.
For more detailed information, there is an
FAA memorandum which includes the initial instructions to airport district offices and regional office of airports employees regarding Airport Layout Plan reviews and projects potentially affected by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
The typical steps Airport Sponsors will follow to complete the ALP Approval Authority (AAA) review process for private development projects are outlined below. We recommend that sponsors work with an aviation consultant when completing the AAA review process.
Steps in the ALP Approval Authority Process for Private Development
Step 1 - The Project Proponent proposes a new project with Airport Sponsor.
Step 2 - The Airport Sponsor will email the BOA Aviation Planner to initiate the process. The
Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Review Formshould be used to help guide the sponsor in providing the appropriate information and documentation.
Step 3 - The BOA can then conduct the ALP Approval Authority review and determine if the FAA has ALP Approval Authority over the proposed project.
Step 4 – Upon completion of the review, an ALP Approval Authority determination email from the BOA Aviation Planner will be sent to the Sponsor which will indicate if the FAA retains ALP Approval Authority over the proposed project and whether environmental review is required.
Step 5a – If the sponsor is notified by the BOA Aviation Planner that the FAA retains ALP Approval Authority over the proposed project, the sponsor should then complete the appropriate environmental review using the process explained below.
Step 5b – If the sponsor is notified that the FAA does not retain ALP Approval Authority, the sponsor should email the environmental team to determine if there are other federal actions that would trigger environmental review such as federal funding, plans for reimbursement, or other federal approvals. If there are no additional federal triggers, no further action with the BOA is required prior to construction. An as-built ALP is required after completion of the project.
Contact information (Planning)
Brenda Hanson, Aviation Planner, WisDOT - BOA
brendae.hanson@dot.wi.gov
Environmental
The FAA is required to conduct environmental review for major Federal actions pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the CEQ implementing regulations, and the FAA Order 1050.1G Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures. If a project is a private development and NEPA review is required, the NEPA document will be completed by the Airport Sponsor or their hired aviation consultant with guidance from the BOA Environmental Team.
The ALP Approval Authority determination email would put the Airport Sponsor in contact with the BOA Environmental Team to determine the appropriate level of environmental document. The BOA Environmental Team can also be contacted at the email found in the contact information section of this page. The Airport Sponsor is responsible for completing the Section 106 review, federal and state listed species review, any additional federal, state and local regulations, and development of the environmental document. The BOA Environmental Team will complete the tribal coordination and will be the final approver of the environmental document. The most common environmental document, an Appendix A CATEX, has a template available in the Additional Resources section.
Below is guidance and information which can aid the Airport Sponsor in completing the necessary environmental coordination needed to complete an environmental document for a private development.
Tribal coordination
- Send a complete project description and project map to WisDOT - BOA Environmental staff at: dotboaenvironmental@dot.wi.gov. The BOA Environmental team will use that information to notify tribal contacts of the project. All responses will be forwarded to the Airport Sponsor to be included in the environmental document. Tribes are granted a 30-day review/response period.
Section 106
Federal and State Listed Species
Additional resources
Contact information (Environmental)