2001 Minnesota Statutes

     473.616 Comprehensive airport planning. 

    Subdivision 1.    Wold-Chamberlain plan.  (a) By January 
 1, 1992, the commission shall adopt a long-term comprehensive 
 plan for the international airport at its existing location.  
 The plan must describe: 

    (1) aviation demand and air transportation needs; 

    (2) airport capacity limits and potential; 

    (3) facilities requirements; 

    (4) a plan for physical development, including financial 
 estimates and a tentative development schedule; 

    (5) airport operational characteristics; 

    (6) compatibility with metropolitan and local physical 
 facility systems; 

    (7) environmental effects; 

    (8) safety; and 

    (9) the effect on the neighboring communities. 

 The plan must satisfy the air transportation needs for a 
 prospective 20-year period.  At the same time, the commission 
 shall adopt a concept plan for the airport, including an 
 estimate of facilities requirements, to satisfy the air 
 transportation needs for an additional ten-year period.  The 
 plans must be consistent with the development guide of the 
 council.  The plans must be updated at least every five years.  
 The plans must be amended as necessary to reflect changes in 
 trends and conditions, facilities requirements, and development 
 plans and schedules.  The plans are subject to sections 473.165 
 and 473.611.  

    (b) Until January 1, 1996, or until the commission has 
 completed the activities required by subdivision 3 and section 
 473.618, whichever occurs first, the commission may construct a 
 new runway or a new, substantially expanded, or relocated 
 terminal facility if the commission determines that construction 
 of the runway or facility is necessary and prudent, considering 
 the economic, financial, environmental, and other costs and 
 benefits of the new runway or facility, the current and 
 long-term future need for major airport facilities, capacity 
 constraints, and the time required to construct airport 
 facilities.  The commission shall make its determination by 
 resolution, containing findings of fact and conclusions.  Before 
 making its determination, the commission shall hold a public 
 hearing on the question.  The hearing may be held separately or 
 in conjunction with any other hearing required on the project, 
 as the commission deems appropriate.  The commission may plan, 
 prepare designs and specifications, and conduct an environmental 
 review of a facility before the public hearing.  

    Subd. 2.    New airport; conceptual design study and plan. 
  By March 1, 1990, the commission, in consultation with the 
 council, shall complete a study of facilities requirements, 
 airport functioning, and conceptual design for a major new 
 airport.  By January 1, 1991, the commission shall complete a 
 conceptual design plan for a major new airport.  The conceptual 
 design study and plan must describe and satisfy air 
 transportation needs for a prospective 30-year period and be 
 consistent with the development guide of the council.  The 
 conceptual design plan must include an analysis of estimated 
 costs, potential financing methods and sources of public and 
 private funding, and cost allocation issues and options.  The 
 council shall use the design study and plan in evaluating areas 
 for locating a new airport under section 473.155, subdivision 3. 

    Subd. 3.    New airport; site selection; comprehensive 
 plan.  Within four years following the council's designation 
 of a search area under section 473.155, the commission shall:  
 (1) select a site for a major new airport in the search area 
 designated by the council; (2) prepare a comprehensive plan and 
 schedule, including financial plans, for the development of a 
 major airport at that site for a prospective 20-year period 
 following a decision to develop a new airport; (3) prepare an 
 estimate of facilities requirements and a concept plan for 
 development of the airport for an additional ten years; and (4) 
 prepare and submit for administrative review the environmental 
 documents that are required for site acquisition. 

    Subd. 4.    Legislative reports.  (a) Until the 
 activities required by subdivision 3 and section 473.618 are 
 completed, the commission shall report to the legislature by 
 February 15 of each year on the results of the airport planning 
 activities of the commission under this section.  The report 
 must include a summary of expenditures and sources of funding 
 for the activities. 

    (b) By March 1, 1990, after consulting with the council, 
 the federal aviation administration, industry representatives, 
 and other persons, the commission shall report to the 
 legislature on the assumptions and methods that the commission 
 will use in preparing forecasts for airport development and 
 operations purposes and for determining capacity and facility 
 needs. 

    (c) By March 1, 1990, the commission shall report to the 
 legislature on the integration of major airport facilities in 
 the metropolitan area with state, national, and international 
 air transportation systems and on the commission's planning 
 assumptions and parameters related to such airport development 
 issues as capacity, safety, environmental impact, and air 
 service. 

    (d) By March 1, 1990, the commission shall report to the 
 legislature on the conceptual design study for a major new 
 airport, prepared under subdivision 2.  By January 1, 1991, the 
 commission shall report to the legislature on the conceptual 
 design plan prepared under subdivision 2. 

    HIST: 1989 c 279 s 3; 1991 c 21 s 1