2007 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.
History: 1989 c 279 s 3; 1991 c 21 s 1