Senate President, New Haven Rep. To FAA: Tweed Assessment 'Not Enough'

NEW HAVEN, CT — Following calls by East Haven's mayor, state Sen. Christine Cohen, Save the Sound, and Friends of Farm River Estuary, state Senate President Martin Looney and 97th district state Rep. Alphonse Paolillo have joined the chorus urging that the Federal Aviation Administration conduct a robust Environmental Impact Statement in advance of the proposed expansion of Tweed New Haven Airport.

In a November joint letter to the FAA, Looney and Paolillo "urge" the agency to require that an environmental impact statement be completed. They note the "public health and environmental consequences of the expansion," necessitate that study, and add that an "environmental assessment alone will not go far enough."

In late October, the FAA said it was waiting on an Environmental Assessment from the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority before deciding if a more extensive study, called an Environmental Impact Statement, was needed. In mid-October, airport authority executive director Sean Scanlon told local media the airport authority was then about a week away from submitting its assessment.

Patch contacted the FAA early Tuesday to check the status.

"The FAA received the Draft Environmental Assessment from the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and is currently reviewing the document," the agency replied via email.

In the recent joint letter to the FAA, the lawmakers want to see "the potential risks of the project, both to the wildlife and delicate ecosystem surrounding the airport" examined, adding an "environmental impact statement will provide a more in-depth and comprehensive picture of these risks, both short-term and long-term."

Tweed New Haven Airport is located largely in the Morris Cove section of New Haven and partly in East Haven. Looney lives in Morris Cove and represents the district.

East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora said Tuesday morning that Looney's letter of support was "welcome."

"My position has been clear and detailed on the potential environmental impact to both East Haven and New Haven. This project demands an EIS given its scope and its overall impact," Carfora said. "That position is shared by Sen. Cohen, Save the Sound, and the Friends of Farm River Estuary. The addition of powerful state voices in support of my position is welcome."

Unlike Looney, Cohen, Carfora, Paolillo, and community and state environmental groups, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker did not call on the FAA to conduct an EIS. He told Patch that given the "FAA determines the appropriate scope of environmental review that is needed, it’s important to let that process take its course."

Elicker added: "We are committed to ensuring that Tweed Airport continues to operate in a manner that takes into consideration all relevant environmental and public health concerns — and to work collaboratively with residents and the airport to do everything we reasonably can to try to identify, minimize and address them."

Elicker went on to say that, "All parties want to minimize any potential environmental and public health impacts."

He noted that "good faith partners" Avelo Airlines and Avports have "agreed to do everything they reasonably can to address the noise, traffic, safety and environmental concerns of our residents." He added that includes restricting fight departure and arrival times, reducing plane idling time, and "making community investments of approximately $5 million for noise, traffic and environmental mitigation, among other measures."

"All parties also remain committed to continuing to work with our residents and stakeholders to try to address future concerns as well," Elicker said. "Like the majority of New Haven residents, I continue to believe that a high-quality regional airport is a good thing for the City and our residents, providing convenient travel options, good-paying jobs, and growth to our local economy."

Read Looney and Paolillo's letter here:

Senator Looney, Rep. Paolil... by Ellyn Santiago

In late October, an FAA spokesperson forwarded the following statement to Patch:

"Tweed New Haven Airport Authority has contracted consultants to prepare the environmental review and the FAA will independently evaluate the data to ensure it is consistent with NEPA regulations and FAA Order 1050.1F. Environmental impact determines whether a more extensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The FAA provides oversight of the environmental review of the proposed project consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other special purpose laws."

The FAA does not refer to it as an Environmental Assessment (EA) nor an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), rather an "environmental review."

Back in 2008, the FAA required an EIS for what town officials told Patch was a "much smaller, and a significantly less environmentally impactful airport project" for construction of runway safety areas and reconstruction, realignment and southerly extension of a taxiway on site, according to records and East Haven officials.

According to court documents obtained by Patch, the FAA published a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in October 1999 and a final version in 2000.

"And, it has required the preparation of an EIS for similar activities proposed at Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford," Carfora wrote in a letter to the FAA earlier this fall.

"Given that the (expansion) project includes a runway extension, as well as construction in sensitive coastal areas and wetlands, and significant vehicular traffic impacts, including the constructive use of an important Town park, in a distressed municipality, we urge the FAA to be consistent and require the same for this project."

On its website, the FAA said it's "aware of the past and present controversy of proposed improvements at this airport."

"Once the appropriate level of NEPA documentation has been determined, the Airport, supported by the FAA, will conduct opportunities for community engagement where there will be appropriate channels of communication with the community. The timeline for the FAA’s review of the proposed project is contingent on receiving the initial EA from the airport authority."

The areas surrounding Tweed on both the East Haven and New Haven sides include wetlands, tidal marshes, creeks, and brooks.

Cohen, state Senate chair of the Environment Committee, was named the 2021 Legislative Champion by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities for her work and leadership on environmental policy. She wrote that the area in and around the airport is “comprised of inland and tidal wetlands, preserves, beaches and parks, is part of a critical ecosystem that without protection, could jeopardize the unique fauna and flora of the locale.”

While saying, she applauds “economic development and enhanced connectivity through modernized transportation options,” she pressed the federal agency to delve deeper: “I urge you to prepare an EIS as required by the National Environmental Policy Act."

“I fear that an Environmental Assessment for Tweed Airport does not go far enough to study the full extent of the impact on our communities. An Environmental Impact Statement is a more detailed and rigorous examination compared to that of an EA and, given the scope and impression of this project, is the only way to proceed. We must delve deeper and perform due diligence to truly understand both the short- and long-term implications of this planned expansion …”

As reported by Patch beginning in May 2021, the airport's expansion calls for moving its terminal to the East Haven side of its property while extending its runway by more than 1,000 feet. The Airport Authority and the city of New Haven inked a 43-year lease in 2021, and in August, the deal was sealed between Goldman Sachs-owned Avports and the Authority, over East Haven's strong objections. Read that story here.