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Bellone calls upon Republic to develop concrete plan for airport Dear Editor: I am in receipt of a Negative Declaration for the proposed relocation of Taxiway Bravo at Republic Airport. Town of Babylon officials met with Michael J. Geiger, director of Republic Airport in April of this year along with other New York State Department of Transportation officials, representatives from neighboring towns and other elected officials. At that meeting, it was proposed that an alternative to a Master Plan be prepared which would set forth the future plans of Republic Airport. After much discussion regarding the concept of an alternative plan, I stated that the Town of Babylon would be willing to support an alternative planning process as long as it provided meaningful community input and concrete assurances that the alternative plan would be followed. We were told at the time that you would put this alternative plan together and provide this information to the town. Unfortunately the Town has heard nothing from Republic Airport or the New York State Department of Transportation since the aforementioned meeting regarding an alternative planning process. I was deeply dismayed when I received the Negative Declaration on the relocation of Taxiway Bravo as it is yet another example of the Airport segmenting environmental review to avoid preparing a comprehensive environmental impact statement in violation of SEQRA. In just the last few years, Negative Declarations have been issued for the acquisition of approximately 11.3 acres of property at the intersection of Conklin Street and New Highway, the construction of a 30,000 square foot hangar for Talon Air and the construction of a new 51,500 square foot hangar and a 37,500 square foot addition to a hangar for Northeastern Aviation Corp. While I understand the relocation of Taxiway Bravo, which will increase the distance between the runway and the taxiway, has been recommended by the FAA for safety reasons, it undoubtedly will also allow more planes to fly into and out of the airport. Clearly, if planes no longer have to wait to take off or land while another plane is taxiing to its destination, more plans will be able to take off and land, thus exacerbating environmental impacts to the community. Once again, I implore the Airport to develop a concrete plan for its future with meaningful community input and full environmental review in compliance with SEQRA. Should the Airport not agree to postpone the relocation of Taxiway Bravo until a plan is in place, the Town will have no choice but to continue litigating the various projects proposed by the Airport that fail to comply with the SEQRA regulations. Steven Bellone
Supervisor Town of Babylon
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