Public Notice Draft Environmental Assessment MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Tree Obstruction Removal Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC MEETING Project Title: MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Tree Obstruction Removal Lead Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration and St. Clair County, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. Cooperating Agencies: Federal Highway Administration, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Historic Preservation Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Project Description: St. Clair County, Illinois-MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV), in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is studying alternatives to protect the airspace around the BLV and improve the safety of BLV approaches and operations. Alternatives studied include: the No-Action Alternative, Tree Obstruction Removal-North Service Route, Tree Obstruction Removal-South Service Route, Relocate the BLV Runway, and the Proposed Action. The Proposed Action consists of removing approximately 109 acres of existing and future tree obstructions and the construction of a permanent service route in order to manage the vegetation and prevent future obstructions. A Vegetation Management Plan has been developed to aid in the management of existing and future trees and other vegetation. Impacts to wetlands have been coordinated with the US Army Corps of Engineers and a mitigation plan is in effect. Coordination with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources occurred to determine if threatened or endangered species could be impacted. The proposed tree clearing would occur between November 1st through March 31st of any given year to avoid impacts to threatened and endangered bat species. Project Location: BLV is the civilian portion of a joint-use airfield with Scott Air Force Base in Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois, approximately 20 miles east of downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Environmental Assessment (EA) Availability: The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed project is available for public review. The EA examines the potential environmental impacts of the project and explores alternatives. Review Period: The Draft EA will be available for review and comment for a period of 15 days, starting on September 24, 2025, and ending on October 9, 2025. Comments must be received no later than October 9, 2025, at 11:59pm CST to be considered. The Draft EA is available for 15 days as the removal of trees can only take place between November 1st and March 31st of any given year to avoid adverse impacts to threatened and endangered bat species. The Draft EA is available for review at the following locations: MidAmerica St. Louis Airport 9656 Air Terminal Drive, Suite 250, Mascoutah, IL 62258 or online at https://flymidamerica.com or https://www.co.st-clair.il.us/public-notices How to Submit Comments: Written comments on the Draft EA may be submitted to: Mr. Dan Trapp, Director, Engineering & Planning, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport 9656 Air Terminal Drive, Suite 250, Mascoutah, IL 62258, dan.trapp@flymidamerica.com. Comments may be submitted by mail or email (preferred method). If requested by a member of the public, BLV will host an in-person public meeting regarding the Draft EA using an open house format. To request a public meeting, please contact Dan Trapp at dan.trapp@flymidamerica.com and use the email subject line "Public Meeting Request - MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Tree Obstruction Removal". Further Information: For further information regarding the project or the environmental review process, please contact Bridgett Jacquot at bljacquot@hornershifrin.com or (618) 726-0311 Reasonable Accommodations: Individuals with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to participate in the public review process should contact Dan Trapp at least 3 days prior to the comment deadline or public meeting to arrange for accommodations. Note: Comments received will be part of the public record and may be made publicly available. IPL0275439 Sep 24 2025