KEWL Environmental Impacts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), via the Clean Air Act, has established air quality standards for air pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. Those areas where established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are not met are designated as “nonattainment.”

Will County, IL is classified as “attainment” with current mitigation programs in place for all the criteria air pollutants listed in the NAAQS. Expected emission sources at KEWL will include aircraft engines, ground support equipment, auxiliary power units, motor vehicles, and various stationary sources such as fuel storage tanks. During the airport construction additional sources of air pollutants will include the temporary use of construction equipment.  Based on FAA projections, the projected number of aircraft operations indicates that the overall airport development is likely to not substantially affect air quality, exceed thresholds that require detailed air quality analyses, or require conformance mitigation. 

At this point foreseeable tenant activities, such as operating transport operations to and from airport property will need to comply with applicable regulations and permit requirements.

Prime and unique farmland (according to the definition listed in FAA Order 1050.1F) is deemed important if it includes protections by federal, state, and local regulations. This can include crop- and pasturelands, and forested areas considered to be prime, unique, or of state or local importance. Lands of this nature that are zoned for development are also included in this designation.  Data available from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) was reviewed and there does not appear to be any prime or unique farmlands protected by the Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) in the vicinity of KEWL.

A Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA) was again conducted from June 2019 through June 2020, updating the previous study in 2015. The recent study revealed no significant differences in fauna impacted by the KEWL development. From the findings of these studies, a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP) was developed in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the recommendations within that plan have been integrated into the airport design and construction planning documentation as well as the KEWL Draft Airport Certification Manual (ACM). Primary mitigations include actions and permits required to manage wildlife at the airport, including protected species.

At this time, there are no known resources located on the proposed airport property extents with historical, archeological, or cultural significance, as noted in the ELA Airfield Geological Survey (dated 2015) and previously submitted to the Illinois State Department of Aviation (IL DOA).

Adjacent to the property are the following, which would remain undisturbed by this development project, as agreed to by the Illinois State Department of Natural Resources (IL DNR).

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (0.0 miles south of the proposed airfield)

Adjacent to the airfield, south of W. Hoff Rd, the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the largest island in the archipelago of protected areas that collectively compromise the Chicago Wilderness. It includes full array of species and natural processes typical of tallgrass prairies in the region, including the reintroduction of bison.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (0.75 miles west-southwest of the proposed airfield)

Dedicated in 1999, the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery lies in the northwestern area of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, approximately 50 miles southwest of Chicago. Named after the 16th President of the United States, on July 17, 1862, in the midst of the American Civil War, President Lincoln's signature enacted the law authorizing the establishment of national cemeteries "... for the soldiers who die in the service of the country."

Grant Creek Prairie (5.0 miles west of the proposed airfield)

Grant Creek Prairie contains high quality wet prairie and mesic prairie communities with over 110 different native prairie plant species, and local fauna. Birds include bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, sedge wren and occasionally upland sandpipers. Mammals such as prairie voles, shrews, coyotes and reptiles and amphibians like the western fox snake, blue racer, smooth green snake, and western chorus frog can also be seen. Prior to the state's acquisition, Grant Creek Prairie was grazed by cattle which allowed hawthorn trees to invade the northern section. Current management of the preserve is primarily concerned with the elimination of these small trees.

At this time, there are no known energy or natural resources located on the proposed airport property extents with that significance. The most recent ELA Airfield Geological Survey has shown this to be the case.  (submitted and accepted by IDOT -Division of Aviation)

The ELA Airport and Airfield Construction Plan currently provides for the proper handling of any hazardous materials and waste management. This document also contains detailed construction impacts and mitigation plans.  (submitted and accepted by IDOT -Division of Aviation)