Small airports have limited resources and staffing and, as a result, these airports usually do not have an environmental practitioner on staff who is intimately knowledgeable in the environmental arena.  No one resource is available to airport managers (or their governing boards) that outlines all the federal environmental regulations. In addition, practices that exceed requirements and promote environmental stewardship, sometimes referred to as “sustainable practices,” are also not familiar to small airports.     

Airports and their governing boards are committed to being good neighbors, enhancing their environmental efforts, and increasing public awareness of those initiatives.  Given that every airport is unique, each airport must select, prioritize, and implement practices based on individual circumstances.  Research is needed to provide small airports with information and guidance on potential environmental initiatives applicable to their situations.

The objective of this research is to provide managers of small airports with a guidebook (1) promoting environmental awareness, (2) identifying federal environmental compliance requirements, (3) outlining those best management practices that proactively enhance environmental stewardship, and (4) identifying resources/tools that airports can use to be proactive.  The guidebook should be written so that a non-environmental practitioner can easily understand it. 

Status:  The Guidebook has been published as Report 43:  Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports.