As part of the Airport Master Plan for the South Suburban Airport, environmental resources, such as wetlands, floodplains, and farmland, need to be catalogued. This data collection results in the creation of an environmental database that will then be compared to the proposed airport facilities. This comparison will identify any impacts created by the construction of the proposed airport.

Since mid-August 2008, Earth Tech | AECOM personnel have been conducting wetland surveys on property owned by the State of Illinois. Soon Earth Tech | AECOM surveyors will be accessing private property to determine the possible location, type and amount of wetlands and qualities of local streams. Letters are being sent to local land owners within the Inaugural Airport Boundary to notify them of these upcoming surveys.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is sensitive to personal property rights. The Illinois State Statute that allows the State to access private property for purposes of conducting surveys is as follows:

(620 ILCS 5/36) (from Ch. 15 1/2, par. 22.36) Sec. 36. Right to enter upon the land, buildings and structures of others. In exercising its powers and performing its functions under the laws of this State pertaining to aeronautics, and the rules, rulings, regulations, orders and decisions issued pursuant thereto, the Department, each officer thereof, and each employee designated by it, and such other departments, agencies, representatives, officers and employees of this State and of the municipalities and other political subdivisions thereof as may be designated by it, or who are charged with the enforcement of the laws of this State pertaining to aeronautics, whether or not designated by the Department to do so, shall have the right to enter upon the land within this State of any person, municipality or other political subdivision and enter the buildings and structures thereon for the purposes, when and to the extent that their duty so requires, of making surveys, ascertaining necessary facts, and making investigations relating to the State airport plan, a proposed or existing air navigation facility, any airport hazard, the obtaining of airport protection privileges, the establishment of zoning areas, the investigation of accidents concerning aircraft in this State, the condemning of property, the investigation of any violation of the laws of this State pertaining to aeronautics and the rules, rulings, regulations, orders and decisions issued pursuant thereto, and for any other purpose within the purview of the laws of this State pertaining to aeronautics and the rules, rulings, regulations, orders and decisions issued pursuant thereto; provided that such entry shall occur at reasonable times and with due regard for the safety of the owner, persons in possession or occupants thereof, and the protection of the buildings, structures, crops, or personal property located thereon; provided, further, that in the event any damage may be caused by virtue of any such entry, the Department may pay, as compensation, the amount of said damage as determined by it, in full satisfaction thereof, within the limits of available appropriations, or, if the Department does not pay the amount of any such damage, the person claiming compensation therefor may file his claim in connection therewith in the Court of Claims of this State. (Source: P.A. 92 341, eff. 8 10 01.)

All wetland and stream surveyors will be carrying identification and if you have any questions please contact the South Suburban Airport Project Office at (708) 258-6783 (voice), or by facsimile at (708) 258-6972. Your cooperation in allowing your property to be entered will be sincerely appreciated.

Tier 2 EIS Scoping

Two scoping meetings (one agency, one public) were held at Governors State University on December 3, 2003. Oral testimony and written comments were accepted at both meetings. In addition, comments submitted via mail or E-mail were accepted through December 19, 2003.

Oral and written comments have now been catalogued. To view these comments, or for more information on the Tier 2 EIS scoping process, click on the following link:

• Tier 2 EIS Scoping