The promised document is out. The Draft EIS on air service at Mammoth Yosemite airport. The FAA prepared the document and said that Horizon Air proposes commercial air service to Mammoth. The proposed service would begin in December 2008 with two daily flights from LAX to Mammoth Airport during winter ski season. Horizon Air would use their bombardier DHC 8-402 aircraft which carries 76 passengers.

FAA says issues raised in the Draft EIS include potential impacts of aircraft noise, impacts on threatened and endangered speciers, impacts on land use and land development and on water quality.

The FAA's preferred course of action is to approve Horizon Air's plans for service. The FAA determined that this service would not result in any significant impacts so no mitigation measures are proposed.

Now that the environmental document is out, meetings will follow. The first public workshop takes place December 18th in Suite Z in Mammoth. Written comments can also be provided to FAA.