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WASHINGTON �
The U.S. Department of Transportation�s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today
announced a comprehensive settlement agreement with the City of Cleveland that
resolves several pending enforcement cases. Under
the agreement, the City of Cleveland pledges to build upon and maintain
existing improvements to its airfield snow and ice removal plan at Cleveland
Hopkins International Airport. �Compliance
requires all certificate holders to develop and implement internal controls
that ensure they�re operating according to the highest standards,� said FAA
Administrator Michael Huerta. �The City
of Cleveland has made the changes needed to meet the FAA�s regulatory
requirements. We look forward to working
with the City as it continues to enhance its compliance systems.� The
City of Cleveland must make a payment to the United States Treasury of $200,000
within 30 days of the signed agreement. The
FAA will waive the remaining balance of the $735,000 proposed civil penalty if
the City of Cleveland meets the following conditions: - Maintenance of appropriate staffing numbers, with
reports to the FAA twice each year, through 2020.
- Documentation of the staffing allocated per shift
for each winter event.
- Procurement of new and replacement snow removal
equipment by 2019. The FAA will
review this plan every 12 months.
- Construction of a snow removal equipment storage
building on or before December 31, 2017.
- Specific requirements for executive management
oversight in the airport�s Airport Certification Manual (Snow and Ice
Control Plan). Updates for these
procedures must be made no later than October 1, 2016.
To
date, the City has made numerous changes, including: - Full staffing as of December 23, 2015, including
an increase in the number of field maintenance foreman positions,
additional equipment drivers, and improved management oversight.
- Updated staffing requirements, including minimum
staffing levels related to forecast weather conditions.
- A coordinated Snow Desk that is operational
during significant snow events.
On
September 18, 2015, the FAA had proposed civil penalties totaling $735,000
against the City of Cleveland for failing to meet FAA requirements for maintaining
a safe airport during winter weather. The
FAA alleged that over a 15-month period ending in March 2015, managers at
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport failed on numerous occasions to keep
the airport�s runways and taxiways safe and clear of snow and ice. Federal Aviation Regulations require airports
with commercial service to have sufficient and qualified personnel to carry out
their snow and ice control plans during severe weather. This
agreement settles four cases that were opened last year.
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