Environmental Affairs

The City of Austin Aviation Department, which operates Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) will incorporate sustainable principles, climate resiliency best practices, and environmental stewardship into all aspects of its culture, planning, development and operations at AUS. This will be achieved by focusing resources in the following areas at AUS:

• Continually strive to reduce resource consumption through innovative design and technology in the planning, development, and construction of airport facilities;
• Engage with tenants, business partners and stakeholders on projects to promote energy efficiency and resource conservation and to facilitate alignment with AUS’s sustainability and climate resiliency goals;
• Incorporate sustainable principles into operations and maintenance practices through training, staff engagement, technology improvements and management support;
• Minimize airport environmental impacts by reducing energy, transportation fuel & water consumption along with waste generation while enhancing water reuse, recycling, on-site renewable energy and waste diversion programs;
• Continue to integrate clean vehicles into the AUS fleet and ensure the best available engine/fuel technology is utilized to reduce ozone precursor chemicals and carbon emissions;
• Purchase renewable energy and carbon off-sets from sustainable sources;
• Identify and take advantage of opportunities to derive business value from improved environmental performance and drive continual improvement in AUS operations;
• and Maintain a systematic program approach to support continued compliance with all applicable environmental regulations.

AUS's history of environmental stewardship dates back to the airport's construction. Recycled materials were used in building the facility, including 100% recycled steel in the primary terminal structure. The site had been an Air Force base that operated from for over 50 years, and more than 35,000 tons of concrete from the base were crushed and reused for roadway and taxiway base. Approximately 30% of the Air Force buildings were incorporated into the new airport design, and more than 700 residential buildings on the base were sold and removed. This provided low-cost housing to the community and reduced waste.

Today, the airport has a robust portfolio of environmental and sustainability efforts to help us achieve the goal of carbon neutrality and continue our commitment to minimizing impacts on the environment. 

Austin Energy Partnerships & Renewable Energy

AUS has partnered with Austin Energy to bring electric vehicle charging stations to the airport campus and uses Austin Energy GreenChoice to provide 100% renewable energy to the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

AUS supports Austin Energy's Community Solar Program through the solar panel installation on top of the Blue Garage. The panels provide .3 megawatts of renewable energy benefits toward future airport construction projects and the airport’s administration building and enough locally-generated renewable energy to power 160 local homes.

Clean Energy Fuel, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Carbon Off-Sets

AUS uses renewable natural gas from Clean Energy Fuels to power our shuttle bus fleet. In 2021, AUS partnered with Signature Flight Support to bring Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to the AUS campus for the first time ever. SAF is a clean substitute for fossil jet fuels that is produced from sustainable resources such as waste oils from a biological origin, agricultural residues, or non-fossil CO₂ instead of being refined from petroleum. 

AUS also purchases renewable energy and carbon off-sets from sustainable sources and promotes The Good Traveler program to AUS passengers. 

Electrification Efforts

AUS has partnered with airlines to support electric-powered airline ground service equipment.

Reclaimed Water Usage

AUS utilizes reclaimed water, which save millions of gallons of potable water each year by converting irrigation to non-drinking water for the airport cooling system. 

Green Building Efforts

The LEED Green Building Rating System is the national benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

AUS has recieved Gold LEED Green Building certifications on several buildings on the airport campus, including the 2019 nine-gate expansion and administration building. You can learn more about the terminal expansion's LEED solutions here. 

The newest completed airport facility, the Airport Career and Development Center, has achieved an Austin Energy Green Building 3-star rating. 

Hilton Hotel

The Hilton Austin Airport was awarded the national Green Seal “Silver Level Achievement for Environmental Operational Commitment” for its efforts to go green. It’s one of only five hotel properties in Texas to earn this distinction, and it reflects the Hilton’s commitment to making environmentally sensitive conservation and purchasing decisions. The Hilton Austin Airport buys produce and meats from local farmers, which helps the local economy and reduces the hotel’s overall carbon footprint. The hotel also donates food and other nonperishable items to local churches and organizations.

Composting & Food Recycling

Through the AUS Food Rescue Program, AUS concessionaires donate unused packaged food to Keep Austin Fed,  a local nonprofit whose mission is to reduce hunger and help the environment by connecting surplus food with our neighbors in need. AUS also has a  robust campus-wide composting program, which collects compostable and organic waste, like food scraps, coffee grounds, paper towels, cardboard and utensils from passengers, concessions and employees that is ultimately turned into compost that is sold by Garden-Ville. 

Landscaping

AUS's award-winning landscape is the largest native plant project in Austin, and it may be the largest native plant project in Texas. Native plants are better able to withstand the extended periods of heat and drought that we often find in this part of the country, and using native plants reduces irrigation needs.

Airline Fuel Facility Improvement Project

• AUS, in coordination with AUS Fuels, the airline fuel consortium and their consultants, conducted an environmental review for proposed fuel facility improvements. The review was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval and approval was granted by the FAA on April 8, 2020.
• Visit the project website at publicinput/AUSFuel for more information and construction updates.
• The FAA approval letter is located by clicking this link.

Airport Expansion & Development Program Environmental Assessment (EA)

Finding of No Significant Impact

After reviewing the Final Environmental Assessment, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved on July 22, 2022 an environmental Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Record of Decision for the proposed Airport Expansion and Development Program. 

• Click here to read the FAA's FONSI/Record Of Decision letter to the airport
• Click here to read the FONSI document
• Click here to read the FONSI Summary of Commitments

Final Environmental Assessment:

• View the Final Environmental Assessment, signed by the FAA on June 13, 2022. 
  • Final Environmental Assessment Cover Page & Table of Contents
    • Chapter 1 - Purpose & Need
    • Chapter 2 - Alternatives
    • Chapter 3 - Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences
    • Chapter 4 - Agency & Public Involvement
    • Chapter 5 - References
    • Chapter 6 - List of Preparers
    • Appendix A - Runway Exit Interactive Model (REDIM) Analysis
    • Appendix B - Project Components Compared to Master Plan
    • Appendix C - Regulatory Context
    • Appendix D - Air Quality & Noise Technical Report
    • Appendix E - Texas Parks & Wildlife Correspondence
    • Appendix F - List of Rare, Threatened & Endangered Species in General Study Area
    • Appendix G - Asbestos Surveys & Abatement Activities
      • Sections 1 - 9
      • Sections 10 - 19
    • Appendix H - Surface Traffic Counts & Models
    • Appendix I - Consultation & Public Outreach
    • Appendix J - Public Outreach for Draft EA Meetings 
    • Appendix K - Public Comments and Response to Comments

Draft Environmental Assessment, completed on February 21, 2022:

• Draft Environmental Assessment Cover Page & Table of Contents 
• Chapter 1 - Purpose & Need
• Chapter 2 - Alternatives 
• Chapter 3 - Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences
• Chapter 4 - Agency & Public Involvement 
• Chapter 5 - References 
• Chapter 6 - List of Preparers 
• Appendix A - Runway Exit Interactive Model (REDIM) Analysis 
• Appendix B - Project Components Compared to Master Plan
• Appendix C - Regulatory Context
• Appendix D - Air Quality & Noise Technical Report
• Appendix E - Texas Parks & Wildlife Correspondence 
• Appendix F - List of Rare, Threatened & Endangered Species in General Study Area
• Appendix G - Asbestos Surveys & Abatement Activities
  • Sections 1 - 9
  • Sections 10 - 19
• Appendix H - Surface Traffic Counts & Models 
• Appendix I - Consultation & Public Outreach
• To learn more about this Environmental Assessment, visit AustinTexas.gov/page/airport-expansion-environmental-assessment .

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3)

AUS is pleased to announce the release of its first-ever Environmental, Social, Governance Report for the 2021 Calendar Year. This ESG report addresses the areas of focus for AUS as it grows and focuses on performance, risks, and opportunities within the broader environmental, social and governance categories

The report findings are important to establishing a shared understanding of where our airport currently stands in the market and region and where we hope to be in the coming years. 

Read the full Environmental, Social, Governance Report.