July 28, 2005 FAA allows graveyard relocation By Alison Granito crains chicago business The Federal Aviation Administration has determined that the city of Chicago would have to move an historic cemetery that falls in the path of its plan to overhaul the airfield at O'Hare International Airport, according to the agency's final environmental study on the project released today. As expected, the FAA chose the city's plan to expand O'Hare to handle additional flight capacity, calling it the best alternative to reduce the delays that often plague the airport. Today's report and the public comment period, which will run through Sept. 6, represent the last step before the agency issues its record of decision on the project in September. The FAA is currently working out an agreement with the city to determine what it will need to do to move the graves at St. Johannes Cemetery on the southwest side of the airport. Those details will become public when a decision is released in September, FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said. "We've determined that the graves at St. Johannes would have to be relocated," said Mr. Molinaro, adding that the century-old burial ground stood in the way of a proposed runway key to safety and easing congestion, according to the city's plan. Other neighboring properties, including the Rest Haven Cemetery and the Green Street School in Bensenville, will likely be spared from the bulldozers. However, the city "reserves its rights and powers to acquire any of these parcels should the parcels' land-use become incompatible with airport operations," according the prepared remarks of Rosemarie S. Andolino, the mayor's chief official on the O'Hare Modernization Program. Since Rest Haven stood where the city proposed cargo facilities, Mr. Molinaro said the agency recommended shifting the buildings instead of disturbing the cemetery. "We believe that adjustments can be made that will leave Rest Haven undisturbed and probably still allow visitors to the cemetery," he said. The proposed relocation of the cemeteries raised the ire of preservationists and relatives of people buried there. It could prompt a legal challenge to the project by some who have said the city's plan to move the cemeteries runs afoul of religious freedom laws. "We're going to do what the FAA has refused to do and exercise our due diligence," said Joe Karaganis, an attorney who represents groups opposed to the expansion. "I can assure you that the lawyers and the courts won't be asleep at the switch on this one." He said the groups had not decided on how they would proceed if the expansion is approved. Opponents of the expansion have said that the city has vastly underestimated its cost and hasn't been clear about how it will pay for the project. They also contend that it will exacerbate rather than relieve delays at O'Hare. City officials have said an expanded O'Hare would help drive economic growth in the Chicago area. The final environmental impact report "covers over the issues raised by the inspector general and the one we've raised all along" said Mr. Karaganis. "We continue to believe that somebody is keeping the curtain closed behind the wizard on this one." Mr. Molinaro said the FAA is on the process of reviewing both the inspector general's report and the city's cost benefit analysis. Results of that review would come after the agency issues its record of decision, he said. If the FAA signs off in September as expected, city officials say they are prepared to break ground immediately.